Vijay thought his actions messed up their friendship again.What he pulled at the park in the spur of the moment not only caught Divya by surprise, but him as well. He always maintained an unsaid but understood boundary between them, but as he started to know her better, he could feel that boundary wither.

He was afraid. What if he accepts his attraction? If he accepted that, he would be tempted to make a move. He never wanted the feeling of something unrequited gnawing at him in the dark. And Divya's lack of response this past month did nothing to ease that fear. Maybe it was the exam on her head or just her ignoring him. He didn't dare to accept the latter. She still replied to his texts and was even able to hold small banters, but somehow she was closed off. It was like she didn't want to share much and was just honouring their friendship and being polite.

He wanted to get on with his life and treat her like any other random attractive girl. But no. She wasn't any random attractive girl. He wasn't only attracted to her cuteness or outer appearance. He liked the way she wanted everyone around her to feel at ease. He was awed at her courage of being herself and not caring how people portrayed her in their eyes. He was overjoyed to get different reactions from her. Sometimes they were expected, and sometimes she would take him by surprise.

Whether it was her weird sense of humor he wanted to understand or the way she always smiled. Oh, the way she wore that smile! It was like she owned it! They say that smiling is contagious but he never felt so. It was either a nervous lip twitch from him or a grin. But seeing her smile somehow made him light. He would always feel like a new person.

She was an open book. A young woman so childish in her behaviour yet mature enough to understand things. People who didn't know her might have several misconceptions about her. But people who did, understood all her excitements and tantrums. And yet there were things that kept an air of mystery around her. Vijay didn't know how he could rave so much about her, but still felt like someone who would roughly invade her bubble. An imperfect girl living in her dream.

He wanted to be distracted, but he couldn't. So he drowned in his studies, trying to evade every recurring thought of his cru- friend.

Sometimes he thought, why can't he go back to the time where he would just feel like spending some time with a random girl and start dating if she accepts him. He wasn't a playboy who gawked on girls and would flirt with as many as possible.

No. Dating was a time-pass for him. A momentary thing for a momentary attraction with a girl who may or might not be heartbroken after they are over. He didn't care as much about their feelings but still wasn't someone who would get unnecessarily close to them.

But now here was a girl, so wonderful in his eyes yet so far away. He thought that maybe he would get over her soon. He just needed to stop being in her life that much. Distance can sometimes make the feelings fade. Vijay opted for this option. He feared a rejection which he was sure would be the outcome of the declaration of his feelings to her.

***

"I like someone."

"Pff-!" Jhanvi spat the water she was drinking. She coughed and looked at Divya alarmingly. "What?!"

"I said- "

"I know what you said. Is it an anime character again?" Jhanvi shrugged.

"A real person." Divya mumbled but loud enough for Jhanvi to hear through the video call. The latter looked at her as if she grew two heads.

"Are you serious?"

".." Divya just squirmed at her place, hugging her pillow tightly. Jhanvi perfectly understood her best friend's behaviour. She was serious! It took some time for her to digest this news. Is it really happening? As long as she can remember, she and Divya were the ones who would see people liking each other and their relationships. They did discuss a few guys that they had a crush on but it was a flimsy matter. They were so sure that they wouldn't date but the way Divya expressed her feelings to her, she knew that this time it was more than just a mere crush.

Jhanvi calmed her nerves and lifted her bottle to her lips again. "Who is it?" She started drinking water again.

"...Vijay." Divya squeaked out.

"PFF-!" Jhanvi choked on water again as she tried to compose herself. She coughed violently, alarming Divya who, for the first time during this conversation looked up worriedly.

"Are you oka-?"

"WHAT?!!" Jhanvi took laboured breaths and looked at Divya as if she were a ghost. "VIJAY?! VIJAY SINGH?! THE ADDICT-"

"Former addict."

"IT DOESN'T MATTER! BEING FRIENDS was fine but this! Are you into bad boys now? Huh?!" Jhanvi's voice became calmer but it still had an edge to it.

"He is not a bad boy and you know it!" Divya whined weakly.

Jhanvi knew. Vijay was someone they could trust when in need. But his loyalty in friendship and romantic relationships are two different aspects. He may stand with his friends when in need, but girlfriends? She didn't know. She didn't trust it.

But now seeing Divya's expectant gaze, she shook her head in denial. Jhanvi has always been weak with the needs and wants for the people she cherished. Divya was her best friend who didn't ask for much, so now when she was indirectly asking her for permission, she couldn't blatantly say no.

"I know... But if anything bad happens, don't come crying to me. " Jhanvi warned half-heartedly then chuckled seeing the brightened smile of her bff.

"Omg! I love you! Thank you Jhanvi!!! But I don't know if he likes me or not. " Divya mumbled to herself but Jhanvi heard her clearly. Even though the latter didn't say anything, Jhanvi had her suspicion that the answer to this question was positive.

***

Guess who is emerging back from the writer's block! 😅

I've been procrastinating and putting off writing the last few chapters of the first part of this book but now that I got my will to write back, I'm here! There are still around 3-4 chapters left and then we'll finish the first part of the book!

Updates will be every Friday.

Take care people!

YouTube video I can't upload above: