Michael had been keeping distance from the rest for a few days. He felt weird about how the conversation had ended the previous time. But he had two more years to complete in this school, and he already was a part of the Privileged.

I’ll have to make amends. He thought.
‘Sure?’ A question suddenly arose from his mind.
Yes. He decided.

During his break, he went to the cafeteria and looked around. Right in the center, in their usual table were the people he was looking for. He took a deep breath and approached them. As soon as they saw him coming their way, the table felt quiet. There was an uncomfortable silence. All eyes were on Michael, and he decided to smile first.

“Hey,” he said with a small wave.
“Hey Michael,” Grace said rather seriously.
“All good?” Michael asked again.

The boys exchanged glances and Michael watched them nervously. Then they smiled and replied, “All good.”
Thomas seemed excited to have Michael back. He patted Michael’s back and made space for him to sit.

“What was the problem, though?” asked Anya.
“It’s not important,” replied Grace.
“I’ll go get lunch,” Michael smiled, and he left the table. Thomas followed him.

Snatching the chance, Grace moved closer to Anya.
“Anya,” he called her, interrupting her conversation with Sia. She turned to face him.
“I know this is the second time I’m asking. But I’m hoping for a better response now.”
Anya simply nodded, encouraging him to speak.

“Do you want to go for a movie?” asked Grace.
“Oh,” Anya shifted uncomfortably in her seat, “Things haven’t changed much. Michael and I, we still are kind of in the process. I feel things might work out between us.”

Grace listened to her and thought over what Michael had said the last time. Creases formed on his forehead as he looked at her.

He said, “I’m advising you as someone who understands boys. Talk to him and find out. Don’t make assumptions. I’m not sure you two are on the same page in this matter.”

Anya listened to him carefully and then looked at Michael who was approaching the table.

**

“And this is how you find the answer. Calculate it in its percentage form and let me know.”
Michael listened to his professor speak. But he could feel eyes on him. He slowly tilted his face, and in the corner of his eyes he saw Anya stealing glances at him.

“What?” he asked.
Immediately, she looked ahead and pretended nothing had happened.
“Anya? Stop boring a hole on my face with your eyes and tell me what’s up,” he spoke again.

As if waiting for his permission, she started talking.
“Do you like me?”
“What?” with widened eyes, he looked at her.
“Do you like me or not? And if you do, why aren’t you asking me out?”

Michael was confused. He had never thought about dating before. He asked her, “Do you like me?”
She nodded her head and said, “Obviously.”

After listening to her reply, he looked ahead. His face completely blank, but his mind thinking over her words.
‘Grace’.

He turned to her and asked, “Did Grace say something?”
“Maybe. But that’s not important,” she said.
“What did he say?” asked Michael.
She avoided eye contact and said, “He didn’t exactly say anything,” but slowly looked at Michael and continued, “But he asked me out.”

“PAY ATTENTION!”

Immediately sitting straight and looking ahead, the two decided to stop their conversation for now, in fear of their professor.

Grace asked her out? Thought Michael. Why?
‘Why not? You aren’t dating her.’
But Anya likes me.
‘Not for long.’

Michael had decided. As soon as class was over, he left to meet the others with Anya.

James, Sia and Grace were discussing about the first task when Thomas came running to them. While the others watched him trying to catch his breath, he said, “You guys are not going to believe this!!”

But before he could say further, the topic of his news appeared before their eyes. And their eyes popped with surprise. It wasn’t just them nit but the whole campus was staring at the two. Michael was approaching them with Anya, and they were holding hands.

The reaction was mixed. While Thomas and James were hooting, Sia said, “You cannot be serious.” Grace sat laughing to himself.
“Is this for real?” asked Thomas.
“I guess…” Anya shrugged her shoulders.

“Hey,” James nudged Thomas, “Maybe it's time you ask Leila out.”
While Thomas flat out denied any suggestions, Michael was watching Grace.


Michael showing up hand in hand with Anya had stirred up a commotion among other girls. Even the guys weren’t happy, now that Anya was off the field. Michael, however, wondered if he’d start getting less attention now and if that would affect his position in the Privileged. Asking Anya about this would be stupid. He’d always stay away from Sia. That left Leila. He needed a girl’s perspective on this.

The next day, Michael came to class early. He knew Leila was one of the first ones to occupy her seat. As soon as he found her, he took the seat beside her.

“Hey,” he said as he sat down.
“Hey…” Leila was surprised. She said, “It's odd seeing you because you never sit here. And you greeting me is certainly a first!”

Michael just flashed one of his smiles. He knew that was enough for most girls to forget their trail of thoughts. And it worked; Leila turned a slight shade of pink as she turned her attention to her book. Michael however wondered; how should he bring up the topic.

“You are good friends with Thomas, aren’t you?”
Michael was surprised by the sudden question. He turned around and saw a girl sitting on his other side.

Was she sitting here before? He wondered. He nodded answering her question.

“Is he seeing anyone?” she asked again.
Michael observed her. Freckles, curly hair, thin and big round glasses resting on her nose.

I never seen her before. Does she even go to this school? He thought.
“Not that I know of,” he answered. She smiled at his response, stood up and left.

He turned to Leila and asked, “Who was that?”
Leila then removed her air pod and peeked at the girl who had just walked away.
“I have no idea,” she shrugged her shoulders.