Chapter 1.3

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the first class, students stretched and chatted amongst themselves. Joey glanced around, taking in the lively atmosphere of his new class. Despite the warmth of his classmates, his attention was drawn to two particular individuals—Rishi, who remained stoic as ever, and Theo, the so-called 'bad boy' who had been sent to stand outside for not completing his homework.

Joey leaned slightly toward Ayan, who was now happily chatting with Maya. "So, does Theo always forget his homework?"

Ayan turned to him with a knowing smirk. "Forget? He never even tries. It's like a tradition at this point."

Joey hummed in amusement. "Let me guess, he's always like this?A troublemaker?"

Ayan's smirk faltered for a moment before he laughed. "Pretty much."

Joey smiled but didn't comment further. Instead, his gaze flickered toward Maya, who was fidgeting slightly in her seat. She kept glancing toward the door, clearly worried about Theo.

'Ah, the classic trope,' Joey thought. 'The untamed rebel and the kind-hearted heroine. She worries, he pretends not to care, and then slowly, bit by bit, she changes him.'

He leaned back in his chair, suppressing a chuckle. If things went as expected, there would be plenty of dramatic encounters between the two. But for some reason, he wasn't particularly interested in their story. No, his focus remained elsewhere—on the cold and unreadable Rishi.

Just as Joey was lost in thought, the door swung open. The teacher walked back in, followed by Theo, who lazily strolled toward his seat. He plopped down with a huff, his gaze flickering briefly toward Maya before he crossed his arms and looked away.

The second class began, and Joey found himself torn between paying attention to the lesson and observing the little interactions unfolding around him. He may have entered this world as an outsider, but he wasn't about to sit on the sidelines. If nothing else, he would certainly make things more entertaining.

After all, he had a role to play—one that didn't involve standing in the background.

As the lunch bell rang, Joey trailed behind the crowd, his gaze naturally locking onto Rishi. He spotted the other boy heading toward a table in the cafeteria, sitting down without waiting for company.

With a light chuckle, Joey made his way over. "Hey Rishi,we met again!.Mind if I join you?" he asked, already pulling out a chair.

Rishi glanced at him, his usual unreadable expression in place. "Do what you want."

Joey grinned, settling in. "You're getting friendlier already."

Before Rishi could respond, another figure hesitated nearby. Rael. His grip on his tray tightened before he sat down beside Rishi, eyes flickering toward Joey but not addressing him.

Joey raised an eyebrow at the tension in the air, but before he could say anything, Maya arrived. She placed her tray down with a bright smile. "Mind if I join?" She didn't wait for a reply.

Her cheerful presence contrasted the heavy silence between Rael and Rishi. As she sat, her gaze flickered toward the cafeteria entrance, searching. When she spotted Theo, who looked as carefree as ever despite his punishment earlier, she waved him over.

Theo sauntered up, plopping down next to Maya without a care. "Tch, standing outside in the heat was annoying," he complained. "You owe me, Maya."

Maya frowned, guilt flashing across her face. "I told you to do your homework, Theo."

Their banter went unnoticed by Rael, whose eyes were fixed on his plate. He barely ate, his mind elsewhere. Joey, ever the observer, noted the way his grip on his fork tightened whenever Maya leaned closer to Rishi, the way his expression darkened when Rishi and Maya exchanged knowing glances.

Joey hummed in understanding.

Rael and Rishi—childhood friends. From what Joey gathered, they had been close, inseparable even. Then Maya arrived, slipping seamlessly into their circle. Rael, who had always harbored feelings for Rishi, could only watch as the two grew closer. The fear of being left behind must have pushed him to confess.

Rishi had rejected him.

Yet, instead of letting go, Rishi and Maya had all chosen to maintain their friendship without caring about how Rael will feel.

So Rael remained, despite the ache. Despite the quiet suffering of watching the person he loved be with someone else, showing their affection in front of him as if it meant nothing.It was not that he don't try to stay away ,he did but Rishi and Maya would always come to him, forcing him to be there. They thinks they are doing right, Rael would be lonely without them but they never thought that he might be more in despair with them .

Joey exhaled softly, resting his chin on his palm. He had seen stories like this before.Unrequited love was always the most painful role to play.

Rael remained quiet, pushing his food around with his spoon, but Joey didn't miss the way his gaze lingered on Rishi and Maya. It wasn't longing—it was resignation. Like someone who had already lost but had nowhere else to go.

Maya, oblivious or perhaps simply choosing not to acknowledge it, nudged Rishi playfully. "You should really try this, it's good," she said, holding out a spoonful from her plate.

Rishi, ever composed, glanced at her before leaning in slightly, accepting the bite with a casualness that stung Rael more than if they had been openly affectionate.

Joey's sharp eyes caught the way Rael's fingers tightened around his fork, the knuckles paling before he forced himself to relax. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Joey had seen this kind of pain before. The kind that wasn't loud but persistent.

Then there was Theo, sitting beside Maya, his elbow propped on the table as he watched the exchange with an expression bordering on annoyance. "You two are disgustingly close, you know that?" he muttered, stabbing at his food.

Maya laughed lightly. "Jealous, Theo?"

He scoffed. "Of what? Watching you two act like an old married couple? No thanks."

Joey observed the interplay with growing amusement. Theo's words were sharp, but there was something else beneath them—something restless. Was it irritation at Maya for treating Rishi so affectionately? Or was it something deeper?

The entire table was a mess of tangled emotions, silent heartbreaks, and unspoken tensions.

Rael, despite his quiet nature, stood out the most. He wasn't glaring, wasn't sulking. He was just… there, bearing witness to something he had no power to change.

Joey glanced between Rishi and Maya, then at Rael. "You know, it's interesting how some people always stay close, no matter what's happened between them."

Rishi and Maya froze for half a second before forcing casual smiles.

Joey smirked, swirling his drink. "It's almost like they don't realize how much harder it makes things for someone else."

Maya swallowed, while Rishi lowered his eyes,his eyelashes hiding his emotions .

Rael's shoulders stiffened.

Joey only smiled wider. "Just something I heard from my previous friend."