After that night, Anaya made a decision—she wouldn't chase after Aarav anymore. She had spent too much time hoping, waiting, and hurting. Now, it was time to focus on herself.
She buried herself in her studies, determined to secure a place in a top architecture college. Late nights with textbooks replaced sleepless nights spent overthinking. Instead of looking for Aarav in the hallways, she started walking with Mira, engaging in conversations that didn't revolve around him.
At first, it was difficult. Her eyes still searched for him, her heart still ached when she saw him laughing with others. But every time she felt herself slipping, she reminded herself: He made his choice. Now, it's time for me to make mine.
The annual function preparations continued. The drama was a grand success, and when the night of the event arrived, Aarav and Misha were crowned the Best Prince and Princess of the school.
Anaya clapped along with the others, a small, polite smile on her face. But deep inside, something inside her felt... empty.
Not because she wasn't the one standing beside Aarav, but because she finally realized—this chapter of her life was over.
She turned to Mira and whispered, "Let's go." And for the first time, she walked away without looking back.
Aarav noticed the change in Anaya.
She no longer sought him out in the hallways, no longer tried to make small talk. She laughed with her friends, but it wasn't the same. It felt distant—lighter, but as if she had built a wall around herself.
He should've felt relieved. This was what he wanted, right?
Then why did he feel this strange, unfamiliar weight in his chest?
One afternoon, as he walked past the library, he caught a glimpse of her inside. She was sitting by the window, lost in a book, her hair falling over her face. A soft smile played on her lips—not forced, not broken, just... peaceful.
Aarav stood there longer than he should have, watching her.
He realized something then.
For the first time since they had stopped talking, she looked happy without him.
And that was when it hit him—he had truly lost her.
But instead of going inside, instead of calling out her name… he walked away.
As final exams approached, the students became more focused on their future.
Anaya spent hours sketching designs, filling up pages with blueprints and artistic visions. She had always dreamed of becoming an architect, of building something that lasted. Now, more than ever, she was determined to turn that dream into reality.
Aarav, on the other hand, had his sights set on Computer Science. His fascination with Artificial Intelligence had grown over the years, and he wanted to be part of the future—creating, innovating, pushing boundaries.
For the first time, they were walking separate paths, with separate dreams.
And for the first time… it felt real.