I leaned casually against the wall near the staircase, pretending to scroll through my phone,

but my eyes kept drifting toward the corridor where Ishi and Kiara were walking.

My stomach churned as I watched them approach by class F.

I wasn’t sure why I stayed back—I told myself to stay here.

Then, out of nowhere, I heard a voice.

“Ishita!”

I froze. My jaw clenched as I turned my head slightly to see who had called her. And there he was—Rahul.

He strode toward her with that cocky grin of his, his group of friends laughing and nudging each other as if they already knew what was coming.

My grip tightened around my phone as I watched him stop in front of her.

Her reaction?
She looked... surprised.

But not the bad kind of surprised—the kind that made my stomach drop.

I couldn’t hear everything from where I was, but I caught enough to understand.

“Would you like to be my dance partner?” Rahul asked her, loud enough for half the corridor to hear.

I held my breath, waiting for her response.

She hesitated, looking nervous, and for a moment, hope sparked in my chest.

Maybe she’d say no.

Maybe she’d remember I asked her first.

But then she looked up at him, her cheeks slightly pink, and said, “Y-Yes.”

My chest tightened. It felt like someone had just punched me square in the gut.

Yes. She said yes.

I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I couldn’t.

I pushed off the wall and started walking away, my mind racing. The laughter and chatter of the students around me blurred into white noise.

I didn’t care where I was going—I just needed to get away.

So this is what it felt like to lose.

I thought maybe... just maybe... I had a chance with her.

But apparently, I was wrong.

She chose him.

I reached the basketball court and sat down on the bleachers, staring at the empty hoop.

For the first time in a long time, I felt something I wasn’t used to.

Defeat.

And damn, it hurt.

I sat there for what felt like hours, replaying the moment in my head. Her voice, soft but clear, saying yes to Rahul. The way her face lit up—not for me, but for him.

I hated it.

Why was I even feeling like this? I was Ahaan Malhotra. I didn’t care about anyone like this.

But then why did it feel like I’d just lost something I never even had?

“Bro, you good?”

I looked up to see Karan standing there, his usual calm expression now laced with concern.

“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a shrug. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Karan raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. He sat down beside me, waiting for me to talk.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Rahul asked Ishi to be his dance partner.”

“And?”

“And she said yes.”

Karan didn’t respond immediately, probably choosing his words carefully. “Okay... and why is that bothering you?”

I shot him a look. “You know why.”

“Do I?” he asked, smirking slightly.

I groaned, leaning back against the bleachers. “It’s just... I thought I had a shot, you know? I asked her first. I thought maybe she’d choose me.”

Karan was quiet for a moment before he said, “Ahaan, do you even realize what you’re feeling right now?”

“What do you mean?”

“You like her,” he said simply. “And it’s driving you crazy that she doesn’t see it yet.”

His words hit me like a truck. I opened my mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Because deep down, I knew he was right.

I liked her too much.

And now, I’d lost my chance to show her.

“She chose Rahul,” I muttered bitterly.

“So?” Karan shrugged. “That doesn’t mean it’s over. If you really like her, don’t give up. Just... don’t be the bad boy this time. Be real with her. Show her the side of you that no one else gets to see.”

I glanced at him, his words sinking in.

Maybe he was right. Maybe this wasn’t the end—just a setback.

But for now, I needed time to figure out what to do next.

Because if I was going to win Ishita over, I’d have to do it right.

Two days.

Two days of suffocating this anger, holding back what I really wanted to say to her, to everyone.

Every time I saw Ishita with Rahul, my blood boiled. It wasn’t just the dance program—it was everything.

Watching them together, laughing, practicing, sharing moments I couldn’t be a part of.

I was supposed to be the one with her, I had made that clear.

But there she was, with him, looking at him the way she never did with me.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I felt like I was losing her. I felt like I was losing control.

I had already snapped at a teacher in class and ended up in detention. I didn’t care.

It was better than letting my frustration out on anyone else, especially her. But now, in the practice hall, I couldn't stop myself.

Karan was with me, trying to act cool, but I knew he could tell something was off.

"Hey, chill, man. It’s just practice," he said, his voice tinged with concern as he watched me glare across the room.

But I wasn’t paying attention to him. I was watching them—Rahul and Ishi. They were dancing together, and every step they took felt like a jab to my chest

Rahul was barking orders at her, his hand guiding hers like it was some kind of command.

I could tell she was uncomfortable, unsure of the moves he was asking her to do, but she was going along with it, just like always.

Trying to be nice. Trying to not make a scene. And that pissed me off even more.

She deserved better than this.

She deserved someone who would treat her like she mattered, someone who cared about what she was feeling.

And then, I saw it.

He extended his hand to her—his hand—and she took it.

She accepted it.

My heart stopped for a moment, and everything inside me snapped.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t stand watching him touch her, control her, make her do things she clearly wasn’t comfortable with.

I walked straight over to the sound system without thinking, pulling out a cutter from my bag. Without a second thought, I cut the wire, disconnecting the music, and I smirked to myself.

"Practice canceled,"

I muttered under my breath.

The room went silent, and in that moment, I knew I had everyone's attention.

Without a second thought, I jumped onto a table, standing tall like I was some kind of king, ready to make my declaration.

"Today's practice is canceled," I announced, my voice echoing in the quiet hall.

I didn’t care about the confused faces around me.

I wasn’t here for them.

I had only one focus—her.

I locked my eyes onto Ishita, who was standing there with Rahul.

She was staring at me, unsure of what was going on.

I didn’t give a damn.

I winked at her. Just a simple wink. But I saw the effect it had on her.

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and I smirked.

She always had this little effect on her whenever I looked at her—whenever I did something that made her feel a little something

I could tell she was flustered, and that felt… good. It felt like I still had some power over her, some hold.

Even if she didn't show it, I knew.

But that’s when my gaze shifted to Rahul, and I couldn’t help but glare at him.

The guy was nothing but a nuisance in my eyes, and seeing him standing there, so casual, so close to her... it made my blood boil.

Without saying another word, I turned away, strutting out of the practice hall. I didn’t need to explain myself. I didn’t care if anyone understood.

I was done.

Done letting my emotions take a backseat. Done pretending like I didn’t care.

But deep down, I knew it was just the beginning.

And I couldn’t let her go.

The next day,

I was still on edge, the anger from yesterday lingering in my veins. I was on the basketball court with my team, working through the motions of the game, when Soham came running towards me. His face was full of concern, panic evident in his eyes.

"Ahaan!" he gasped. "Ishita... she's crying."

The words hit me like a sucker punch. My chest tightened. My stomach dropped.

My cupcake? Crying?

My head snapped in his direction, my heart racing. I couldn’t even process it at first.

Who the fuck made my Ishi cry?

Without another thought, I turned and bolted toward the practice hall. I didn’t care about anything else.

All I could think about was getting to her.

I burst through the door, and my eyes landed on her instantly.

There she was, standing in the middle of the room, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold herself together.

Her head was down, and her soft, beautiful face was streaked with tears.

Seeing her like this... my heart shattered. It felt like a dagger had pierced through me.

The pain was so raw, so intense, it was almost unbearable.

But then, my eyes found him. Rahul. That fucking piece of shit.

He was standing over her, lecturing her like she was nothing.

"You can't dance," I heard him sneer. "Why did I even ask you to be my partner? You’ll embarrass me. I told you to do it right."

My hands clenched into fists. I could feel the blood pounding in my ears, my vision blurring with rage.

How dare he speak to her like that?

I watched as Ishita, her voice trembling, tried to explain herself. "This step... it’s too difficult, and it’s uncomfortable for me..."

But Rahul wasn’t listening. He just snapped back at her, his words cutting through the air like daggers.

"Then what the hell are you even doing here? If you can’t dance, just get out of here. I’ll find a girl who actually knows what she’s doing. Just get lost."

That was it. The moment I snapped.

How fucking dare he talk to her like that?

He made my Ishi cry.

He made her feel worthless.

Without thinking, I stormed toward him. I didn’t care about anything except making him pay. I swung my fist, and before he could even react, it connected with his face.

The sound of the punch landing was satisfying. Rahul hit the ground hard, his nose already bleeding.

He groaned, barely able to comprehend what had just happened.

I wasn’t done. I grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground with raw fury.

I punched him again, harder this time, my anger boiling over like a raging storm. I heard his groan, but I didn’t care.

Not when I saw my Ishi standing there, still trembling, her tear-streaked face etched with confusion and fear.

Karan, Soham, and Jack rushed forward, trying to pull me off of Rahul, but I couldn’t stop.

I couldn’t let this slide.

HE MADE MY ISHI CRY.

Then I heard her voice. Soft, pleading.

"Please… don’t."

It was like a slap to the face. Her voice, fragile and broken, hit me harder than anything else.

The anger inside me didn’t go away, but the moment I heard her, it all came crashing down.

I instantly stopped, my chest heaving, my fists still clenched. I looked at her, and my gaze softened, but I could see the fear in her eyes.

The regret.

She was scared of me. And that killed me.

Karan pushed Rahul away, and I stood there, still seething with anger but now realizing the damage I had done.

The fear in her eyes was enough to make me feel like I was losing her.

Kiara’s voice cut through the tension. She rushed toward Ishita, wrapping her arms around her tightly, comforting her as she cried.

I wanted to hold her.

I wanted to be the one to comfort her, to let her know that no one would ever hurt her again.

But I couldn't.

I couldn’t bring myself to go to her, not when I saw the fear I had put into her heart.

And that thought... it haunted me.

Two teachers barged into the practice hall, their stern voices cutting through the silence as Rahul’s friends helped him up.

He was glaring at me, blood dripping from his nose.

What? Did he want me to break his jaw too?

One of the teachers snapped, “To the principal’s office. Both of you. Now!”

And here we were.

The principal’s office.

Rahul stood beside me, his head slightly bowed, trying to look innocent.

The bastard.

Father James Margon, the principal of this elite, overly disciplined school, sat behind his desk, adjusting his glasses. In his 60s, with a sharp suit and an even sharper gaze, he looked at us like we were two kids caught stealing candy.

“What happened in the practice hall?” he asked, his voice calm but heavy with authority.

Rahul, of course, jumped in before I could say a word.

“Father, I was practicing with Ishita when he barged in and punched me. Out of nowhere!” He pointed at his nose for dramatic effect. “Twice! I didn’t even do anything!”

I scoffed internally. What a cheap liar.

Father James turned to me, his expression neutral. “Ahaan, why did you do that?”

I clenched my fists, trying to stay calm. “Because this asshole—”

“Language, Ahaan,” Father interrupted sternly.

I took a deep breath, my voice tighter now.

“He was shouting at Ishita. He made her cry. He was completely out of line, talking nonsense about her.”

Rahul cut in with a fake laugh. “I wasn’t shouting! She started crying on her own. And let’s be honest, she can’t even dance! She’s not worth being my partner.”

My vision blurred with anger.

“One more word, and you’re dead,” I growled.

“ENOUGH!” Father James’s voice boomed, silencing the tension in the room.

I clenched my jaw, staring at the floor as I tried to hold back the fury boiling inside me.

Father looked directly at me. “This is a school, Ahaan. Violence is never the answer. Who gave you the right to act like this?”

Seriously?

Was this old man even listening? After everything Rahul did, I’m the one in the wrong?

My heart skipped when Father called Ishita into the office.

The door opened, and there she was, walking in with Kiara by her side.

She still looked pale, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

My chest tightened. Seeing her like that only fueled my anger.

I swear, Rahul, I won’t let this slide.

Father James gave her a concerned look. “Are you okay, Ishita?”

She nodded hesitantly, her voice barely audible. “Yes, Father.”

Father turned to Rahul, his expression stern, and gave him a knowing look. Rahul, the coward that he was, walked up to Ishita and muttered the lamest apology I’d ever heard.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his tone flat and insincere, as if he was reading off a script.

That was it? That’s all he was going to do?

Before I could react, Kiara exploded.

“How dare he shout at my Ishita?” she snapped, her voice filled with fury. “Even in front of all those students! Do you think a simple sorry is enough for what he did?”

My cupcake flinched slightly at the sudden outburst, looking even more scared.

My gaze remained fixed on her.

I’m sorry, cupcake. I never wanted to drag you into this mess. But at least now, everyone sees the real Rahul.

“Enough, Kiara,” Father interrupted, his voice firm.

But Kiara wasn’t having it. “Father, you know he has to be punished! He can’t just get away with this!”

For a moment, there was silence, and then Father finally spoke.

“Rahul,” he declared, “will not be allowed to participate in the annual dance program.”

I stared at Father, disbelief washing over me.

Huh? That’s it? Seriously?

Rahul looked like he wanted to protest but stopped himself, his jaw clenching. Kiara looked furious, and I... well, I wasn’t satisfied either. This wasn’t punishment. This was a slap on the wrist.

But Ishita? She just stood there, quiet and scared, and that hurt more than anything.

She then looked at me with her doe innocent eyes which melt my anger, and then towards my hand

her innocent doe-like eyes meeting mine. It was enough to melt away the burning anger in my chest

But then her gaze shifted downward, and I followed it to my hand.

The knuckles. Bloodied and raw.

I raised an eyebrow, realizing she was worried. Before I could say anything, Father interrupted.

“Ahaan. Ishita. Stay. The rest of you may leave,” he said sternly.

Kiara didn’t want to leave her side, but Ishita gently assured her, giving her a small nod. Reluctantly, Kiara walked out, glaring at Father before leaving the room.

Now what does this old man want?

I stood coldly, staring at Father. Ishita, on the other hand, looked down at the floor, her posture fragile and defeated.

“Do you know,” Father began, “that fighting and violence can get you expelled from this school?”

I scoffed, mocking him. “Are you asking me or telling me?”

“I’m telling you to stop being a bad boy, Ahaan,” he replied, his voice sharp.

I stepped forward slightly, my tone icy. “Then tell students like Rahul to stop messing with the weak and bullying them. When that happens, maybe I’ll leave my bad-boy ways behind.”

Father sighed, his frustration evident. “You’re not some president or a leader. Don’t try to lecture me, Ahaan.” He turned to Ishita. “And Ishita, we’re truly sorry for what happened today.”

She didn’t say a word. Not a single word.

Father continued, “We can arrange another dance partner for you. Don’t worry about Rahul.”

But then, her voice, soft and broken, cut through the tension.

“No, Father. I’m not participating anymore. I... I should leave now.”

And just like that, she turned and walked out of the room.

I watched her leave, my chest tightening. My cupcake. I wish I could comfort you. I wish I could tell you it’s all okay.

But for now, I’ll always be your shield, your protective system. Even if you don’t realize it.

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 🫶🏻

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