Chapter 9

Subhi

I hadn’t planned to follow him.

Not consciously, at least. But as I watched Abhimanyu leave, something in me refused to let him just disappear into the rain.

I had almost confronted him earlier—almost asked him why he sat beside me, why he acted as if nothing had happened, why he was suddenly invading my thoughts when he had never mattered before. But I held myself back.

Even now, as I hurried after him, my heart pounded with uncertainty.

What exactly was I going to say?

I wasn’t even sure.

The rain soaked through my uniform, and my shoes splashed through small puddles as I kept my pace steady. Abhimanyu walked ahead, seemingly lost in his own world.

I hesitated when I got close enough to call out his name.

Would he even care? Would I just embarrass myself?

I should turn back.

And yet—

"Abhimanyu."

The name left my lips before I could stop myself.

He halted, stiffening slightly before turning around.

For the first time, I saw something unfamiliar in his expression. His usual arrogance, his unreadable mask—it was gone, just for a second. The rain blurred the distance between us, but I could still see it.

A flicker of something deeper.

Something almost… vulnerable.

But then, just as quickly, it was gone.

He ran a hand through his wet hair, sighing as if he had expected this moment yet wasn’t sure how to deal with it.

I swallowed, suddenly unsure of myself.

What now?

Did I really have the courage to ask him what had been bothering me?

Or would I let this moment slip away, just like I had in class?

The rain fell harder, and all I could hear was the sound of water hitting the pavement and my own uneven breath.

And in that moment, I realized—

Maybe I wasn’t just questioning him.

Maybe I was questioning myself, too.

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