Days kept passing like that.
I kept seeing him.
And without even realizing it…
My feelings only grew stronger.
No matter how much I tried—
I couldn't forget Ethan.
---
So I decided something.
I would stop.
Stop thinking about him.
Stop looking at him.
Stop everything.
Because maybe…
I was just setting myself up for rejection.
---
Then exams came.
And for a while, I actually got busy.
Studying.
Preparing.
Trying to focus.
And slowly… I thought maybe I was moving on.
---
But after exams—
Sports week started.
And honestly?
I hated it.
I wasn't exactly an introvert.
And I wasn't an extrovert either.
I was just…
Selective.
I was quiet with people I didn't like.
And comfortable with people who understood me.
But sports?
That was something I always tried to avoid.
Every year, I would hide somewhere so teachers wouldn't force me to participate.
Because if they saw me—
"Come on, Aria! Join tug of war!"
"Play something!"
And I really didn't like it.
---
Then Sports Day came.
I was in the classroom, thinking I was safe.
But I was wrong.
My class teacher walked in.
"Aria, come on. Let's go play Kabaddi."
"No, ma'am… I don't want to," I said quickly.
But she didn't listen.
She literally started pulling me.
"Ma'am please—I don't want to play!" I said, holding onto the door handle.
My classmates were laughing.
Even Lily was trying not to laugh.
"This is so embarrassing…" I muttered.
---
And then—
Without even noticing—
Someone was walking toward us.
I was too busy trying to escape.
Too busy holding the door.
Too busy arguing.
---
Until I looked up.
And froze.
Ethan.
He was standing right there.
Looking at me.
And—
Laughing.
---
My face instantly turned red.
I felt so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.
---
As he walked past, my teacher called out,
"Ethan! You're playing Kabaddi, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied.
Then he glanced at me again.
Still smiling.
---
"Go, go," he said playfully. "Play Kabaddi. Have some fun. Don't be shy."
My heart stopped.
Was he—
Talking to me?
---
I didn't know what to do.
Lily leaned closer and whispered,
"Look at your face… it's red like a tomato."
"Shut up," I whispered back, trying to hide my face.
---
At that moment—
I gave up.
"Fine, ma'am… I'll play," I said quietly.
---
And somehow…
That turned out to be a mistake.
Because no matter how much I tried to avoid him—
He was everywhere.
Closer.
Again and again.
Like I couldn't escape him.
No matter how hard I tried.