Time slowly moved forward.
Days passed, and the small incident with the letter seemed to fade away from everyone's memory.
Lakshith behaved the same as always—laughing with his friends, arguing in class, and teasing people like nothing had ever happened.
To him, it was just a strange moment that had already passed.
But for Riya, it was different.
She remembered it clearly.
The sight of him crying that day had stayed in her mind like a scar she couldn't erase.
Because of that moment, she held firmly to the decision she had made.
She would never confess
her love again.
Not until their school life ended.
Even if her feelings remained… she would keep them hidden.
Soon, January arrived, bringing with it the excitement of the upcoming Pongal holidays.
Pongal was one of the most important festivals in Tamil Nadu.
It was a harvest festival celebrated to thank the Sun God and nature for a good harvest.
Families cooked sweet Pongal made of rice, jaggery, and milk, letting it boil over the pot as a symbol of prosperity and happiness.
Schools usually gave holidays for the celebration, and students loved this time of year.
Just before the holidays began, the entire classroom was buzzing with excitement.
"Happy Pongal!" students said to each other happily.
Some shook hands, some laughed, and some were already talking about the sweets they would eat during the holidays.
Riya quietly watched everything from her seat.
She wanted to wish Lakshith too.
But when she looked at him, she hesitated.
Should I… or should I not?
For a few minutes she stayed silent.
Finally, Lakshith returned to his seat after talking with his friends. Gathering a little courage, Riya turned toward him.
"Happy Pongal, Lakshith," she said.
Lakshith looked slightly surprised for a second, then smiled casually.
"Happy Pongal."
He stretched his hand forward.
Riya shook it.
For a moment everything felt completely normal.
But suddenly Lakshith tightened his grip and squeezed her hand strongly.
Riya's eyes widened.
"Ahhh!" she shouted instinctively.
Lakshith immediately started laughing.
"You're so weak," he teased. "It didn't even hurt that much."
Riya stared at him for a moment.
Inside her mind, she scoffed.
Weak? Me?
If only he knew.
Riya had always had a high tolerance for pain. She rarely cried or complained about anything, even when things were difficult.
That small squeeze hadn't
really hurt her.
But she had reacted without thinking just because she never want to disappoint him.
Lakshith was still laughing while she shook her head.
"You're annoying," she muttered.
Soon the final bell rang, marking the beginning of the Pongal holidays.
Students rushed out of the classroom happily, excited for the days ahead.
As usual, Riya and Lakshith walked toward the gate along the playground path.
Nothing special happened during the walk.
Just the same casual conversation and small arguments.
Yet somehow, for Riya, even these ordinary moments felt important.
Because she knew one thing clearly.
Even if she never confessed again…
Her feelings for him were quietly growing with every passing day.