16.Maybe , maybe not

Next day

The sharp clang of the recess bell echoed through the corridors, slicing through the thick silence that had settled around Riya like a cloak. Students began to shuffle back into the classroom—laughing, joking, still buzzing from their half-hour of freedom.

Riya quickly straightened up, blinked a few times to gather herself, and stepped away from the corner where she'd been standing. Her heart was still thudding—she could feel the pressure of Priya's words echoing in her chest.

"She likes Vishal…"

"Aarav likes Priya…"

"She should leave him if she doesn't love him…"

She shook her head.

Now's not the time, Riya. Act normal. You didn't hear anything. You weren't even there.

Sliding into her seat as casually as she could, she plastered on the most natural smile she could manage just as Priya and Aanya walked in behind her. Their conversation had clearly shifted to something lighter now—they were giggling about someone's hairstyle in the corridor and a meme Aanya had seen earlier.

"Guys," Riya piped up, sounding bright and bubbly, "do you know what Aman did during music class yesterday?"

Both girls turned to her, slightly surprised by the sudden energy in her voice.

"What?" Priya asked, tucking her hair behind her ear and settling into the seat beside Riya.

Riya grinned. "He tried to show off on the tabla and literally broke one of the drumsticks. And the look on Ma'am's face—I wish I'd recorded it."

Aanya laughed first. "Only Aman! God, that boy's never normal."

Priya chuckled, too, and for a moment, everything felt easy. Normal. As if Riya hadn't just overheard a storm brewing between her two closest friends.

But underneath her smiles and laughter, Riya felt that tension, like a quiet hum beneath the surface. Priya avoided her eyes just a little too much. Aanya's laugh was just a second too delayed. And Riya... Riya could feel the truth resting on her tongue, but she swallowed it down like bitter tea.

She wasn't ready to confront them. Not yet.

So, she laughed with them. She joked about Aman. She commented on the class test coming up and gossiped about the new substitute teacher. And when the next period started, she opened her notebook and pretended like her world hadn't tilted slightly.

Because if she said something now—if she told Priya that she knew—everything would change.

And maybe… she wasn't ready for that either.

The rest of the day felt heavier than usual for Riya.

Even though she was surrounded by her friends, their laughter felt like a background noise she couldn't sync with. Every time Priya smiled, Riya remembered those whispered words. "If she doesn't love him, then she should leave him… maybe I'll get a chance."

She kept replaying them in her head, over and over, trying to act normal while her heart was tangled in confusion. She hadn't even figured out how she felt about Vishal yet — not entirely. And now this?

"Riya, are you okay?" Aanya asked as they sat together during the free period.

"Yeah, just a little sleepy," she lied, stretching her arms and faking a yawn. Priya was seated on the other side, scrolling through her phone casually, unaware of the storm going on in Riya's chest.

The class was noisy but somehow, Riya's world had gone quiet — her thoughts were too loud. She started questioning everything: Was Priya being real with her? Was Vishal really worth all this confusion? Was she truly okay with giving him a chance… or was it just the leftover emotions that hadn't fully settled?

Just then, a paper note landed on her desk — folded in four. She opened it slowly.

"Lunch?"

It was from Vishal.

Riya looked at him across the class. He didn't look like he was playing games. He looked… hopeful. She gave a small nod. Not too enthusiastic, but not cold either.

---

Lunch Break

They sat in the corner of the school canteen where fewer students gathered. Vishal brought two mango drinks — Riya's favorite, and placed one in front of her without saying a word. She raised her eyebrow but didn't smile.

"Look, Riya… I know things have been awkward," he began. "And I won't lie. I like you. I always did. But I don't want to rush you into anything. If you're not ready… I'll wait."

Riya stared at the condensation forming on the bottle. "It's not about being ready or not. I just want to understand things better before I take a step," she said, her voice calm but distant.

Vishal nodded. "That's fair."

And in that moment, it was all hanging in a delicate balance — Priya's feelings, Riya's doubts, and Vishal's patience.

Maybe she would give him a chance.

Maybe Priya would become distant.

Maybe none of it would matter in a few weeks.

Maybe… maybe not.

The bell rang sharply, signaling the end of the lunch break. Riya walked back to her classroom, her steps slow, her mind still wrapped in the conversation she'd had with Vishal the day before. It had felt like a weight lifted off her chest, but the emptiness still lingered. She hadn't realized how much she had been carrying until she let it go. But that didn't mean everything was suddenly clear.

The next morning, Riya sat in her first-period class, her eyes distracted as she stared at the notebook in front of her. It was as if the world around her had started moving faster, and she was stuck in slow motion, trying to make sense of everything.

Priya and Anaya were sitting nearby, whispering to each other as usual. Every now and then, their conversations would flicker toward her, but Riya wasn't paying attention. Her mind was too busy replaying the conversation with Vishal. She still felt guilty about it, but deep down, she knew it was the right thing to do.

The classroom began to fill with the chatter of students settling in. Riya could hear the buzz of excitement as friends caught up after a short break, the noise blending into the familiar rhythm of school life. But to her, everything felt off. Like she was standing at the edge of something, uncertain whether to step forward or turn back.

The door swung open, and in walked Vishal. He glanced over at Riya, a brief flicker of something in his eyes, but quickly looked away. Riya's heart sank a little. She didn't want him to feel awkward, but she knew that's exactly what he must have been feeling. She had hurt him, even though it wasn't intentional.

She turned her attention back to the front of the class, determined to focus on the lesson. But even as the teacher started speaking, Riya's thoughts kept drifting back to yesterday's conversation.

The bell rang for the next period, signaling the start of a new class. As Riya grabbed her books and prepared to leave, she heard footsteps approaching. It was Vishal again, this time walking in her direction.

"Hey, Riya," he said, his voice quiet but steady. He paused for a second, clearly unsure of what to say next.

Riya glanced up at him, trying to hide the nervous flutter in her chest. "Hey, Vishal," she replied, her voice a little too soft.

"I… I just wanted to say, um…" Vishal hesitated, then seemed to find his words. "I respect what you said yesterday. I mean it. You don't have to worry about me. I'm okay."

Riya felt a strange pang in her chest at his words. It wasn't the reaction she had expected, but it wasn't exactly comforting either. He was being so understanding, almost as if he was trying to make sure she didn't feel bad for him. She wasn't sure what to say to that.

"I'm glad," Riya managed to say. "I hope we can still be friends, though."

Vishal's lips quirked into a small smile, and for the first time since their conversation, it seemed genuine. "Of course," he said. "Friends. No problem."

And with that, he gave her a nod and walked away, leaving Riya standing there with a mixture of relief and lingering uncertainty.

---

As Riya walked to her next class, she couldn't help but feel a bit of confusion gnawing at her. She had been honest with Vishal, but what about herself?

Was she really sure about her feelings? Did she want to give someone else a chance, or was she just trying to avoid the complexities of her own emotions?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Priya and Anaya approached her, their faces expectant.

"Riya, we've been meaning to ask you," Priya began, her voice unusually calm. "How did things go with Vishal yesterday? Are you sure about everything?"

Riya glanced at Priya and Anaya. She could tell by the look in Priya's eyes that there was something more behind the question, but she wasn't ready to unpack all of it just yet.

"Yeah," Riya said, trying to sound casual, "We talked. I was honest with him. I think we're okay."

Anaya raised an eyebrow. "But… do you feel okay about it?"

Riya paused, uncertain of how to answer. "I don't know yet, Anaya. I'm still figuring things out."

The three of them walked to their next class together, but the air between them felt different — like there was more to say, but none of them were sure how to say it.

As the day went on, Riya's mind kept circling back to her conversation with Vishal. Was she really done with him? Did she really have no feelings left? Or was she simply trying to convince herself of something that wasn't true?

It was a lot to process, and Riya wasn't sure when she'd have all the answers.