"the way back to us"

Krisha’s POV

It’s already been a week since Karthik, Asher, Ishaan, and Parth joined coaching… and honestly, it’s been the toughest week for me. I don’t even know why.
Before this, when we didn’t meet for weeks, I still used to think about Asher. Random moments would flash in my head — his smirk, his annoying one-liners, the way he looked at me during that basketball game.

But now… now that he’s actually here, right in front of me, I feel weird. Not bad weird, just… butterflies-in-my-stomach kind of weird. And after that little “sleeping in the wrong class” encounter, I’ve been trying to avoid him.

I don’t know why. I mean, he hasn’t even said or done anything wrong. But something about his presence lately… it makes my heart do flips, and I’m not ready to admit what that means.

So yeah. I’ve been keeping my distance. Even though deep down, part of me wants to turn around, say hi, and maybe ask if he still remembers that moment on the court… when everything kinda froze for a second.

But I won’t. Not yet.

And today…
Today he looked different.

Asher walked into the class wearing black glasses — not the regular kind, but the type that made you stare for an extra second. His naturally messy, curly hair was still the same, but somehow it looked better today. Maybe because it was paired with that quiet confidence he always carried.

He was tall, taller than most people in class, and when he walked past, people noticed.
Including me.

I wasn’t trying to look, but my eyes found him before I could stop them. The black glasses gave him a slightly nerdy yet hot vibe. And I hate myself for thinking it.

He didn’t even look at me. Or maybe he did, from behind those glasses. I don’t know. But the fact that I noticed everything about him without even trying?
Yeah… I’m in trouble.

And once again, I looked away — pretending to be busy with my notebook, avoiding whatever this feeling was.

Because if I keep looking at him like that, I won’t be able to pretend anymore.

kept staring at my notebook like it held the answers to life, but of course, it didn’t.
And then…

I felt him.

Not saw — felt.
The air shifted beside me, the bench creaked slightly, and there he was.

Asher.

He sat beside me without saying a word. Just dropped his bag, crossed his arms, and turned slightly in my direction…

Staring.

I could feel his gaze burning through my skin. Not the casual kind of glance — the intense kind. The kind that made your breath hitch and heart trip over itself.

I tried not to react.

I really tried.

But I could literally hear his eyes judging me.

So finally, without looking at him, I muttered,
"Stop staring, you're subtle."

He didn’t say anything for a second. Then, in that stupidly calm voice of his,

“I’m just wondering how someone can avoid me this hard when I’m right next to them.”

I clenched my jaw, still not turning. “It’s called skill. Learn it sometime.”

He chuckled softly.
And that chuckle? Annoyingly attractive.

Ugh.

I finally turned to glare at him, only to find him smirking. Those black glasses were a mistake. A distraction.
He leaned in slightly.