Yesterday, I skipped school. And Today too.

Not because I wanted to. But because I couldn’t bring myself to face it.

The news of Ahaan fighting Rahul has probably spread by now, and I can already imagine the looks and whispers.

The thought of being the center of attention again feels suffocating. I can't handle it.

Yesterday morning, I had a fever.
Maybe it was from all the stress. I feel better now, though, at least physically.

But mentally?

I’m still trying to process everything.

Rahul shouted at me in front of everyone.

Everyone. I still remember the way my chest tightened, how small I felt under all those eyes. The embarrassment. The hurt. And worst of all? The disappointment.

My crush? Rahul? After what he did?

There’s no way.

No hope.

And Ahaan... God, Ahaan. When he fought Rahul, it was terrifying. He looked like he was going to destroy him.

And for what? Me?

But why?

Yes, I said yes to Rahul.

He was my crush, after all. But the way he behaved—the way he shouted, insulted, and demeaned me—broke something inside me.

The steps he wanted me to do were uncomfortable, impossible even. I know he just wanted all the attention for himself.

But I couldn’t take it anymore.

I haven’t told anyone what happened. Not my parents. Not my brother. I don’t want to deal with the mess or the questions. I feel frozen, stuck in this overwhelming silence.

It’s 3:30 PM now.

I put on a casual outfit, slipped on my shoes, and prepared to head to tuition. I didn’t want to go, but I couldn’t keep skipping everything.

Kiara wasn’t coming today—something about her grandmother arriving from India. So, I had to go alone.

I slipped in my AirPods, hoping music would drown out the noise in my head.

With a deep breath, I stepped outside, letting the crisp air hit my face. Maybe, just maybe, this walk would help me clear my thoughts.

As I was walking to tuition, I suddenly heard a voice call my name.

"Ishi!"

I turned around, confused, trying to place the voice.

It was... Diya?

No, Siya?

Wait... oh, right, it’s Riya from Class D.

She also studies in the same tuition as me.

She ran toward me, smiling, and we ended up walking together.

"Kiara isn’t coming today?" she asked.

"No," I replied, "she’s busy with some family stuff."

Riya nodded. "Ohh, I see."

Then, after a moment of silence, she looked at me curiously. "Why haven’t you been coming to school lately?"

I hesitated but managed to answer casually, "I had a fever. I’m better now, though, so I didn’t want to skip tuition today."

She studied my face for a moment and then asked, "Are you okay, Ishita?"

"Yeah, I’m fine," I said, though my voice wavered slightly.

Riya gave me a small smile and said, "You know, I heard you have a crush on Rahul."

My heart skipped a beat. Shocked, I asked, "How do you know that?"

She chuckled softly, "Don’t worry, not many people know. It’s just... girls notice these things, even if boys don’t. And honestly, it’s not a big deal. Lots of students have crushes—it’s normal. Even I have one!"

"Really?" I asked, still surprised.

"Yeah," she admitted with a grin. "But the problem is, we don’t always know if they’re good people at heart or not. Sometimes we’re drawn to their looks, and sometimes it’s their kindness. It just depends."

Her words made me think. Had I really fallen for Rahul just because of his looks? I didn’t reply, but her honesty felt comforting.

Before I knew it, we had reached tuition.

"Wow," I said, surprised. "We reached so fast."

Riya nodded. "Talking to someone makes the time fly, doesn’t it?"

We walked inside and joined the group of students already waiting. My eyes wandered around the room, scanning for someone I wasn’t sure I wanted to see.

Ahaan.

But he wasn’t there with his usual gang.

Why did that bother me? It shouldn’t.

Yet, it felt... wrong. After everything he did—protecting me, standing up for me—how had I not thanked him yet?

I’d been so focused on Rahul that I hadn’t even acknowledged Ahaan’s actions.

Just then, my thoughts were interrupted.

Ahaan walked out of the tuition office, his tall frame impossible to miss.

Our eyes met.

I froze.

The memory of his furious face, the way he’d fought Rahul for me, flashed through my mind. My heart raced, and I quickly looked down, unable to hold his gaze.

I should thank him. After tuition, maybe.

But as he walked past me, he didn’t say a word. No teasing, no smirk—just silence.

He ignored me completely.

The classes had started, and I was sitting alone, trying to focus, but the throbbing in my head was making it impossible.

My mom had told me to skip tuition today, but I’d insisted on coming. Maybe she was right.

I glanced back at Ahaan, who was sitting at the last bench, casually talking with his friends.

How was I even going to talk to him? My palms felt clammy just thinking about it.

Before the second class began,

I grabbed my water bottle and took a few sips, hoping it would help calm me down.

My hands were shaking slightly, and the headache was only getting worse.

Then the teacher made an announcement that made my jaw drop.

“We will have an extra hour of class today.”

What? When did this happen?

I quickly checked my phone and opened the tuition group chat. There it was—a message about the extended class.

How had I missed it?

With a sigh, I messaged my mom:
“There’s an extra class. I’ll be home by 7.”

I placed my phone back in my bag and tried to refocus as the biology class started.

The words on the board blurred before my eyes, and the pounding in my head intensified.

Kiara wasn’t here to distract me or crack jokes to lighten the mood.

It was just me, my headache, and this endless class.

The pain was becoming unbearable. I rested my head on the desk, gripping my temples, trying to will it away.

But nothing was working.

I don’t think I can even make it through this class, let alone talk to Ahaan.

I rested my head on the desk, trying to focus on the teacher’s voice, but it felt like my head was going to split in half.

My vision was starting to blur slightly, and I clenched my fists, hoping the pain would subside.

Suddenly, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I looked up to see Riya staring at me, her face filled with worry.

“Ishita, are you okay?” she asked softly, kneeling beside my desk.

I tried to nod but felt too weak. “I’m fine,” I murmured, though the words sounded unconvincing even to me.

“You don’t look fine,” she insisted, glancing at the teacher before looking back at me. “Your face is pale. Are you sick?”

“No, it’s just... just a headache,” I said, pressing my hand against my temple.

Before she could say anything else, there was a sudden shift in the room.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Ahaan standing up from the back of the class.

His tall frame moved with purpose as he walked toward me.

Ahaan

“What’s wrong with her?”

he asked Riya, his tone sharp, almost demanding.

“She’s not feeling well,” Riya replied hesitantly, standing up.

Ahaan’s gaze shifted to me, his dark eyes narrowing.

“Why are you even here if you’re sick?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but no words came out. The headache was too much.

Ahaan turned to the teacher, who had stopped the lesson and was now watching the scene unfold with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

He didn’t waste a second.
He moved towards the teacher and told her something, now they both were looking at me and than she said

The teacher’s gaze shifted to me. “Ishita, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Riya stepped forward, her voice filled with concern.

“Ma’am, she’s been holding her head the entire time,” Riya explained. “She has a headache and a fever. She really shouldn’t be here right now.”

The teacher’s expression softened as she walked up to me. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier, Ishita?” she asked gently. “You don’t look well at all.”

I tried to protest. “I’m fine, ma’am. I can stay—”

“No,”

Ahaan interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. “She’s not fine, and she needs to leave. Right now.”

The teacher gave Ahaan a sharp look, as though debating whether to reprimand him, but then sighed. “You’re right. Ishita, you shouldn’t push yourself like this. You need to go home and rest.”

I nodded weakly, grateful that someone else had spoken up for me because I didn’t have the strength to argue anymore.

The teacher turned back to Ahaan. “ahaan why don’t you make sure she gets home safely? I can’t let her leave alone in this condition.”

Ahaan didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take her,” he said, already pulling out his phone to call someone.

“Ma’am—” I started to object, but the teacher shook her head.

“No arguments, Ishita. Ahaan will drop you home. I’ll let your parents know about this.”

Ahaan, still on the phone, said,
“Karan, bring me my bike keys. Now.”

Riya stayed by my side, her hand resting on my shoulder. “Take care, Ishita,” she said softly. “And don’t worry. Ahaan will make sure you get home safe.”

Ahaan grabbed my bag from the desk without asking,

slinging it over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing.

“Let’s go,”

he said, his voice softer but still firm.

With Riya’s supportive smile and Ahaan’s determined presence, I let myself be guided out of the classroom.

I walked behind Ahaan, clutching my head as the headache intensified.

My legs felt weak, and before I knew it, I lost my balance slightly.

Instinctively, I grabbed the back of his jacket to steady myself.

The moment my fingers clutched his jacket, I froze, goosebumps running down my arms.

I hadn’t meant to touch him, but it was either that or falling flat on the ground.

Ahaan stopped in his tracks, turning back immediately.

Without a word, he grabbed my hand and then, to my utter shock, placed his arm around my waist to keep me steady.

"Careful," he said in a low voice.

I didn’t know what to focus on—the fact that his hand was now resting on my waist, touching my bare skin because of my crop top, or that my whole body was trembling from his proximity.

His hands were slightly cold against my burning skin, and I felt like a surge of electricity passed through me.

This was so awkward.

I wasn’t used to anyone touching me, let alone a boy.

I wasn’t the touchy type, but this… this was different.

His touch didn’t feel intrusive, but it still left me completely unnerved.

I dared to glance up at him, meeting his intense green hazel eyes. His expression wasn’t mocking or annoyed—it was calm, almost gentle, as if he was genuinely worried.

That made me more nervous than anything else.

Realizing how close we were, I quickly stepped back to put some distance between us.

He didn’t say a word but caught my arm again, steadying me as I wobbled slightly.

“You’re burning up,” he muttered, and before I could react, his hand reached out to check my forehead.

His fingers lightly brushed my skin, and I flinched, feeling another jolt of nerves. “You need to go to the hospital,” he said matter-of-factly.

“No,” I managed to mumble, shaking my head weakly. “I just need to go home. I’ll be fine.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, his grip on my arm firm.

“Don’t be stubborn. There’s a clinic nearby. I’ll take you there, get you medicine, and then drop you home. Trust me.”

His tone left no room for argument. Woah. So much care.

I hadn’t expected this from the bad boy everyone warned me about. He wasn’t as cold-hearted as people said.

He bent down to pick my bag from the floor, slinging it over his shoulder before extending his hand toward me.

“Come on,”

he said, his voice softer now.

I hesitated for a second but eventually placed my hand in his. It felt strange but safe, like I could rely on him at this moment.

My nerves were on edge, but I wasn’t scared of him anymore. I was just… nervous.

He helped me down the stairs carefully, his hand steadying me the entire way. When we reached the front gate, he gestured for me to wait.

“Stay here. I’ll bring the bike,”

he said before walking off to the parking area.

Moments later, he came back, revving his bike to life. He looked at me, tilting his head slightly. “Get on,” he instructed.

I froze. .

This was my first time sitting on a bike, let alone with a guy.

I hadn’t even ridden with my dad or brother before.

“Are you just going to stand there?” he asked, his voice teasing but still gentle.

I swallowed hard and took a hesitant step forward, staring at the bike like it was some kind of alien spaceship.

How was I even supposed to get on?

My mind raced with nervous thoughts, my headache pounding harder as I stood there, frozen.

Maybe I had to put my hands on his shoulder to climb on?

But how could I just… touch him?

Gosh, this was so awkward.

My nerves were all over the place, and to make it worse, my headache wasn’t giving me any mercy.

Ahaan must’ve sensed my hesitation because he turned slightly, his hazel eyes catching mine.

Without saying a word, he placed his hand on his shoulder as if signaling, Go ahead, you can do it.

I nervously reached out, placing my hand on his shoulder.

Oh no.

His shoulder was firm, solid, and well-built.

No doubt, anyone could tell just by looking at him that he had a muscular body.

Stop it, Ishi! Don’t let your thoughts wander now, I scolded myself, but my cheeks burned with embarrassment.

“Hold on tight,”

he said, his voice calm but commanding.

I nodded quickly, clutching both of his shoulders tightly.

Okay, I did it.

I managed to climb onto the bike. But the moment he revved the engine and we started moving, my nerves skyrocketed.

Oh my God.

The speed felt unreal. My heart pounded in my chest as I instinctively squeezed my eyes shut and clutched his shoulders tighter.

Yeah, one more thing—I’m terrified of speed. And heights.

The way Ahaan was driving, it felt like we were flying. My knuckles turned white as I gripped him, silently praying for the speed to slow down.

And then, suddenly, it did.

I slowly opened my eyes, confused by the sudden change.

Ahaan was still driving, but the pace was much calmer now.

Did he notice that I was scared?

I glanced at the side mirror and saw his face.

He wasn’t smirking or teasing me like I expected. Instead, his expression was calm, focused.

Maybe he had seen the fear on my face earlier and decided to take it easy.

I found myself staring at him in the mirror, unable to help it. His sharp jawline, the serious expression in his eyes—it was hard not to notice how... composed he looked.

And then, without meaning to, my mind replayed what he had said to the principal that day:

"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."

Those words lingered in my mind, tugging at something deep inside me.

Ahaan wasn’t just a bad boy—there was more to him than that. Maybe he wasn’t as heartless or reckless as people thought.

Maybe… he cared.

And then we reached the clinic

Ahaan helped me off the bike and gently grabbed my arm, steadying me as we walked toward the clinic.

My legs still felt weak, but I managed to keep up.

The clinic was small but clean, with a soft smell of antiseptic in the air. The receptionist looked up as we entered.

“She’s not feeling well. Can we see the doctor now?”

Ahaan asked, his voice calm yet commanding.

The receptionist nodded, gesturing to an empty seat. “Please wait for a few minutes. The doctor will see her soon.”

I sank into the chair, my headache pounding harder now.

Ahaan sat beside me, his elbow resting casually on the armrest, but his eyes kept flicking toward me.

“You okay?”

he asked after a moment, his voice low.

I nodded, even though I wasn’t. “I’m fine.”

But I'm not

He scoffed lightly, leaning closer.

“You’re the worst liar I’ve ever met. Just admit you’re not fine.”

Before I could respond, the nurse called my name, and Ahaan immediately stood up, helping me rise.

“Come on,” he said, holding my elbow to guide me into the doctor’s office.

The doctor, an elderly man with kind eyes, looked up from his desk. “What seems to be the problem?”

“She has a fever and a bad headache,” Ahaan said before I could speak. “She’s been pushing herself too hard.”

The doctor gestured for me to sit on the examination chair. He checked my temperature, pulse, and throat while Ahaan stood nearby, watching intently.

“She’s running a high fever,” the doctor said after a few minutes. “It’s likely a viral infection. You’ll need to rest for a couple of days and take these medicines.” He scribbled a prescription and handed it to Ahaan, who took it without hesitation.

“Thank you, doctor,” Ahaan said, his tone polite but firm.

The doctor looked at me with a gentle smile. “No stress, no overexertion. Drink plenty of fluids and eat well.”

I nodded, whispering a soft, “Thank you.”

As we walked out, Ahaan went to the pharmacy next door to get the prescribed medicine. I sat on a bench outside, leaning my head against the cool wall.

When he returned, he handed me the medicines and a bottle of water.

“Take these now,”

he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I swallowed the pills, grimacing slightly at the bitterness.

“Better?” he asked, his voice softer now.

I nodded, feeling a little comforted by his presence despite everything.

As we rode back from the clinic, the streets blurred around me.

My headache dulled slightly from the medicine, but my heart raced for an entirely different reason.

Every bump on the road made me press closer to Ahaan, my hands gripping his shoulders tightly, his scent of cologne and faint leather filling my senses.

It was both thrilling and terrifying.

A sudden sharp turn made me gasp and instinctively tighten my hold, my chest brushing against his back.

His body stiffened for a moment before he slowed down.

We reached a quieter street near my house, and he pulled the bike to a stop under a tree.

He removed his helmet and turned slightly toward me, his sharp jawline illuminated under the streetlight.

“Why didn’t you tell anyone you weren’t feeling well? Do you always push yourself like this?”

he asked, his tone laced with irritation, but his eyes were searching mine with concern.

I looked down, fiddling with the hem of my top. “I didn’t want to bother anyone… I thought I could manage.”

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “You’re so stubborn. You could’ve passed out back there, Ishi.”

The way he said my name made my breath hitch.

There was something raw in his voice, something I wasn’t used to hearing from him.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, barely audible.

He leaned closer, his hazel eyes locking onto mine.
“Don’t apologize. Just… stop hiding when you’re struggling. You don’t have to deal with everything alone.”

The intensity in his gaze made my cheeks burn, and I looked away, my heart pounding. “Why do you even care?” I blurted out, more out of nervousness than anything.

He was silent for a moment, and then he leaned even closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Because I do. And you’re too important to ignore.”

I froze, my breath caught in my throat.

Too important?

What did he mean by that?

Before I could say anything, he straightened up and handed me my bag. “ let’s get you home,” he said, his tone softer now but still firm.

I climbed back onto the bike, my mind reeling from his words.

As he drove, I couldn’t help but replay them over and over, wondering if I’d just imagined the way he’d looked at me, the way he’d spoken.

When we reached my house, he stopped the bike and turned to me, his gaze still lingering on my face.

“Get some rest,” he said quietly, his voice filled with a gentleness that caught me off guard.

I nodded, clutching my bag tightly. “Thank you… for everything.”

His lips quirked up into a small smile.

“Just take care of yourself, cupcake.”

Cupcake?

Did he just call me cupcake?

My heart skipped a beat, the word replaying in my mind like a melody I didn’t know I needed to hear.

No one had ever called me that before. It sounded… sweet, warm, and oddly personal coming from him.

I turned to wave a goodbye, and to my surprise, he didn’t drive away immediately.

He stayed there, his hazel eyes watching me intently, the rumble of his bike steady beneath him.

I clutched my bag tighter, my cheeks flushing as I slowly walked to my door.

My hands fumbled with the keys, my movements clumsy under the weight of his gaze.

I turned one last time before stepping inside.

He was still there.

Still waiting.

It wasn’t until I closed the door behind me that I heard the roar of his bike fading into the distance.

Leaning against the door, I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the rapid thud of my heartbeat.

What was happening to me?

Why did that one word from him feel like it was written just for me?

“Cupcake…” I whispered to myself, and for the first time in days, a small, shy smile tugged at my lips.

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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