Unrequited Beginnings

The school break ended, and everyone returned to school with happiness and excitement. The hallways were filled with laughter and conversations as friends caught up and shared stories about their short but eventful vacations. It was nice to be back, surrounded by familiar faces and the lively school atmosphere.

Riya and I walked into the school together, our steps were flowing together as we strolled the crowded corridors. "Feels good to be back, doesn't it?" she asked, her eyes bright with delight.

I nodded, a smile playing on my lips. "Yeah, it does. I missed this place more than I thought I would."

We made our way to our classroom, greeted by the usual chaos of students settling back into their routines. Jen was already at her desk, waving eagerly as we approached. "Hey, you two! How was the break?"

"It was great!" Riya replied, dropping her bag onto her desk. "Lots of ease and some exciting observations." She shot me a knowing look, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Exciting observations?" Jen raised an eyebrow, astonished.

"Nothing important," I said quickly, not wanting to delve into the whole Rohan mystery just yet. "Just some usual neighbourhood stuff."

Jen smirked, clearly not convinced. "Uh-huh, sure."

During the morning classes, everything felt normal and comforting. We resumed our lessons, received assignments, and school life fell back into its familiar routine. However, my thoughts kept returning to Rohan and his mysterious presence in our neighbourhood.

During lunch, Riya, Jen, and I found a quiet corner in the courtyard to enjoy our meal. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and shared stories from the break. But ultimately, the topic circled back to Rohan.

"So, Maya," Riya began, her tone casual but her eyes glimmering with mischief. "Any thoughts on why our favorite events captain was stalking around our neighbourhood?"

Jen tensed up, her interest was evident. "Wait, what? Rohan was in your neighbourhood?"

I soughed, knowing there was no escaping their curiousness. "Yes, he was. Twice, actually. Once when Riya and I were at the garden, and then Tia saw him near the garden again, looking for someone."

Jen's eyes widened. "That's... interesting. Do you think he was looking for you?"

"No way," I said firmly. "He has no reason to look for me. It's probably just a coincidence."

Riya giggled, shaking her head. "You and your coincidences, Maya. Sometimes, things happen for a reason, you know."

Jen leaned in, her eyes gleaming. "Come on, Maya. It's kind of romantic, don't you think? The mysterious boy showing up in your neighbourhood, looking for someone..."

I rolled my eyes. "You both are reading too much into this. He's probably just visiting someone or doing something else."

Riya raised an eyebrow. "And who exactly would he be visiting in our neighbourhood? He doesn't know anyone here except you."

"Exactly!" Jen exclaimed. "It has to be you, Maya. Maybe he finally realized how amazing you are."

I groaned, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "You guys are impossible. He has a girlfriend, remember? Neha? He's not interested in me."

Riya laughed, a wily smile on her face. "Well, maybe he is and he just hasn't figured it out yet. Boys can be pretty clueless sometimes."

Jen agreed in agreement. "Totally. And besides, even if he does have a girlfriend, it doesn't mean he can't be interested in someone else. Feelings are complicated."

I huffed, pushing my food around my plate. "You both have wild imaginations. Let's just drop it, okay?"

Riya and Jen exchanged knowing glimpses, but they let the subject go, for now at least.

When the bell rang to end lunch, we gathered our things and went back to class. The rest of the day went by quickly with lessons and laughter. I almost forgot about Rohan's mysterious appearance.

As the sun went down and the day ended, I couldn't stop thinking about whether Riya was right. Maybe there was more to Rohan's actions than just luck. And perhaps, the answers would come to light in the days ahead.

***

Preparations for the eighth grade's annual day started with lots of excitement and busyness. Rohan, our school's events captain, took charge of organizing the eighth grade's annual day practices. Despite my previous impression of him as careless and irresponsible, I noticed the hard work he put into ensuring the event's success, which I found impressive.

Every morning, the school was busy getting ready. People were putting up decorations, practising for the event, and working hard to make sure everything went well. Rohan was right in the middle of it all, leading everyone with a determined look on his face.

I saw him a few times, appearing stressed and annoyed by the responsibilities on his shoulders. He was always active, checking every detail and ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Although I had initially judged him, I had to admit that he was handling his duties with surprising dedication.

The next day, I was sitting with Riya and Jen during lunch when the conversation eventually turned back to Rohan.

I saw Rohan in the corner of the auditorium, rubbing his temples like he had a headache. He seemed under a lot of pressure, and it made me feel a mix of emotions.

"So," Riya started, a mischievous flash in her eye, "have you noticed how our dear events captain seems to be on edge lately?"

Jen shook, leaning in. "Yeah, Maya. Have you seen him? He looks like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders."

I moaned, knowing where this was headed. "Yes, I've noticed. It's hard not to."

Riya smirked, urging me. "You seem awfully invested in his well-being."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm just saying, it's a lot of pressure for anyone. Even Rohan."

Jen smiled. "Is that concern I hear in your voice? Maya, do you have a soft spot for Rohan?"

I grunted, shaking my head. "No, it's not like that. I just think he's putting in a lot of effort, that's all."

Riya giggled. "Right, because you don't care at all."

Jen joined in, her eyes sparkling with fun. "You know, Maya, you might hate him, but it's clear you respect his dedication."

I groaned, knowing I couldn't win this argument. "Fine, maybe I do. But that doesn't change anything."

Riya raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't it? You might find that your feelings are more complicated than you think."

Jen bounced in agreement. "Yeah, maybe there's more to your relationship with Rohan than just hate."

I chose not to reply, but their words stayed with me. Despite my attempts to ignore it, I couldn't deny that I admired Rohan's commitment. Despite our past issues, despite the tension and the miscommunication, he still held a special place in my heart.

The days before the annual day were busy, and Rohan was very involved. He was everywhere, making sure the decorations were done, coordinating with teachers, and checking that every performance was flawless. His usual easygoing attitude was replaced with a seriousness I had never seen before.

As I left the school after practice one evening, I saw Rohan sitting alone on the steps, looking out at the empty courtyard. He seemed really tired and it was clear that he had a lot on his mind. I thought about going to talk to him for a moment, but I decided against it. I felt like it wasn't my place, and I wasn't sure what I would even say.

As I left, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Maybe he wasn't as thoughtless and unreliable as I had always believed. Perhaps, deep down, there was more to Rohan Sharma than I had ever imagined.

And maybe, just maybe, this yearly event would reveal a new side of him that I had never seen before.