Jiya's POV
"How long?" Yuvika's voice hit me like a slap—sharp, angry, and way too aware.
Oh no… she knows.
I tried to play dumb. "Which one?" I asked, even though my heart was already racing because I knew exactly what she meant.
"Which one you ask?" she snapped. "You and Samar dating. How long? You didn't even tell me."
I lowered my eyes. I had wanted to tell her… so many times. But I knew she'd stop me. She always warned me about him.
"I'm sorry, UV… but I really like him, so…" My voice came out smaller than I intended.
She didn't soften.
"Do you think he's loyal to you?" she asked, her tone suddenly serious.
That question… it hurt more than her anger.
"What?" I frowned. "He is. I mean… we've been together for a month now. I've just been busy with Math Olympiads, but we still meet during lunch. In the music room… we eat together. I cook for him. He likes it…"
I was trying to convince her.
Or maybe… I was trying to convince myself.
"I saw him with his ex today," she said.
My heart skipped.
"No… he won't cheat on me," I replied quickly. Too quickly.
It's not that I didn't believe her… it's just… I didn't want to believe her. Without seeing it myself, I couldn't judge him. I didn't want to. I wanted to trust him.
He loved me… right?
He had said it so many times… softly… while kissing my forehead.
I looked at Yuvika. She still looked tense.
"What happened to you?" I asked, trying to shift the topic. It had been a while since we actually talked. Lately… my whole world had just been Samar.
She hesitated. "You know Vivaan confessed to me."
"Oh…" I blinked. "Do you like him?"
"I do," she admitted after a pause.
"Then what's the problem?"
She looked away. "Nik confessed to me too."
Oh.
Her problem… was way bigger than mine.
Two people. Both serious. Both important.
And now they weren't even talking to each other because of her.
"I don't know what to do," she whispered.
For once… I had no advice.
"Let's go home," she said finally.
We walked in silence.
That night, I texted Samar—asking him to meet me in the music room the next day. I had planned everything. His birthday surprise. His favorite food. Even bought him shoes.
I smiled while typing.
I hope he likes it.
Next day.
Lunch break.
I reached the music room early. Spread out a small mat. Decorated the place a little. Set the food neatly. Kept his gift beside it.
Everything was perfect.
I sat down and waited.
One hour passed.
Maybe he's stuck in class.
Two hours.
Maybe they got into trouble again.
Three hours.
Garima ma'am must have punished them again… yeah… that must be it.
Five hours.
…
He's not coming.
My chest tightened.
No… no… I shouldn't think like that. Something must've happened. He couldn't come… that's all.
I'll give it to him tomorrow.
Yeah… tomorrow.
Next day.
The moment I entered school, I felt it.
Whispers.
Murmurs.
"Did you hear? Samar and Janvi are back together."
I froze for a second.
No… not my Samar.
They must be talking about someone else.
My Samar isn't like that.
He loves me.
Right?
I walked faster, ignoring everything. Straight towards Section E building. Towards the music room.
But just as I reached…
I stopped.
Something felt wrong.
I stepped back… hiding behind the wall.
And then…
I saw them.
Samar.
And… a girl.
Kissing.
Everything inside me shattered.
So this is the truth.
So this is who he is.
All those moments… all those lunches… all those soft "I love you"s…
Nothing.
I felt stupid.
Of course… why would he like someone like me?
Tears blurred my vision. I turned and ran.
I hit the wall hard on my way, but I didn't stop.
I heard him calling my name behind me.
"Jiya! Jiya, listen—"
No.
I can't.
I won't.
I ran straight to the washroom, locked myself inside a cubicle…
…and broke down.
I cried.
And cried.
And cried… like my chest would rip apart.
Because somewhere deep inside…
I knew.
I wasn't just crying because he cheated.
I was crying because…
I believed him.
Samar's POV
It felt like someone had stabbed me straight in the chest.
That moment… when I saw her crying.
Not just crying—breaking.
And I knew… I was the reason.
"What the hell did you do, Samar?!" Yuvika's voice snapped through everything. Loud. Furious. Sharp enough to cut.
Honestly… when she's angry, she's terrifying.
I looked at her, confused, still trying to process what just happened. "What did I do?" I asked, my voice uncertain… because the truth was—I didn't even know which mistake she was talking about.
"You lied!" she shouted.
And before I could react—
Slap.
My head snapped to the side. The sting spread across my cheek, but it was nothing compared to what was already happening inside me.
"I saw her crying," Yuvika continued, her voice trembling with anger. "Jiya. What did you do to make her cry?"
Jiya.
Her name alone felt heavy now.
"Yuvika…" I tried, but my voice cracked.
"Enough," she snapped.
Behind her, Vivaan and the others stepped in, trying to calm her down, but I barely noticed them.
"She broke up with me," I said finally.
The words came out broken… like something inside me shattered along with them.
Silence.
Everyone looked at me—shocked.
But I couldn't even look at them.
Because all I could see… was her face.
Crying.
Running away from me.
Days passed.
But nothing changed.
Yuvika stopped talking to me completely.
The others… they didn't say much, but their silence said enough.
And Jiya…
She didn't even look at me anymore.
Not once.
Earlier, she used to wait for me. Even if I was late. Even if I ignored her sometimes.
But now?
She doesn't wait.
She doesn't come.
She doesn't exist in my world anymore…
And I hate it.
I thought… it was just a phase.
I thought I'd date her for a few weeks… then she'd get tired of me like the others.
That's how it always worked.
No strings.
No attachments.
No consequences.
But I was wrong.
Somewhere along the way…
She became important.
So important that now—
Losing her feels like losing something I didn't even know I needed.
I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated.
"I shouldn't have…" I muttered under my breath.
I shouldn't have taken her love for granted.
Because now…
I know.
She wasn't just another girl.
And I wasn't ready to lose her.
But maybe…
I already did.