Chapter 4: Fractured bonds

College Campus

Aria stepped into the college campus, her steps slow and heavy. Her head ached, her eyes red and swollen from the night before. She tried to keep her expression neutral, pressing a hand to her forehead as if that would somehow conceal the exhaustion weighing her down.

The morning was bright, the campus bustling with students, but Aria felt out of place, like an outsider in a world that had moved on while she remained stuck.

Just as she sighed and adjusted her bag, a familiar presence appeared beside her.

Without a word, Arsh, dressed in his usual hoodie with his headphones on, walked past her. He exuded an effortless coolness, as if he didn't even have to try.

Before Aria could process his presence, he reached out and tugged her cap down over her head.

"What the—?" She blinked in surprise, but by the time she realized what had happened, Arsh was already walking away, whistling nonchalantly.

Her brows furrowed in irritation. "Waittttt, kiddo!" she called out, her voice carrying across the campus.

Arsh's steps came to a sharp halt. His shoulders stiffened, his head tilting slightly as though debating whether to acknowledge her.

Finally, with an exaggerated sigh, he turned around, his expression sour. "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop calling me that."

Aria smirked as she ran up to him, holding out the pink handkerchief. "Here, take this. You forgot it on the bus."

Arsh eyed it suspiciously before reaching out, but before he could grab it, his gaze flickered to her face.

His nose scrunched in mild disgust. "It looks like you used it."

Aria froze for a second. She couldn't tell him the truth—that she had cried into it.

"Uh… I wiped my nose with it."

Arsh immediately recoiled, stepping back. "Ewww! Wash it first and then return it!"

Aria rolled her eyes as he turned to walk away. But just when she thought the conversation was over, Arsh suddenly spun around again.

"And don't you know manners?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice laced with mock arrogance.

Aria smirked. "Don't you have manners?" she shot back.

Arsh smirked to himself as he turned away proudly, walking ahead as if he had won the little exchange.

Aria let out a small chuckle. "Childish," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. But the moment of amusement was short-lived.

Her gaze shifted, and her smile faded the second her eyes landed on Rishant and Nancy.

Nancy noticed her first, her expression brightening as she lifted her hand in a friendly wave.

Aria, however, simply rolled her eyes and walked past them without a word.

Nancy's smile faltered as she lowered her hand. She turned to Rishant. "What's up with her?"

Rishant frowned, watching Aria disappear into the crowd. "I don't know… something's been off with her since yesterday. Usually, she tells me everything."

Nancy tilted her head, thinking. "Maybe she's just stressed."

Rishant hummed in response, but doubt lingered in his mind.

Aria's Thoughts

As Aria walked through the hallways, she ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.

"What the hell did I just do?" she whispered to herself.

She wasn't like this. She wasn't the kind of person who ignored her friends out of jealousy.

Nancy was her friend. She had never been rude to her before.

But… deep down, was she always like this? Was this her true self—someone who only pretended to be happy for others? Someone who secretly resented them?

Or was she just refusing to accept the truth?

That no matter how much she tried to be the "good" person, she had emotions she couldn't control.

That she wasn't as selfless as she wanted to believe.

That she had always been the one standing in the background, hoping for something that was never hers to begin with.

She shook her head. "No, I don't want to be that person."

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the classroom, forcing herself to focus on anything—anything—other than the storm brewing inside her.

But deep down, she knew she wasn't the same Aria she had been yesterday.

And that terrified her.

Classroom Moment

As the lecture ended, the teacher's voice cut through the murmurs of the class.

"The college is planning a trip to the jungle. If you're interested, please put your name down."

The words barely sank in before Arsh was already up from his seat, striding toward the list at the front of the class. His movements were confident, almost eager, as if this trip was just another part of his usual day. He scribbled his name without a second thought, not looking back to see anyone's reaction.

Aria couldn't help but stare at him, surprised by his sudden interest in something so… out of character. She blinked, her mind racing. Why would he want to go on a trip like that? But, as always, she shook her head, dismissing the thought. "It's just a trip," she muttered to herself, trying to refocus.

Then, Nancy exited the classroom, and moments later, Rishant walked over to Aria's desk, his expression unusually serious. He didn't sit immediately but stood, looking at her with an intensity that made her heart skip.

"Aria," he said, his voice low but firm, "I need to talk to you." His tone left no room for arguments.

Aria turned towards him, the corners of her lips pulling into a tight smile, trying to brush off the weight of the conversation. "What?" she said, her voice light, though she couldn't keep the subtle tremor from creeping in.

"It's nothing like whatever you're thinking. I'm fine. Everything's fine."

Her words were an attempt to assure him, but they fell flat. Rishant didn't buy it. Instead, he took a step closer and gently cupped her face in his hands, his fingers brushing the soft skin of her cheeks.

The room around them felt like it fell silent, as though the world outside of the two of them disappeared. A few students whispered in the back, but Rishant didn't care—he only cared about what Aria was trying to hide from him.

Aria's heart raced. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, feeling vulnerable in the face of his gentle yet intense gaze. There was something in his eyes that made her want to crumble, but she held herself together for a moment longer.

Suddenly, her composure broke. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. His hands moved to her back, gently patting it, his voice soft and reassuring.

"You don't have to tell me right now," he murmured, his voice just above a whisper. "But I'm always here, okay? Just remember that."

For a moment, Aria stayed in his embrace, trying to push down the knot in her throat. She nodded slightly, her emotions swirling in a maelstrom inside her.

Across the room, Arsh stood by the board, his arms crossed as he watched the scene unfold. His expression was unreadable—completely neutral. His eyes lingered on the pair, but there was no flicker of emotion that gave away what he was thinking.

His mind seemed distant, like he was already somewhere else, processing the situation. But the slight shift in his gaze, the way his shoulders stiffened just for a second, hinted that something was stirring inside him, though he refused to let it show.

At the same time, Nancy appeared at the classroom door. She stopped there for a moment, half in, half out of the room. Her hands gripped her water bottle tightly, as if it was the only thing anchoring her to the present.

She watched the scene unfolding in front of her—Aria in Rishant's arms. For a fleeting moment, Nancy's expression softened, almost as if she understood something that no one else did. But it didn't last long.

With a quick breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, her eyes meeting Aria's for a split second before she turned her attention to the front of the room, her face returning to its usual guarded expression.