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Sanaya watched Tushar from across the school courtyard, her eyes narrowing as he laughed with his friends. He was always surrounded by a crowd, the type of boy who commanded attention without effort. To most, he was just another charming high school jock, but to Sanaya, he was more than that—he was a target.

She had been watching him for weeks now, the curiosity first sparked by his effortless popularity. How could someone like Tushar control a room so effortlessly? How did he always know exactly what to say to keep people intrigued? What was his secret? But as the days passed, her curiosity morphed into something darker. She needed to understand him—how his mind worked, how he ticked.

Tushar was the key to something much larger than she'd first realized. His power over people, his popularity—it was intoxicating. And power was something Sanaya craved, something she couldn’t live without.

Sanaya had already begun to carefully weave herself into his world. At first, she simply found excuses to be near him. A casual conversation here, a smile there. Nothing too obvious, nothing to make him uncomfortable. She wasn’t trying to rush things. She was playing the long game. Tushar’s attention would come, slowly but surely.

But it wasn’t just Tushar who had her focused. Maya had started to notice the shifts in her behavior, and Sanaya didn’t like that. Maya was the type who noticed everything, always watching, always questioning. Lately, her friend had been acting more suspicious, her sharp eyes tracking Sanaya’s every move.

"Sanaya, you're staring again," Maya's voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. She turned to find her best friend standing beside her, her gaze piercing. Maya wasn’t an easy person to fool.

Sanaya quickly masked her unease with a practiced smile. "I wasn’t staring," she replied nonchalantly. "Just thinking."

Maya’s eyebrow arched, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Thinking about Tushar, I bet."

The smile on Sanaya's face remained, though it was tight now. "Maybe," she said, flicking her gaze back toward Tushar. "He's just... interesting. Don't you think?"

Maya crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "Interesting, huh? Or maybe just distracting."

Sanaya laughed softly, but her mind was already elsewhere. "He's popular, Maya. Everyone talks about him. It's normal to wonder what makes him tick."

Maya seemed to soften for a moment but didn’t let it go. "You’ve been off lately. You’re not yourself. You've been... distant. What's really going on with you?"

Sanaya felt the familiar tightening in her chest. Maya was getting too close to the truth. But she quickly pushed the unease aside, replacing it with her usual calm. "I'm fine, Maya. Just busy. School stuff."

Maya didn’t seem entirely convinced, but she let it slide. For now.

As they continued to walk to class, Sanaya’s mind was already spinning. Maya’s growing suspicion was a problem she didn’t need right now. She couldn’t afford to let anyone get too close—especially Maya. If she kept asking questions, Sanaya would have to find a way to silence them.

Over the next few days, Sanaya continued her subtle approach toward Tushar. She sat near him during lunch, found reasons to be in the same places at the same time. A brief smile, a light conversation, and then she’d pull back, never staying too long. She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, just leave an impression, plant the seed. Slowly, she knew, he'd start to notice her. It was only a matter of time.

Tushar, for his part, didn’t seem overly interested, though he was polite enough. He didn’t seem to mind her presence, but he didn’t engage with her much either. That was fine. Sanaya was in no rush. She knew how to play the long game.

But now, her focus was divided. Maya was asking too many questions, her eyes more observant than Sanaya liked. Maya wasn’t the type to let things go, and that wasn’t something Sanaya could risk. The more Maya noticed, the more dangerous she became.

One evening, after school, as they walked home together, Maya stopped suddenly, turning to face Sanaya. "Sanaya," she said, voice low, but firm. "What’s going on with you lately? You’ve been acting... strange. You're not talking to me like you used to. And I’ve noticed you hanging around Tushar a lot. What’s up with that?"

Sanaya’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Maya to catch on so quickly. But she didn’t let it show. Instead, she calmly replied, "I told you, Maya, I’m just thinking things over. I’m fine, really."

Maya’s gaze didn’t soften. "You’ve been lying to me, Sanaya. I know you. Something’s not right. I can tell."

Sanaya felt the anger bubble up in her chest, but she kept her voice steady. "I’m not lying. I just don’t feel like talking about it right now."

Maya stared at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable. After a pause, she sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Fine. But don’t think I haven’t noticed. I know something’s off."

Sanaya’s smile was cool, but inside, she was already calculating. Maya was too perceptive. She couldn’t let her get any closer to the truth. If she kept digging, it could ruin everything. And Sanaya wasn’t about to let that happen.

As they walked home in silence, Sanaya’s mind raced. Tushar was the target, but Maya was a growing threat. She had to deal with that before it became too much of a problem.

She was always one step ahead. Always.

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