I know I can't change what happened in 9th grade—but one thing is for sure, I learned a lot. Like how to waste 15 hours a day scrolling through Instagram reels… and how to ruin my dad's hard-earned money by letting his 50-thousand-rupee Byju's subscription go to waste. I got it halfway through 8th grade itself, way too early—and there was no one to guide or stop me. That was the beginning of my downfall… mine, and my dad's money too.
But life has a way of teaching you lessons the hard way. Once you hit rock bottom, you start to rise—and that's exactly what happened to me. I got serious in 10th grade. I started studying properly again, scored well in my class, and my teachers even liked me. But some of my so-called "friends"? They turned out to be the worst.
There was one girl, Prapti. Before 10th grade started, we were really close. So close that one day, in front of everyone, I kissed her on the cheek. But now? I wouldn't even spit in her direction. As soon as new admissions came to our class, she completely forgot about me. It was like I irritated her now. She got bored of me. Started abusing me. Her new friends didn't like me either. The three of them stayed in their own little world, and I was just the extra one who listened quietly. I felt so left out… but honestly, I'd been through worse.
It had been over three years in that place, and finally, I was about to be posted somewhere new.
Exactly one month before leaving… he came.
A new boy joined our class—from Punjab. Six feet tall, with the perfect beard, sharp jawline, brown eyes that held secrets, a straight nose, silky dark hair, a deep voice that gave you chills… and a body lined with veins like an artwork. I was gone. Completely smitten. His name was Abhishek
But I never showed it.
Instead, I did the exact opposite. I scolded him—in front of the whole class—because he kept staring at me. What no one knew was that while I was yelling at him, I was blushing. Not out of anger, but because I was so close to him for the first time. My heart was racing. And he… he just kept looking at me. Quietly. Taking it all in, without saying a word.
After that, I quietly went back to my seat.
But that moment… that moment stayed with me.
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Yes, I was a fool. After that day, I was desperate to talk to him. Unable to resist, I asked my other male friends for his Instagram ID and sent him a request. For the next three to four days, we chatted incessantly. In class, however, we acted like strangers, our eyes avoiding each other, pretending we had never met. I didn't mind this charade; it was thrilling in its own way.
But I couldn't contain myself any longer. One night, amidst our conversations, I mustered the courage to confess my feelings. I had a plan: if he said yes, I'd embrace it; if he declined, I'd brush it off as a prank or a dare from friends. Maturity had never been my strong suit.
I anxiously awaited his reply. And then it came—a "Yes." I was on cloud nine, my crush had reciprocated my feelings. But reality hit me hard: the next day was my last at school, the final time I'd see him. A bittersweet ache settled in my heart.
The following day, he arrived, and I found myself unable to meet his gaze, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He noticed my shyness and seemed to revel in it. We barely spoke during school hours. But after classes ended, he approached me with his friends in tow.
"Wait," he said, "I need to talk to you. We might not get another chance."
His words drew the attention of our classmates, who gathered around, their eyes fixed on us. We moved under the shade of a tree, seeking a semblance of privacy. From a distance, our peers watched, some teasing, others capturing the moment on their phones.
I chose to ignore them, focusing solely on him. His eyes held mine, and then, gently, he took my hand. I melted at his touch.
"When you leave," he began, "I won't feel the same. Something will be missing."
A lump formed in my throat. I lowered my gaze to the grass beneath us. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
Then, softly, he said the words that made my heart skip a beat:
"I love you. Please, let's stay together, even if it's a long-distance relationship."
Overwhelmed with emotion, I looked up and replied,
"I love you too."
A radiant smile spread across his face, a sight that warmed my soul.
Just as the moment deepened, our class teacher appeared, ready to leave in her car. We quickly released our hands. He rejoined his friends, and I mine. As we walked away, I could hear his friends teasing him, their laughter echoing down the road
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