10:40 AM

Our fourth period had just begun

and in walked our chemistry teacher, holding a stack of papers like he was carrying the results of a national lottery.

Everyone gasped in unison. It was like someone had just dropped a bomb in the room.

Meanwhile, I sat there, completely unbothered. I had already done the math in my head—70 out of 80. Solid score.

But then, something odd happened.

My desk started shaking.

Earthquake?

No, worse.

I turned to my left and saw Kiara practically vibrating in her seat, her knee bouncing so hard that even the poor desk couldn’t handle it.

“Kiara, stop moving!” I hissed.

“How can I stop, Ishi? If I fail, my mom won’t buy me that camera I’ve been dreaming of! And it’s the last one in stock!” she whispered back, panic etched on her face.

“Well, maybe you should’ve studied with me instead of watching the K-drama,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” she muttered, her hands clasped together in a desperate prayer.

“Please, God, just let me pass. I swear I’ll study next time. I PROMISE!”

Sure, Kiara. I’ve heard that one before.

-----

The teacher started calling out names, handing the papers back one by one.

“Jack and Soham—30,” the teacher announced.

Jack and Soham got up, grinning like it was some kind of achievement.

“Did you both cheat?” the teacher asked suspiciously.

“NO, SIR!”

they said in perfect sync, their faces way too innocent.

Sofie, sitting ahead, turned around and smirked. “You two can’t even cheat properly.”

Honestly, she wasn’t wrong.

“Sofie—60,” the teacher called next.

She stood up, flipping her hair like a diva, and took her paper with a smirk.

“Karan—65.”

Karan, as calm and composed as ever, strolled to the desk, grabbed his paper, and returned to his seat. No drama, no fuss.

And then it was Kiara’s turn.

“Kiara Sandhu!”

She froze. Completely zoned out, like a statue.

“Kiara!” the teacher repeated, louder this time.

I nudged her arm. “Kiara! He’s calling you!”

She blinked, stumbled out of her seat, and walked to the desk like she was heading to her execution. She grabbed her paper and stared at it for a second.

“THIRTY-FIVE!”

she screamed, loud enough for the entire school to hear.

“Be quiet, Kiara,” the teacher scolded.

She ran back to her seat, clutching the paper like it was a treasure map. “I passed! Ishu, I passed!”

“Yeah, nice number,” I teased, trying not to laugh.

---

The teacher continued.

“Ahaan—40.”

Ahaan got up lazily, took his paper, and returned to his seat without a care in the world. Must be nice to be that chill.

Finally, the teacher cleared his throat. “And now, the top two students in the class.”

The room went silent. I froze.

Top two?

Who dared to challenge my reign as the topper?

“Rudra Singh—77.”

Rudra? Of course. The quiet nerd who always came second. He got up, took his paper without a word, and sat back down. No reaction, no smile, no anything.

“And Ishita Arora—77.”

I got up, took my paper, and glanced at my score. Spot on.

As I sat down, Kiara was still clutching her paper like her life depended on it, muttering, “Thirty-five… I passed… I PASSED…”

I just smiled. Typical Kiara.

The teacher praised Rudra and me, but before he could finish his speech, the bell rang. Lunch time!

Kiara grabbed my arm and said, “Let’s go, Ishi! I need to celebrate my thirty-five with food!”

I sighed. Only Kiara could turn a barely-passing score into a reason to celebrate.

The classroom was nearly empty as students spilled into the corridor, their chatter fading into the distance.

Kiara had been called by some girls, leaving me alone to gather my things. I grabbed my tiffin and the books I'd need, planning to escape to the library since the next periods were free.

Just as I turned to leave, a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Hey, topper."

The sound of that deep, husky voice sent a jolt down my spine. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze in place. Why did his voice suddenly feel so... magnetic?

I turned slowly, and there he was. Ahaan Malhotra.

He stood there, tall and confident, his gaze locked onto mine. His dark eyes were so intense, they felt like they could see straight through me, peeling back layers I didn’t even know I had.

My breath caught. What was he doing here? Why was he looking at me like that?

“Yes?” I managed to ask, my voice coming out softer than I intended.

His eyes roamed over me—not in a creepy way, but in a way that made my stomach flip. There was something about the way he squinted slightly, his lips quirking up just a fraction, that made my head spin.

He handed me a book.

I blinked, momentarily confused, before realizing it was mine. I must have dropped it while packing up.

He didn’t say anything, just kept staring at me. His gaze was piercing, like he was trying to figure me out—or maybe just enjoying how flustered I was.

“Thanks,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

I bit my lip nervously, hoping he’d stop staring. It felt like the world had shrunk, leaving just the two of us in this bubble of silence.

Ahaan’s expression didn’t change as he slid his hands into his pockets and turned away, walking out of the classroom with the same effortless confidence he always had.

I let out a shaky breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding. My cheeks burned, and my heartbeat refused to calm down.

“Woah, woah—what was that?”

I spun around to see Kiara standing in the doorway, her eyebrows raised, a smirk tugging at her lips.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, clutching the book to my chest. “He just… gave me my book. I dropped it.”

Kiara crossed her arms, tilting her head as she studied me. “Oh, that’s it? Because it looked like something else from where I was standing.”

“It’s nothing!” I insisted, trying to push past her.

Kiara blocked my path, grinning mischievously. “Admit it—he’s hot, isn’t he?”

My eyes widened in shock. “What?! No! I mean… what?”

She rolled her eyes, clearly amused. “Come on, Ishi. He’s practically a Greek god. That face, that body—ugh, no wonder half the girls in school, and even some college girls, drool over him. And don’t even get me started on his bad-boy charm.”

I shot her a glare. “Seriously, Kiara? You too?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Relax, girl. He’s not my type. But even I’m not blind.”

I huffed, clutching the book tighter as I avoided her knowing gaze. “Let’s just go for lunch.”

Kiara grinned, looping her arm through mine as we walked out. But no matter how much I tried to shake it off, I couldn’t stop replaying the way Ahaan had looked at me—the way his eyes seemed to hold a secret I wasn’t ready to uncover.

The cafeteria

buzzed with the usual lunchtime chaos—clinking trays, laughter, and the hum of chatter.

Kiara and I were tucked into our usual corner, deep in conversation about the upcoming annual function.

She was excited about the dance auditions, while I was secretly debating if I should join the art competition.

As we talked, I took a bite of my cupcake, savoring the soft, sweet frosting that was heaven in every bite.

But then I coughed, nearly choking when my gaze caught him—Rahul, standing a few tables away with his friends.

And worse? My crush was looking straight at us.

I quickly dropped my gaze to my plate, feeling my cheeks heat up. “Oh no, oh no,” I muttered under my breath, my fingers clutching the edge of the table.

“What?” Kiara asked, raising an eyebrow.

But before I could respond, one of Rahul’s friends started walking toward us.

“Please, no. Please, no. Please, no,” I silently begged, wishing I could disappear into thin air.

The guy sauntered up to our table, a smug grin plastered on his face. He leaned down toward Kiara and whispered something in her ear.

Whatever it was, Kiara immediately froze, her expression darkening. With an annoyed sigh, she slammed her spoon down onto her plate and turned to him, glaring daggers.

“Fuck Off and get out,” she snapped, her voice cold and sharp enough to slice through steel.

The guy just smirked, as if her anger amused him, then turned to look at me. He winked—a slow, deliberate wink that sent my heart plummeting into my stomach—before sauntering away like he owned the place.

I stared after him, utterly dumbfounded. “What... just happened?” I asked, finally finding my voice.

Kiara, still fuming, crossed her arms and muttered, “Idiots. The lot of them.”

I leaned closer, my curiosity eating away at me. “What did he say?”

“Nothing,”

she replied quickly, brushing it off.

“Kiara,” I pressed, narrowing my eyes. “Tell me.”

She groaned, rolling her eyes before finally giving in. “Fine. He wanted to make a deal.”

“A deal?”

I repeated, confused.

“Yeah,” she said, her tone dripping with disgust. “He said if you do their homework, then he’ll...” She hesitated, clearly reluctant to continue.

“Then he’ll what?” I urged.

Kiara sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Then he’ll date me, okay?”

I blinked, utterly horrified. “Wait, WHAT?”

“Yeah, exactly,” Kiara snapped, her voice laced with sarcasm. “He thinks he can barter homework for me. Like I’m some prize to be won or something. The audacity of that idiot!”

I stared at her, still trying to process what she’d just said. “But... he’s so dumb. Doesn’t he know boys would kill to date you?”

“Exactly!” Kiara exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. “He’s a total moron. Ishi, I don’t know why you even like his friend. Rahul is just as bad, trust me"

I stayed quiet, fiddling with the wrapper of my cupcake.

Kiara noticed my silence and groaned. “Ishi yaar, seriously, why don’t you just change your crush? He’s not worth it. He’s a total bastard.”

I didn’t say anything. How could I explain that my heart didn’t care about logic? That, for reasons I couldn’t even understand, Rahul still made it race like crazy

I quickly looked down, pretending to be intensely interested in my plate of food, as if the mashed potatoes held the secrets of the universem.

But my heart? It was doing somersaults.

Why was I staring at Ahaan Malhotra of all people? Gosh, Kiara had really rubbed off on me.

I dared a quick glance to my left again, only to freeze when I caught him glaring at someone—his eyes sharp, dangerous, and completely captivating. It was like his gaze could slice through steel.

Kiara wasn’t lying. He was hot.

And now that I was looking, I couldn’t stop. His eyes? Dark and intense. His nose? Perfectly straight.

And don’t even get me started on those lips—ugh, they looked like they belonged on the cover of a magazine. Then there was his jawline, sharp enough to cut glass, and his body...

well, let’s just say the gym was definitely paying off.

Wait—what the hell was I doing? Was I actually checking him out?

Before I could scold myself, Karan leaned over and whispered something into Ahaan’s ear. Ahaan’s intense gaze shifted—and landed right on me.

My stomach dropped.

Shit.

His eyes narrowed for a moment, and then—he smirked.

Oh, no.

Oh, god.

He caught me.

Panic flooded through me, and I immediately looked away, staring at my plate like my life depended on it.

My hands betrayed my nerves, though, as I started tapping my spoon against the edge of my tray. My leg wouldn’t stop bouncing under the table, either.

These were my telltale nervous habits, and I knew it. But what was I supposed to do? He probably thought I was a total creep, staring at him like that.

I inhaled deeply

Breathe in, breathe out. Stay calm, Ishita. You’re not a creep. This isn’t a big deal.

But my heart refused to listen.

Just when I thought I might actually implode, Kiara nudged me hard, snapping me out of my spiral.

“So, about that annual function—” she started, dragging me into a conversation I desperately needed.

I nodded quickly, grateful for the distraction. But no matter how much I tried to focus on what she was saying, I couldn’t stop replaying that smirk in my mind.

Why did he have to smirk like that? It wasn’t fair.

The library

It was my refuge, the one place in school where I could lose myself among books and escape the chaos.

After lunch, I made my way to the romance section—my little guilty pleasure—and started scanning the shelves for the novel I’d been meaning to read.

It wasn’t there.

Should I ask the librarian?

No.

One look at her, and I knew better. She wasn’t in the mood—not that she ever was. Even our principal seemed to tread lightly around her.

Sighing, I decided to continue my search. My fingers trailed across the spines, shifting books aside. And then I saw him.

Ahaan.

Again

Through the gap between the shelves, he stood on the other side, leaning against the other book shelf, staring at me.

Not just looking—staring. His eyes held a softness that made my heart stutter, but the intensity was enough to make me freeze.

Oh God, no.

I quickly averted my gaze, shoving the book back into place.

My hands trembled as I moved to another shelf, hoping to shake off the uneasy feeling.

But before I could find the novel, something caught my eye again.

A hand slid a book onto the shelf in front of me—the exact novel I had been searching for.

Relieved, I grabbed it without looking at the person and smiled. “Thank you,” I said softly.

But when I glanced up, my breath hitched.

It was Ahaan.

His tall frame loomed over me, his dark, intense eyes locked onto mine. His expression was unreadable, but the air around him felt heavy, charged with something I couldn’t quite place.

I swallowed hard, clutching the book as if it were a shield. “T-thanks,” I stammered again, avoiding his gaze.

But as I turned to leave, his voice, low and smooth, stopped me in my tracks.

“I don’t want your thanks.”

I froze, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Slowly, I turned around, my heart thundering in my chest.

He stood there, still watching me, his eyes unreadable yet piercing.

I whispered, “w..what?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a step forward, and instinctively, I stepped back, only to feel the cold edge of the bookshelf press against my back.

He kept closing the distance between us, his presence overwhelming. My eyes dropped to the floor, but I could feel his gaze roaming over me, from my face to my trembling hands.

I couldn’t breathe.

“umm…” My voice was barely audible, trembling with nerves.

He leaned in, his voice low but firm.

“Look at me.”

I hesitated, but when I finally met his eyes, the intensity in them made me feel like he could see straight into my soul.

“I want something else,”

he said softly, his lips curling into the faintest smirk.

My heart raced. “W-what do you want?”

Please don't ask my Life

He tilted his head slightly, studying me like he was deciding what to say—or maybe how to say it. His voice dropped even lower, and the softness in his tone sent shivers down my spine.

“Be my dance partner,”

he said, his words deliberate, almost like a challenge.

My eyes widened.

Dance partner?

I blinked at him, trying to process his words, but the proximity was making it impossible to think. My breaths were shallow, and I was hyper aware of how close he was, the faint scent of his cologne teasing my senses.

“I—what?” I finally managed to stammer.

“Annual function,”

he clarified, though his tone remained casual. “I need a partner. And I want you.”

Want me?

I could barely focus. My brain felt scrambled, his words echoing in my mind. Did he realize what he was doing to me? The way he said “want” felt like it carried so much more weight than just a simple request.

“Why me?” I asked softly, daring to meet his gaze again.

His smirk deepened, and he leaned in just enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from him.

“Why not you?”

he countered.

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, and his presence wasn’t helping. He didn’t wait for my answer, though. Instead, he straightened up, his eyes still fixed on me.

“Think about it,”

he said, his tone lighter now but still carrying that teasing edge.

“I’ll be waiting for your answer, topper.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, clutching the book like it was the only thing keeping me upright.

I stared after him, my heart racing, my mind replaying his words on a loop.

What just happened?

If you’re enjoy this journey, please show your love and support! Every vote, comment, and share means the world to me. Thank you for joining me on this story, and I hope you’ll continue to follow Ishita and Ahaan’s journey! Your support truly motivates me to keep writing and sharing their world with you. 💖

Thank you 🫶🏻

➽─────────────────❥ 💕⃝🕊️