..You're my honeysuckle...?

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We both took a bus to the event. During the journey, Khabir sat next to me, but he was busy handling his responsibilities. 

I turned to him and asked, “Need any help?” 
“No, thanks,” he replied curtly. 

I pressed my lips into a thin line. “Friends can help each other. I can lend a hand,” I offered with a smile. 

“Really?” He finally turned to me, handing over a list of people and events with dates and timings. 
“Then, help me create a schedule,” he said. 

We dived into the task, cross-checking time slots and planning how many students would participate in each event. After much effort, we completed the schedule. He smiled brightly at me. 

“Don’t you think I deserve a thank you?” I teased. 

“Friends don’t thank each other. But how about a drink instead?” he suggested, chuckling. 

We got off the bus at our destination, and he grabbed two drinks for us. Most of our conversation revolved around the events. 

Later, Khabir called Pruthvi to check on everyone. Pruthvi confirmed that the others had settled into their allocated rooms. Since neither Khabir nor I had competitions that day, he suggested I prepare for my upcoming exam scheduled in two hours. 

We entered the college hosting the event. Khabir registered our names under the senior and junior categories, respectively. After registration, he handed me a tag. 

“Be careful with this. If you lose it, you won’t be allowed to take the exam,” he warned. 
“Okay, okay,” I replied. 

We sat at a round table in the middle of the ground, surrounded by participants preparing for their exams. The sight of them engrossed in discussions made me nervous. I started biting my nails. 

Khabir smirked. “If you keep biting your nails, they’ll start bleeding, and you’ll fail the exam even before it begins.” 

I sighed. “I’m just nervous. A little motivation would help.” 

He put his phone down and, with a blank expression, started quizzing me on the syllabus. I answered each question correctly. 
“See? You’re ready,” he said, smiling. 

Relieved, I smiled back. “Thanks, coach! You should start a tutoring center—you’re really good at this!” 

He chuckled. “Do your best. Don’t compare yourself to others or stress too much. After the exam, I’ll treat you to something nice.” 

The announcement for the exam came shortly after. We checked our tags and headed to our respective halls. Before entering, we exchanged smiles. 

Inside, I sat down and started answering the questions. To my surprise, everything I had studied came up, including a 10-mark question Khabir had explained in detail. I finished just in time and left the hall to find him. 

To my shock, he was sleeping at the same table we had occupied earlier. I tapped on the table gently. He rubbed his eyes, looking up at me groggily. 

Instead of asking about my exam, he grumbled, “Why did you take so long? I’ve been waiting for half an hour.” 

Clearing my throat, I teased, “Well, you’re a topper—I can’t compete with you!” 

He imitated my tone mockingly but smiled. 
“Let’s grab something to eat,” he said. 

I hesitated, waiting for him to ask how my exam went. Finally, I prompted, “Aren’t you going to ask me how I did?” 

He shrugged. “I hope you did well. If not, don’t stress over it.” 
“That’s cool,” I replied, smiling. 

We decided to get ice cream. Walking through the arts exhibition, we noticed a board inviting participants to submit their artwork for display. 

“Let’s try it!” I suggested excitedly. 
He declined, but I grabbed his hand and bought a token anyway. 

“You know how to sketch or paint, right?” I asked eagerly. 
“I used to,” he admitted hesitantly. 

“Great! Let’s do it,” I said, pulling him to the allotted table. 

Although reluctant, he eventually joined in. I started painting something random, and he helped refine it. We laughed and teased each other throughout. By the end, we had painted a boy and girl standing near still water at the beach—reflecting our day. 

After signing our initials and leaving thumb impressions, we submitted our work. To our surprise, it was selected for the exhibition. We even had to take a small passport-sized photo for display under our painting. 

As we left the gallery, I teased him. “See? You’re lucky because of me—our art got selected!” 

“Maybe it’s because of me,” he retorted, smirking. 

Later, the announcement for the competition results revealed that I secured second place on the junior list, while Khabir was first on the senior list. When I noticed him looking glum, I asked why. 

“I’m tired, and now I have to stay longer for the next round,” he muttered. 

The next round was announced for half an hour later. While waiting, we played games like Ludo and Snake & Ladders. Despite being loud, we ignored the stares of people around us, fully engrossed in our playful battle. 

When it was time for the exam, Khabir reminded me not to forget my tag, which he had kept for me. We hurried to our respective halls. This round was tougher, but Khabir’s tips on time management helped me finish on time. 

Afterward, we returned to our rooms. Raya hugged me enthusiastically. “How was your day?” 

“Good,” I replied, glancing at Khabir with a smile. 

Noticing this, Raya teased, “Senior-junior to friends? Interesting!” 

“Don’t read too much into it,” I said casually. 

As I lay down to rest, I couldn’t help but think about the day. 

Let’s see what happens in the next chapter! Until then, stay tuned. 

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