POV: Max
The classroom was buzzing, but to me, it was just white noise.
I sat beside Kitty, pretending to take notes, when in reality—I was thinking about Mom's words, Ram's call, and how everything that once felt warm now just... stung.
I didn't tell Kitty anything about what happened. Not about Mom. Not about Ram.
Because how could I?
Especially when she was glowing.
Glowing because of him.
"I gave him the chocolate," she whispered, leaning close.
I blinked. "What?"
"Ram. I gave him the homemade chocolate I told you about." Her eyes sparkled. "He liked it. At least, I think he did."
I forced a smile. "That's nice."
She tilted her head. "You okay? You've been acting off lately."
Before I could lie again, Ren walked in and took her seat behind us.
She leaned in. "Guys, did something happen?"
Kitty looked at her. "Max is being weird. And Ram's quiet too. Like everyone's suddenly got drama and forgot to loop me in."
Ren raised a brow. "Didn't you say you like Ram?"
Kitty's smile faded slightly. "Yeah... why?"
Ren hesitated. "Just... maybe talk to Max. She might know things you don't."
The air turned cold.
Kitty's eyes snapped to mine. "What's she talking about?"
"I don't know," I replied, instantly. But it was too late. The damage was done.
"You knew I liked him," Kitty said, voice low. "And you still—what? Talk to him alone? Keep things from me?"
"I didn't do anything," I snapped, sharper than I meant to.
But her silence after that said more than any accusation could.
Meanwhile, outside the class...
Ram sat alone on the last bench, headphones in but music off.
Rithul joined him, sliding into the seat.
"You look like you fought a storm."
Ram sighed. "It's like... everyone's at war, and I don't even know who fired the first shot."
Rithul smirked. "Welcome to the drama club, bro."
...
After Class – Same Day
The classroom had emptied out, but Kitty and I stayed behind.
She didn't speak for a long time.
I thought she was mad. Thought this would break something between us.
But when she finally looked at me, her voice was soft.
"That day," she said. "At the canteen. When you cried after seeing someone…"
I looked up, heart racing.
"…it was him, wasn't it?" Her eyes met mine. "It was Ram."
My breath caught. There was no point denying it.
"I didn't know he was studying in our college," I whispered. "I didn't even know I'd see him again."
Kitty sat back, staring at the wall like a puzzle just solved itself. "You called him Mike."
I nodded. "It was our thing. Just mine, really."
She gave a half-laugh. Not bitter. Just… surprised. "I was busy crushing on him, not knowing he was already part of your story."
I looked down. "I didn't want to lie. I just didn't know how to explain it."
She leaned closer. "You were crying that day, Max. But not because of seeing him. Because of everything you couldn't say."
I felt tears prick my eyes again. But this time, Kitty reached out and held my hand.
"We're good," she said. "It hurts, but we're good."
And somehow, that felt like the first real breath I'd taken in days.
Clean, emotional, no hard feelings—just the quiet understanding...
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