The annual function was just around the corner, and the buzz about the special performance had the entire school talking.

The most surprising part?

Teachers were letting us choose our dance partners.

And I already knew who I wanted-her. My Ishi.

She was perfect, a natural dancer. The first time I saw her perform was back in fifth grade during a cultural festival. Even then, she had this grace, this magic that made it impossible to look away.

But how the hell do I ask her?

She'll probably wonder why I want her, and honestly, I suck at sugarcoating things. I'm a straightforward guy, say-it-like-it-is kind of person. Subtlety? Not my thing.

Right now, I was in the library because she was there. I leaned casually against a shelf, arms crossed, pretending to skim through a book. In reality, my eyes were glued to her.

She was standing by the fiction section, looking for something. I already knew what she was searching for. Of course, I do. I've noticed all her little habits by now.

But then-damn it-she caught me staring.

I tried my best to look cool, my expression cold and indifferent. Just act normal, Ahaan. You're the school's bad boy. You don't get flustered.

But then she did something that stabbed me right in the chest.

She looked scared.

Of me.

She quickly shifted her focus back to the shelf, pretending I wasn't there. She was so small, so delicate, working hard to find the book on her tiptoes.

Couldn't she see I was right here? For her.

I pushed off the shelf and grabbed the book she'd been struggling to reach. Without saying a word, I walked over and placed it in front of her.

She looked up, startled.

And then, she smiled.

That damn smile.

"Thank you," she said softly, not looking at me directly.

But when she glanced up, she froze.

Her big, beautiful eyes locked on mine, and I swear, the rest of the world disappeared. Her eyes was just magic.

"T-thanks," she stammered, avoiding my gaze again.

I didn't want her thanks. I wanted more than that.

As she tried to step past me, I stopped her with one sentence:

"I don't want your thanks."

She froze mid-step, turning back toward me.

"W...what?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I took a slow step closer, my eyes fixed on her. God, she looked so innocent, so pure. Her lips were like soft rose petals, tempting me, teasing me.

"Look at me," I said, my voice low but firm.

She hesitated, her hands trembling slightly, before finally meeting my gaze.

Her brown eyes, wide and curious, stared up at me. And in that moment, I knew I'd fallen even harder.

"I want something else," I said, my lips curving into a smirk.

"W-what do you want?" she asked, her voice shaky.

You. Always you.

Tilting my head, I studied her. My tone softened, knowing she might think I'd hurt her. I wasn't soft by nature, but for her? I'd be anything.

"Be my dance partner,"
I finally said.

Her eyes widened, exactly the reaction I expected.

"I-what?" she stammered, blinking at me, confusion written all over her face.

"For the annual function," I clarified.

"I need a partner. And I want you."

"Why me?" she asked, her voice small, barely above a whisper.

I smirked deeper, leaning in just slightly. Her scent-sweet and subtle-was enough to drive me insane.

"Why not you?"

She looked so nervous, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater.

Think about it. I'll wait. But don't say no.

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She just stood there, stunned, her cheeks tinged with a rosy blush.

I stepped back, letting her breathe.

"Think about it," I continued.

"I'll be waiting for your answer, topper."

And with that, I walked away, leaving her standing there, her mind probably spinning. I knew she'd overthink this to death, probably wondering if it was a prank or a joke.

But it wasn't. Not even close.

She had no idea how serious I was about her.

As I walked out of the library, my heart pounded in my chest, threatening to burst. Her scent, her soft voice, her innocent stammer-it was all too much.

God, I was falling deeper every second.

It was 4:00,

and tuition time had rolled around. Not that I cared much about what the teacher was droning on about-I was only here to see her.

While the rest of the students just standing whole we were talking about the upcoming annual function leaning against our bikes.

Sofie, ever the indifferent one, declared, "I'm not interested in dancing."

Jack, of course, had his usual smug grin plastered on his face. "I'm all set, you know. Riya from D class asked me to be her dance partner. How could I say no? Poor girl would've been heartbroken."

Soham snorted. "So you said yes, huh?"

"Obviously," Jack replied, puffing his chest out like he'd won the lottery. Then he turned to Karan. "And what about you? Aren't you participating?"

Before Karan could answer, Sofie cut in. "That's a dumb question. He's not into this kind of stuff, you know that."

But Karan surprised us all. "When did I say I wasn't participating?"

I froze and shot him a sharp look. "What? You're joining too?"

Karan just smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

Sofie raised a brow. "And who's your dance partner?"

"I don't have one," he replied casually, "but I'll find someone."

Jack immediately jumped in, slinging an arm around Karan's shoulder. "Don't worry, bro. If you need a partner, just say the type. I know every girl in this school. I'll set you up."

Karan glared at him, pushing his arm off. "I'll handle it myself, thanks."

I smirked. It was obvious he had someone in mind, but I wasn't about to press him on it.

Just then, a sleek car pulled into the driveway. My eyes instinctively darted toward it-I knew it was Kiara's car, which meant my Ishi was here.

She stepped out, wearing blue jeans and a black top.

Damn. She looked... breathtaking.

I couldn't take my eyes off her. The way the black outfit hugged her figure, the way she carried herself with that quiet confidence-it was enough to leave me speechless.

For a brief moment, her eyes met mine. Just a second, but it was enough to make my heart race. And then she walked off toward her group, leaving me in a daze.

I was worried now. Would she say no to my dance proposal?

The class started soon after, and as expected, it was as boring as hell. Something about solenoids.

Seriously, what was the point?

We already had magnets, and speaking of magnets, my topper was right there, pulling my focus as effortlessly as ever.

I sighed and pulled out my phone, scrolling through Instagram. Being a last bencher had its perks.

But no matter how hard I tried to distract myself, my mind kept wandering back to her.

My topper. My cupcake. My everything.

God, she had me wrapped around her little finger without even trying.

It was 6 PM, and I was still consumed by thoughts of her answer. I had told her to take her time, but I couldn't wait any longer. My impatience was eating me alive.

As the class ended, I left with my gang, but I noticed Ishi was still inside. Something in me just wouldn't let me go. So I waited.

She finally made her way toward the door, but before she could leave,

I stopped her by casually putting my leg in her way.

She froze, gripping her bag tightly. I could feel her nervous energy, the way her fingers trembled slightly.

She refused to look at me. Always looking down.

Why?

I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to know. I stepped closer, my voice firm but steady.

"Yes or no?"

She hesitated for a moment, and then came the words that shattered me.

"Sorry, but... no."

Did I hear it wrong

Did she said

No? She said no?

For a moment, I just stared at her, unable to process her words. My chest felt heavy, like all the air had been knocked out of me.

Why?

Was she that scared of me?

Did she hate me?

Didn't he like me?

Am I that bad?

Anger surged through me-not at her, but at myself. Was I not good enough for her?

Was I the reason she felt this way?

I took a step closer, my fists clenched by my sides. But even in my anger,

I would never hurt her.

Never. I'd rather destroy myself than let her feel even a hint of fear or pain because of me.

As I brushed past her, I caught the faint, sweet fragrance that always lingered around her, a scent that had become my weakness.

Without another word, I grabbed my bag and left.

But inside, I was breaking.

I made my way downstairs, my head a mess of emotions. My friends were waiting for me at the gate, their expressions ranging from smirks to curious glances.

The moment Soham and Jack caught sight of me, their faces broke into knowing grins.

These bastards.

Karan, ever the sensible one, asked with genuine concern, "What did she say?"

I avoided his gaze, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "She refused to be my partner," I muttered.

That was all it took for Soham and Jack to burst into laughter, like the idiots they were. Their laughter felt like salt on an open wound.

"Someone hand me a rod," I growled, glaring at them. "I swear I'll beat the shit out of them."

But Sofie, trying to hold back her own laugh, patted my shoulder. "Don't worry, Ahaan. Next time, maybe," she said, trying to sound comforting but failing miserably.

I huffed, my eyes instinctively searching for her. There she was, my Ishi, slipping into Kiara's car without sparing me a glance.

She didn't even look back.

And that hurt more than her refusal.

That's the thing about having a crush on someone-you're trapped in this never-ending loop of fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of losing them. Fear that they might never feel the same way.

Karan, always the voice of reason, placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don't lose hope, man. You asked her too quickly. Maybe she needs time. Be patient," he said.

He was right. I'd rushed her. I hadn't thought it through.

Damn it, Ahaan. You asshole.

I clenched my fists, anger at myself bubbling up. What was I thinking? I'd ruined it.

Argh, stupid me.

I lay back on my bed, shirtless, staring at the ceiling while clutching my pillow. Her refusal still echoed in my head, and it was driving me crazy.

"If not her, then no one,"

I muttered to myself. The annual function meant nothing without her.

Frustrated, I grabbed my phone and scrolled aimlessly, my heart heavy. My thumb hovered over her picture in my mind, the one etched into my heart but missing from my screen.

She wasn't active online-no Instagram, no Snapchat, nothing.

Suddenly, a notification popped up.

It was Kiara.

Curious, I opened her new post, and there she was-my Ishi, standing beside Kiara in a picture.

I smiled, unable to help myself. She looked so beautiful, effortlessly stealing my breath.

But then, something caught my eye.

Wait... what was that?

My gaze zoomed in on the tag beneath her. An Instagram handle?

What the hell?

I tapped on the username without thinking, and my jaw practically dropped.

SHE WAS ON INSTAGRAM.

And not just that-she had already posted six photos. Six amazing photos that I had no idea existed until now.

When?

Without hesitating, I hit the follow button. My heart raced like I was doing something forbidden.

Now, all I could do was wait.

Would she follow me back?

Would she even notice my request?

I exhaled sharply and stared at her profile, memorizing every little detail about her posts.

I was in too deep.

The next morning, I woke up late, my alarm failing me once again. A part of me wanted to skip my gym session, but I couldn't compromise on my body. If nothing else, my fitness was something I took pride in.

After rushing through my routine, I threw on my school uniform and hurried to class, already knowing I was late. As I entered, I saw the classroom filled with students, and my friends were already sitting in our usual spot.

But then my eyes naturally sought her out.

There she was, my Ishi, sitting beside Kiara, chatting away. Her smile was as radiant as ever, but the memory of yesterday lingered in my mind.

Her refusal.

It stung, but I reminded myself not to dwell on it.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I could try again, but I needed time-time to figure out how to win her trust, how to show her that my intentions were genuine.

I took a deep breath and made my way to my seat, choosing to focus on the present rather than the hurt of the past.

She was worth the wait.

The basketball court-my sanctuary.

It was the one place where I could clear my head, spend time with my friends, and dominate anyone who dared challenge me.

But today, my thoughts were once again consumed by her. Ishi.

The way she avoided me in class, her soft whispers, her shy glances-everything about her.

As I lazily dribbled the ball, lost in my thoughts, the ground's peace shattered.

Rahul. This bastard again show his shitty face

That arrogant piece of trash strutted over, his smirk irritating enough to ignite a fire in my chest.

"Ahaan," he sneered, "What's wrong? Too scared to face me in a game?"

I ignored him.

Why should I waste my time on someone who's already a loser in my book?

The guy had a knack for winning smaller matches, but against me? He was nothing.

But then my eyes caught a glimpse of her.

My cupcake

She was standing with Kiara in the spectator's area, her innocent gaze scanning the court. My heart clenched.

I knew why she was here-she was here for him. Rahul.

She's always been there for his games. Always cheering him on.

But mine? Never.

That hurt. Deeply.

Rahul's voice cut through my thoughts like a dagger.

"Afraid to lose to me, Ahaan? That's why you're hiding behind excuses?"

My jaw clenched. Afraid? Me?

Afraid of this nobody?

I glanced at my boys-Karan, Soham, Jack, and my team. They knew. They could see the storm brewing in my eyes.

We exchanged a look, a shared smirk that spoke volumes.

Rahul and his team were grinning like they'd already won.

How naïve.

I dropped the bottle in my hand, the water spilling across the ground like the sweat that was about to drip from his overconfident face.

I walked toward him, slow and deliberate with an evil smirk. My sneakers squeaked against the court, the sound echoing like a warning.

Standing in front of him, I leaned in, my grin predatory.

"Rahul," I said, my voice low and calm, "you should've stayed in your lane."

The tension in the air was electric as I turned to my team.

"Game on, boys."

We stepped onto the court, the crowd already gathering. And as the whistle blew, I felt her gaze on me.

Rahul wanted a lesson? Fine.

I'd teach him that you don't mess with Ahaan Malhotra.

Ever.

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. 💖

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