Chapter 2 - Surprise gift

"The thing is Serra you are boring like from inside and outside" Faisal dragged his hand down gesturing to my way; at my grey sweatshirt which had the value of pi 3.14159...with an actual illustration of a cute pie. It was one of my favourite sweatshirts, after the maroon one with Schrodingers smiley and also the one with caffeine formula. Alright, I got his point not only my personality was bizzare but also my fashion sense.

"Can't help it, that's just the way I am" I said pushing the wayward hair strand behind my ear which got tangled in my root sign earring.

I solved the next numerical mentally trying to ignore his eyes on me. Sheesh, I had to tolerate him and the other two for some long time. Being awkward around boys didn't help much in my case .

"But, but you have your own appeal" Faisal continued.

Rather, It made it worse when they flirt and love to get any reaction out of me.

I dropped my pencil with a thud sound, "what are you trying to say Faisal?"

He leaned back didn't notice he was literally crowding my personal space.

I frowned angling back, he grinned his crooked smile, "I am saying it's time for a wardrobe change, if we gonna hangout often or all the times high possibility I bet there, then you see, not everyone think beauty is only skin deep and outward appearance doesn't matter-

"I can get a plastic surgery if that's all you want" I said, sarcastically.

"Ouch, Serra, you calling yourself ugly that's harsh child"

I shot him a blank look, "you are calling me ugly anyway that's besides the point I don't care what you think and I won't be changing myself for you or anyone."

"I never said to change yourself I only meant to update yourself" He said sadly like he was really offended.

"Ohho now you think I am some mobile app?" I folded my arms, glowering at him

"Do you really want to know what I think of you?" He asked, suggestively.

I snorted, "sorry not interested"

"Seriously!? Are you gay? You can't be straight, if you said no to this face?" He appeared genuinely offended and in disbelief.

My eyebrows furrowed, "I am not gay! And what's wrong with you? If you're in a mood of some ego boosting and people showering you with compliments then you came to the very wrong place, maybe you should check out over there" I pointed front with my index finger in the direction of Nadia and her band of girls who swoon when he glances their way.

I sighed, that zone lacked in self respect department.

"Hahaha you are so funny I don't need compliments, I am a compliment!" He said cheekily, running his hand through his hair with a charming smile.

"Oh my gosh" Nadia's group shrieked. Looks like someone had a cardiac arrest.

I scowled," self obsessed much?" maybe killing his self esteem could be the best revenge.

I had planted the revenge idea deep in my head. Should make it grow, first.

In order to know each of them properly, I have to gain their trust to break it.

I got up gathering my notebooks, the last class already ended and sitting here was wasting my time when I could be in my room and start the packing. From tomorrow we had holidays so now I had to prepare myself to go back home. To my hometown with the boys, to dug up the past that I buried there before. Can't shrug off the thought tho, that past should be in the past and nothing good comes digging it .

••

I blinked in surprise when I spotted a blue box wrapped in ribbons on my side table. I observed it for some time as if expecting it to burst out or I don't know, just vanished. I don't like suprise gifts. I can't help but think people only gift others to expect something in return kinda like a favor and behind those pretty shinny wrappers are their dark ulterior motives.

I shook my head, trust me to make it so dramatic. I picked the box and untied the ribbon, I didn't open it I should check if it was for me. I mean it was at my side, near my bed so yeah definitely for me but what if someone misplaced it and it wasn't for me but for Divyanshi the thought of some stranger in my room gave me another jolt of anxiety. I checked the name my name scrawled in a familiar handwriting. I kept aside the slip, with doubts.
I shook my head, the more I delay the more I will drive myself crazy with overthinking. But what if someone wrote the name wrong and..
I wiped my forehead shit I forgot to switch on the fan oh so now I was becoming forgetful also, on top of being ultra anxious and overthinking-

"How long has it been? A day?months? years come on Serra just open it!"

I sat straight up, taken aback.

If the box could speak I bet that's what it was going to say but it was my roommate.

Divyanshi waved casually leaning by the door, "my brother gave it to you" she pointed at the placed gift.

I immediately shifted back, away from that lethal box. I knew it! something was fishy!

Couldn't even expect a surprise gift without him being the cause of it.

"There's a mobile in it" Divyanshi told when I showed no signs of opening it.

Mobile?

What mobile?

Whose mobile?

Why mobile?

I yanked off the lid before I tore my hair by the way the questions were popping in my head.

Indeed, it was a mobile phone, iPhone one

And also the box had his trademark green note.

By the time, I picked the note I had my heart in my mouth.

"Jeez, Serra, here have water you are so dramatic" Divyanshi offered me the glass I took it but didn't drank from it, I read the note.

It looked like you are not going to give me your number anytime sooner, so I gift you this mobile with my number in it ;)

I drank the water whole in one gulp.

There was still left to read

Meet me on the rooftop, by eight?

"Are you and my brother hooking up?"Divyanshi asked suddenly, twirling her light brown curl around her finger.

My face burned I scrambled up fumbling, "not, not, I mean no!" (Hello army?)

She shot me a weird look at my intense denial, "it's cool, you know you don't have to feel embarrassed, I am just worried cause usually it turns messy and the girls get super clingy they bother me too, I don't like that" she scrunched up her nose, "but I thought you were different Serra, Alas you fall for him like every girl" she shook her head in disappointment.

I got up, "you are wrong! I don't like your brother and," I chewed my lower lip, "I am not hooking up with him"

"Why?" She asked getting in as if seeing me in a new light now.

I shied away from her intense scrutinizing, "what why? I don't like him, that's it"

"Did you tell him that?" She asked, alarmed now.

"Why would I tell him that?"

She threw her arms up in frustration
"Oh Serra you don't know, he won't rest until he makes it otherwise!"

"Oh" I said, trying to act unaffected, "that's not a problem" because we have some weird thing going on between us. And getting involved with him is just impossible.

"I can't understand why he's interested in you then? I mean of course you are hot once you stop roaming around in those grandma clothes, still you guys are opposite to all levels but I can understand opposite attracts! But it is just so unbelievable... and I don't understand" She outburst pointing her finger at me. "Why are you holding his mobile like it's your newborn baby now!"

"What!" I dropped the mobile in shock didn't realise I was holding it, no clutching it to my chest in fear at Divyanshi's outburst.
"I am going to pack and you are disturbing Divyanshi" I shooed her away then stuffed the mobile the box the wrapper everything in my bag.

"I will leave you guys to you but I swear don't you both drag me into it, I get real violent if someone messes up with my life, anyhow since you getting chummy with my brother pass him his medication he is still not taking them" she said tossing the huge packet of medicines.

I caught it, stumbling, "okay" I said. I could feed my curiosity by checking what are they for.

Was he psychotic?

Chaotic?

Hypnotic?

Neurotic?

Narcotic?

•••

On the way to the rooftop I checked the medicines and I felt tinge of bad knowing they actually were of depression and insomnia.
Guess evil people also have depressions? And here I thought they just enjoy causing pain to others that was what their role was,

Laughing sinfully with no remorse and no trouble in their lives

I gripped the packet and mobile in my hand for some moral support when I reached the terrace by the railing found him there, not practicing his balancing. Thank God .

I frowned at myself. Okay no thanking God.

I tried to move soundlessly to where he was but I wasn't build that way, I can't walk flawlessly like him. I scrambled and stopped dead in my track when he turned around.

It was windy and his hair was waving in a way giving his face my full attention and he had put that dorky spectacles that pointless attempt to make himself look innocent.

It was first time since we had a meet alone after the disclosure of our true identities where I wasn't sobbing pathetically of getting caught by him. I fiddled with the packet then extended my hand out in his way.

Just looking at him made it wrong for Aarav, as if I was betraying him

I can't make myself face him,talk to him,and act ignorant of the fact that he bullied Aarav.

I felt enraged and so sad, like my heart was breaking once again.

Sahil, may had his own side of the story, still it didn't make him less accountable for what he did and I don't think I could ever forgive him.

"This is your medicines you should take them" I said, looking at my right ways not at him.

I only came here to make him believe I have no choice and I was doing what he wanted me to. I needed him to keep on considering me as a coward until I surprised him.

He took the medicine packet our fingers brushed. I drew my hand away feeling them burn with guilt and pleasure.

"Why are you not looking at me?" He asked sounding low, his usual energy seemed to be missing.

I was hoping he won't ask that.

I held my other hand out with the mobile he gave me. "I don't need this, I would like if you would refrain yourself from gifting me or-" I sucked in a breath when he took a step towards me.

"Or what?" He prompted me to complete caging my small hand in his large one, he dropped it down from the held out position pushing the mobile back in it. I froze, keeping my eyes hard on the ground.

"I want to call you" he said firmly while holding my hand gently yet not allowing me to return the mobile back to him.

"I don't want you to call me" I replied tugging my hand off and marched to the edge I threw the mobile high up rendering all my anger at it. When I saw it landing down after reaching a certain height. I wanted to stop it from falling down but I just turned around and leaned against the railing folding my arms, "I don't need it, not from you" I told coldly.

He watched me without any flash of emotions on his face, "I thought so, it would happen" he nodded to himself, then dug his hand in the pocket of his maroon blazer. He pulled out another box another mobile box.

I bit my tongue, "how many are there?"

He tilted his head with a small sheepish smile, "5, 6, 7,8 ... how many will it take for you to accept one?"

I stared at him now he got me there. He made me look at me even though I didn't want to. "What are you trying to prove by doing that?"

"What do you think?" He asked back looking through his hair falling on his eyes

I huffed in frustration, "you know who I am and I know who you are just tell me where do you want us to go from here? Because I am so confused right now. And don't you dare answer me with a question" I warned him.

It was difficult to be angry at him when he looked at me that way softly, vulnerably with all guards down like ready to take every punch and hit with no complain.

I scolded myself he was manipulative it must be one of his acts.

"I don't have all the answers, Serra" it did weird things when he said my name. "I am not far from where you are right now, I am not in a very good place I am hurt too, I am too learning how to deal with it"

What does that even mean! ?? I shouted,internally.
Why can't he answer simply! Why can't he be clear with what is he upto??

I fisted my hands then unclenched them held out one,"you know what? Let's shake hands on forgetting everything that happened since I met you. You don't know me and I don't know you, we are strangers. You and your friends won't bother me again. I won't bother you again let's just part our ways and never meet again, what do you say?"

He covered the distance and grabbed my hand. I felt coward but anyway he agreed . We saved all the drama and our lives by acting in a logical and mature way.

"No" he said.

I shook our hands then stopped on processing late what he said, "what?"

"I said no, I will do my thing you do your thing but we are never gonna part our ways" he answered, smiling looking straight in my eyes with ardent determination and... Challenge?

I glared at him, "why did you shake hands then?"

He pulled me towards himself I stumbled on him placing my hands on his firm chest lifting my head with confusion
He gazed down at me, "I can't turn away from holding your hand"

My cheeks, red hot on flame

I elbowed his stomach and pulled away from his half embraced. He groaned rubbing his sides looking accusingly at me.

"Don't flirt with me" I said sharply, looking away to cover my face, afraid what it will show.

"I was being honest" he answered coming in my way where I was looking.

"Hey" he greeted.

"God, you are so infuriating" I said stamping away from him.

"Serra!" He shouted.

My heart soared.

No one ever shouted my name that way, as if they really needed me.

I turned around, "what?"

He rubbed his neck awkwardly,"can you cut my hair?" He asked out of nowhere.

"What?" I moved towards him thinking I misheard him.

He explained quickly, "I don't trust anyone with my hair other than my mom and now that we are going back to our hometown I need to have a haircut I have my reputation, there"

"Your mom cuts your hair, always?" I asked in disbelief

He nodded like a little kid, "yep" ruffling his long hair indicating it is getting too long.

"So go to your mom, again little boy" I told, sarcastically. Then turned around to leave.

"I wish I could, but she's dead" he said in a small voice from behind.

I looked back to him biting my lip with an apologetic expression, "okay..." I agreed.

His head snapped up in surprise and delight, "what?"

"When do you want me to cut your hair?" I asked awkwardly shifting my weight to the other foot. This was the last thing I wanted, giving my enemy a haircut. Never was on my list but you have to understand with the situation he put me in.

"Right now" he chimed conjuring comb and scissors from behind his back.

I gaped, was he really serious?

••

"This is ridiculous!" I groaned sitting back, when his hair waved, defiant and rebellious like him, "it is too windy here!" I poked the scissor at it to get one side,"another reason why I shouldn't be doing this! Ask your sister, Sahil"

He sat adjacent to me drew his hair to show fear in his eyes at the mention of his sister,"she will turn me bald, I don't trust her"

"I can do that too" I reminded him. At the end of the day we were still enemies, haircut or not, mother alive or not.

"I trust you" he said grinning, "because you know my mother died"

My eyes widened I glared at me in disapproval, "you are deliberately using it as an excuse, that's so wrong"

"I know right I do that sometimes, I am a bad boy after all" he admitted solemnly.

"That's very bad"I shook my head.

"I am sorry" he said again. "But you can't blame me when people think they owe me something whenever I say my mother is dead so I just use it to make everyone happy around me"

"That's still wrong" I reminded him again my head still shook now incredulously, he even had a reason for it.

Unbelievable!

"Yeah, I am sorry" he said then held my head in his hands preventing me from shaking with an intense look crossing over his face,"cute" he mumbled.

I blinked coming so close to his brown eyes that captured mine had me stunned to my spot

"Alright"I nodded.

"Let's get back to haircut?" He said with a tiny smile. My eyes landed on his lips.

I nodded in daze,

"To your room?" He said.

I noticed my out of body movement, immediately tore my eyes from his lips before regret doing something.

"Alright" I nodded whispering.

We got up,

wait what?