Chapter 3

Subhi

I kept my eyes fixed on my book, but my mind refused to focus.

Abhimanyu.

Of all the people in the class, why did he have to sit beside me?

I could feel his presence—too close, too distracting. Not that he was doing anything in particular, just existing in my space. And that was enough.

I shifted slightly in my chair, hoping to create some invisible boundary between us, but he didn’t seem to care. He sat there, perfectly relaxed, like the weight of the upcoming exam didn’t affect him at all. Meanwhile, I could feel the familiar nervousness creeping in, my fingers gripping the pen tighter than necessary.

I stole a glance at him. He was leaning back, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk, his gaze wandering toward the window as if he had better things to think about than this exam. Typical.

I turned back to my notebook, but I wasn’t really reading. My mind was still stuck on the morning, on the way I had bumped into him—how his eyes had flickered with something unreadable for a second before he had just moved on like it was nothing.

I sighed and flipped the page of my notebook with more force than necessary. Maybe if I looked busy enough, he’d get the hint. Maybe if I ignored him long enough, he’d disappear.

But the problem with people like Abhimanyu? They never really disappeared.

---

The teacher walked in, carrying the dreaded stack of question papers. The murmurs and nervous whispers that had been filling the room died down. A hush settled over the class as the papers were placed on each desk.

"Time starts now," the teacher announced.

I took a deep breath. Focus, Shubhi.

I scanned the first question. Okay, not too bad. I knew this.

I started writing, trying to shut out the world around me. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him. Abhimanyu. He had barely touched his pen. Instead, he was just staring at the paper, tapping his fingers lightly against the desk.

I frowned. Was he… stuck? That was unexpected.

Abhimanyu was the kind of guy who seemed effortlessly good at everything. He carried himself with an easy confidence, the kind that made people notice him. Seeing him hesitate, even for a second, was strange.

And then, suddenly, his gaze shifted—to me.

I froze for a second.

Our eyes met.

It was only for a fraction of a moment, but it felt longer.

I quickly looked away, pretending to be too busy writing. But my mind wasn’t focused anymore. That one glance had thrown me off.

I forced myself to concentrate, scribbling down my answers as fast as I could. But the awareness of him sitting beside me never quite faded.

---

As soon as the exam ended, the class erupted into the usual chaos—students discussing answers, some groaning about their mistakes, others relieved that it was over.

I gathered my things, trying to slip out before anyone could pull me into a post-exam debate. But just as I stood up—

Abhimanyu moved at the same time.

Our arms brushed.

It was barely anything, just the briefest touch. But it was enough to make me freeze.

I glanced up at him. He didn’t say anything, but there was a flicker of something in his expression—amusement, maybe? Or curiosity?

Before I could figure it out, he was already walking away, hands in his pockets, like nothing had happened.

I exhaled sharply, shaking off whatever that was.

I wasn’t going to overthink this.

It was just a random moment. Just an accident. Just another face in the crowd.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

But deep down, I wasn’t so sure.