Ojasubi waved t us excitedly from the front row, holding seats for us. Without wasting a second, the three of us start walking fast toward her, pasting other students to claim our spots. As soon as we sat down on seats , Nami let out a satisfied sigh.
"Finally! Now we can actually enjoy the event." She stretched her arms, smiling .
Suhina who is not much interested in principal speech. She folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Yeah… but first, we have to sit through the principal's speec"
I lean back in my seat. "Ugh, how much longer is this bald old man going to bore us?" My voice was filled with exhaustion as I slumped against the chair
Nami, who had been laughing and smiling with other a moment ago, suddenly turned towards me with a concerned look. "Are you okay?" Her tone was softer and hesitant , as if she sensed something was not fine.
For a moment, I considered telling her about what happend btween me and Rei, about the strom inside me. But , I just forced a smile and nodded. "Of course, I am. Now, let's just focus on enjoying the performances."
She didn't look convinced, but she didn't push me either. The hall lights dimmed, the music started, and for a while, we let ourself get lost in the music,
The deep emotion into a love song. The melody of the song wrapped around me, going somewhere deep inside. My thoughts lost away from the crowd, away from the bright stage those lights, into a quiet corner of my mind where a single question resting
was love really like this? Was it as beautiful, as painful, as overwhelming as people said?
Without Thinking other words, I turned to Nami. "Nami," I called her out softly.
She looked at me, slightly confused . "Yeah? What is it?"
I paused for a moment before asking, hesitated, but then I asked -
"What is love, Nami?"
She looked at me with a mocking
smile.Then, making a funny face, she shrugged looking toward Suhina . "You should ask Suhina. She's the one in love."
I turned to Suhina, who was unbothered by our question and quietly watching the performance. "Suhina, do you know?"
She shook her head, she say in a calm voice. "No!"Maybe love is something that exists in your heart before you even realize it. Or maybe… even when it doesn't exist, the heart still claims it as its own." Her eyes our still on performance
Nami smirked ,suddenly a mischievous glint in on Her face. "Love is exactly what Suhina feels for Tenzin," she teased Suhina playfully.
At this, Suhina's face turned red with anger and embarrassment. "Shut up, Nami!" she groaned , crossing her arms.
Nami just laughed, enjoying Suhina's reaction. Then, she turned back to me, tilting her head. "Alright then, you tell us.....what is love?"
Her question caught me off guard. For a sec I Can't find the words . Because the truth was....I didn't know either.
"Maybe love is something that exists in your heart before you even realize it. Or maybe… even when it doesn't exist, the heart still claims it as its own."
The words come out from my mouth without thought, as if they had always been there, waiting to be spoken to be shared
After that there was silence. Neither Nami nor Suhina said anything. They simply let my words settle in , blending into the soft instrument of the love song still playing on stage. Instead of responding, we all turned our attention back to the performance, losting ourselves in the rhythm
But my mind was elsewhere.
As the event ended and the crowd slowly start going , we gathered our things and stepped out of the school gates. The evening air was cool and fresh carrying the distant laughter of students Behind us. Just as I was about to leave with Nami and Suhina, my eyes caught sight of him Rei...
He stood near the entrance, surrounded by a few of his classmates, for a mere second, our eyes met.
And in that moment, a thought crossed my mind.
Is this the end?
I turned away, ready to walk ahead Leaving the scars Behind .
But just then, Rei looked back at me one last time. He didn't say anything, didn't call out my name. He only smiled .....a small smile, one that held neither regret nor sadness. And then, he turned and walked away With his Friends.
I watched him disappear into the crowd, and for the first time, I felt something shift within me.
I realized, some bonds are meant to remain unname ,unlabeled, unchained by expectations. And maybe… that's exactly how they are supposed to be.
As I turned to leave, a sudden realization struck me.
"Oh my God! Yaar, I left my book in the classroom!" I looked for my book in my bag, stopping in my tracks.
"Really? You don't bring books even on study days and today when there is an annual function, you have brought books?"
He shook his head in disbelief.
I pouted, playfully "Bitch!" I said back, sticking out my tongue.
She burst into laughter. "Haha, you're impossible, Aira."
Suhina, standing nearby, was listening to our conversation quietly. She gave a tired and fed up expression and started looking at me as if I had committed a crime.
And said,
"Look, if you both want to go, then go, I will not come with you. I am tired."
She said while removing her hair from her forehead.
Nami and I looked at each other and turned our eyes to one side.
"Don't come," and saying this we left from there.
Typical Suhina.....forever acting like a queen who couldn't be bothered with trivial matters.
As Nami and I walked toward the classroom, she sighed in relief and give me a smile .
"Well, at least we got rid of Suhina. She always acts so high and mighty for no reason." Nami said dramatically, stretching her arms behind her head.
I chuckled. It was true.....Suhina had her moments of unnecessary attitude, but that was just how she was.
By now, the school was almost Empty . The once-bustling corridors were quiet, with only a faint echo of distant chatter from the few students and staff who still Their . The empty halls felt unfamiliar, stripped of the usual energy that filled them during the day.