The next morning felt unreal.
Karthik woke up early, lying in bed with the memory of last night still shimmering in his mind like a dream. Ananya's head resting on his shoulder, the quiet between them speaking volumes. Her eyes when she read his note. The way she held it to her heart after.
It had been simple.
But powerful.
And now, as he stood in front of the mirror, brushing his hair and adjusting his uniform, he felt… different. Lighter. Like something heavy inside him had loosened its grip.
When he reached school, the usual noise and chaos greeted him. Boys running in the corridors, the echo of teachers shouting for silence, the creak of chairs in classrooms. But he wasn't pulled under by it. Not today.
Ananya was already in her seat when he entered.
She didn't look at him right away—but when she did, it wasn't with her usual teasing smirk or confident stare.
It was something warmer. Deeper.
She raised her eyebrows slightly. "Hey."
He nodded, trying not to smile too much. "Hey."
Their eyes met just long enough before the bell rang and everyone settled. The teacher entered, and the spell broke, but not completely. Something still buzzed between them—unspoken but understood.
During the break, they walked together to the canteen. No one teased them anymore. People had gotten used to seeing them as a pair, though they still weren't "official." Whatever that meant.
As they sat under their usual tree, Ananya took a bite of her sandwich, then leaned slightly toward him.
"You really wrote that note just for me?" she asked, feigning casualness.
He looked at her sideways. "Who else do I write emotional declarations for?"
She laughed. "Good. Just checking."
He sipped his juice. "You still have it?"
She nodded. "Folded in my diary. Next to my dumbest poems."
Karthik blinked. "You write poems?"
Ananya shrugged, slightly embarrassed. "They're really bad."
"I want to read one."
She nearly choked on her sandwich. "No way!"
"I read your poetry, you read my dark thoughts. That's the deal."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine. One day. When I trust you with my deepest cringe."
He chuckled. "I already trust you with mine."
That silenced her for a beat.
And then she looked at him with that expression again—the one that was soft and sharp all at once, like she was seeing something she didn't expect but liked more than she thought she would.
After school, as they stood at the gate, ready to part ways, she nudged him gently.
"Thanks again… for yesterday."
He gave her a small nod. "You make it easier to try."
"You make it easier to feel."
They didn't need to say goodbye. They both knew they'd find each other again tomorrow.
But as Ananya walked away, she turned around once, caught him watching, and mouthed something.
"I kept the flower too."
He didn't know why, but that made his chest ache in the most beautiful way.
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End of chapter 107