He had dragged me towards the closest seats from the ground. The net separated us from the ground and we had a better look at the player practising in the stadium. As I glanced at Anuj and Varun in the stadium, busy with their warm-up session. I scanned the stadium for Samaira. She might be sitting alone in some corner. I pouted. It was all due to the arrogant monster sitting next to me.

I glanced at him. He hadn't voiced out a word after pulling from the hug. His stern orbs rooted on the stadium before us, though I could depict he wasn't concentrating on it at all. His knuckles pressed one another, controlling his fuming anger. I shook my head, diverting my gaze. I wasn't going to apologise to him for my foolishness. He was the one who triggered me for it. And it wasn't like I was a small kid and could disappear in the crowd.

I found a familiar orb from a group of strangers. He had walked towards the net on glancing at me, the same mischief radiating from those black orbs as I had witnessed on our first meet. Viraj's eyes darting from me to Ehaan, I could listen to the growl from Mr arrogant but I was least bothered. Passing a smile at his rival, further pissing him off.

"Hey, Ru!" He grinned, smirk playing on his lip. The audience around us had doubled their cheers and had accumulated around him. Unknowingly letting me know, he had numerous fans as well. He didn't overlook their presence, smiling at them genuinely. Letting them have his pictures.

"Hey, I want to talk to one of my friends." He told them politely. They grumbled but let him have his moment, shutting their cameras. "So, how is it going?" He asked concentrating on me. "After our last meet, I doubted if we could ever meet again." He chuckled, darting his gaze to Ehaan at frequent intervals. I glanced in his direction, he had clenched his first, pressing his lip tight. He was on the verge to burst. No! It wasn't a moment to fool around.

I pleaded Viraj with my eyes but he wasn't in a mood to listen. "Seems, like you're here to cheer for me. As your other friend isn't in a mood to play," he winked at me walking into the centre of the playground.

"Aww..." The audience cooed, I shut my eyes in embarrassment. What the hell was even happening? People were getting wrong messages!.

"She is so fortunate... Viraj specially came to talk with her."

"Don't forget Ehaan is sitting beside her."

"Are they friends?"

"Hadn't they participated in the competition?"

"We even heard rumours of them being together."

"What?"

"Yes, they were found hugging each other."

"But, seems like something is going between Viraj and her. As Ehaan is already committed to Mia."

The round of whisper had started, arriving at different reasoning as if we were some celebrity. Though people associated with me had the popular life. I wanted to run into my room, hiding from the world around me. I never wanted my personal life to be a source of entertainment for anyone.

Suddenly the murmur stopped, I raised my head to find Ehaan glaring at the people surrounding us. Their eyes were wide, some shivering in fear while others were covered with blush. Maybe it was the first time I had ever seen him, sparing any attention to people around us. He never seemed a guy to be bothered with people opinions about him. Not even he cared about the highest authority. It was only when I started associating with them that I noticed rumours about his life often spread in the corridor of our school. He was an interesting topic for all!

His eyes were straight on the players as the announcement was taking place. Maybe the game was starting, I looked away. Glancing at the players as well. Something cold touched my soft skin, I looked in the direction. His large, rough, cold hands grabbed my wrist in his. A smile played on my lip. The rumours never mattered to him but he knew it would affect me.

He acted rudely, treated my best friend so harshly yet my feeling for him was increasing every day. I could feel that kindness, concern from his mere act. Maybe he treated the world harshly yet the hidden heart inside was compelling him to treat me with uttermost care and kindness. And I would help him to love the world around us as well.

____

Our team had won and Anuj and Samaira weren't able to calm themselves. Though they were cheering in happiness yet I could sense a hint of sadness covering Anuj spirit. He was brave enough to wash it with a smile. I had often noticed it in his spirit, the pain hiding behind his cheerful self. But the sadness had to do with something else, he was missing his friend. Neither Zara nor Aarav had attended the match. I had known the excitement Zara had for football matches it amazed me that she hadn't attended it.

"I never thought, I would ever celebrate a win without Zara." That was the only words abled to roll down his tongue, expressing his inner sadness. Varun and Ehaan were rather ignorant of it neither expressing their happiness nor their sadness as if they were bland.

"It didn't even seem as we won." Samaira shook her head as we had gotten in her car towards our destination, home. "It's so beautiful as well as heartbreaking, right?" I stared at her curiously, "it's all about the company, people we hold close. If they aren't there to share our achievement with. No longer does the gold medal even matter." I chuckled softly at her words. Those were the same thoughts revolving around my mind.

"What had gone so wrong among them? Surely, they had some argument or Zara would have been present." I voiced my confusion that I was suppressing for the past few hours.

"It had something related with their past." She whispered lost in thoughts, "Varun hadn't clearly mentioned but it was the scariest part of their life. He told me at that moment their friendship was on the verge of breaking... may be due to that guy being Zara's cousin. She might have to choose between two..." she kept it incomplete and maybe we both had guessed who she might have chosen. Her friends! And suddenly past swapping before her eyes was making her regret her choice. Was she pushing herself away from her friend? Maybe I might have done the same.

Deep down I didn't want her to act in that manner. As I could sense that could break others in the gang. It would affect them as a whole, especially Aarav. They had something blossoming between them... at least that shouldn't be damaged.

I walked inside into my familiar, welcoming home. I had spent many hours away from it and like any day. A sense of relief crossed my senses, nothing could provide peace than your sweet home. I barged in, landing softly on the most comfortable couch existing on the planet.

"Finally, you're home." Before I could close my eyes in satisfaction, I heard a voice of alarm.

My wides wide open no longer I felt my home was the safest heaven. Not when my mom was standing, eyeing me suspiciously. Her eyes scanned my every move and she seemed nothing much than a power of authority waiting to punish my deeds.

"Why hadn't you informed us if you were planning a day out with Samaira?" She inquired, darting her gaze on the clock. It was indicating six in the evening. "You had almost spent entire Sunday. At least you could have called and informed about your whereabouts?" She sounded pissed but I could glimpse at a slight concern overlapping her face.

"I hadn't carried my phone with me..." Blurted out the first excuse that emerged from my tongue. She eyed me, asking if I was serious. I knew if I wanted to contact them then I could have called from Samaira's but the same thought had crossed me. If they were tensed about me they would call on Samaira's cell. Hadn't they done it often? I never felt a need to call myself.

She pressed her forehead in exhaustion. "Ruhi! I had mentioned it enough and seems like I will have to repeat myself. It's your 10th, most precious year. I had allowed for a change not forcing you to attend school because I felt you needed the break. You had enjoyed two days in full swing, I need you to concentrate as the syllabus is on the verge to finish within a few weeks. You will be busy completing the number of projects they are going to assign you. I hope if you act serious it would lessen your worries or it will be a huge burden for you to carry." Expressing her worries, she was on the verge to get inside the kitchen. The place she had departed from on listening  me entering inside the house. "And whose clothes are you wearing?" She had that suspicious gaze planted on me. I glanced at my clothes. What the! I had forgotten to change into my own ones after returning from a football match.

"Samaira..." I hesitated. It wasn't like she knew every piece of cloth Samaira owned. But the dress I was wearing wasn't something that came under her choice. Once again, it wasn't like she knew my friend the way I knew her. She nodded maybe convinced I wasn't lying and got to her work.

Though sadness crossed my spirit on listening to her lecture. For the past few days, I hadn't received any so had forgotten about the importance the year had for mom. But a relief crossed my spirit as she was unknown to the fact that what had taken place in the house the previous night. I was glad that my friends were smart enough to remove all the traces or I wouldn't ever be able to face my parents.

I slowly made my way upstairs. I had been escaping from the reality for the past few days. I had to meet the professor and he would treat me worse as I hadn't attended the school the previous day nor I was going to urge my parents to accompany me. I wasn't that courageous, not after mom such a bad temper. Professor can do it himself. I wasn't risking myself.

I had asked for Samaira's notes to finish what I had missed. Busy completing my notes, while humming some song. As the new problems of maths weren't making any sense. I grabbed my head in frustration. What the hell on earth was it? Grumbling to myself somehow I copied the whole solution not getting a thing in my mind. I noted to myself to ask Samaira, how was that done.

Before going for dinner. I grabbed my phone seeing some messages. Some missed calls from my parents before they realised my phone was at home. And I clicked on the message application. One from Samaira, asking about whereabouts and the situation in the house. She knew I was worried about my parent's reaction to my sudden disappearance. Mainly when I received no calls from them the entire day. Answering her everything was fine. I scrolled further down... Those messages that I had received from an unknown person. I wasn't able to glance at it before as Anuj had interrupted me.

I clicked on it.

"Damn! Stop that feature of blocking the unknown number."

My eyes were wide in alarm! Who was it? I hesitated. Should I answer or ignore it? I was unknown to his identity so I just brushed the thought of replying. I went downstairs. Dad was still missing from the house, not able to hold myself any longer I asked mom.

"He had some urgent issues to solve. Was busy the entire day..." she shook her head. I chuckled, mom was more goal-oriented than a dad on seeing the scenario's shifting I couldn't help the chuckle leaving my throat. She eyed me for a second before continuing the dish before her.

There was a minute of silence before she initiated a conversation once again. "Have you made peace with the things troubling you last time we talk?" She inquired, staring at me with concern.

The spoon loosen from my grip, making a light jingling noise as it met with the plate. The nervousness crossed my spirit. I wasn't going to have a conversation with her about it not when those events were playing back in my mind. I couldn't allow myself to blush in front of her. What the hell? When things were complicated it was quite easy to talk but when... whatever that had blossomed between us it was hard to bring it into words.

"I hope you sort it out soon. It will be good for your health as well as your studies." I could feel her displaying aloofness, was she mad at me? Maybe my sudden disappearance caused her to. "I had got a glimpse of you under the counter but just that your dad won't hype out, I kept it hidden from him." Her eyes were stern, my heart stopped. Nostril found it hard to bring some oxygen inside, my eyes wanting to end up in tears. I had the feeling. It wasn't some movies going on. Parents were extra smart than their children and my mom topped the smartest parent category.

I closed my eyes. Why me? Why? Complaining to anyone who had written my destiny. "I trust you, Ru..." She whispered seeing me on the verge of having a panic attack. I opened my eyes, her orbs had softened. "Please don't make me regret hiding things from your dad." Her eyes fixed on me. I opened my mouth to promise her but I was so unsure of myself. I knew it wasn't meant for my age yet it felt so great. The room was filled with silence, mom waiting for my response. I gave a small nod in return. Not holding the courage to voice it out. The pain felt within, the thought of to push him away broke me into pieces. Hadn't I urged him to let us have a chance and I was going to back off from my decision.