Ram's POV
I should've left the corridor the second I saw him.
Rithul. Standing there with his hero smile, casually leaning on the wall like some Bollywood side character waiting for his solo track.
And of course—she had to laugh.
Max.
My Max.
Except right now, she wasn't. She was laughing like I never broke her heart. Like I never yelled those words I didn't mean.
And what made it worse? Rithul was making her laugh.
"Nice hairstyle today," he said, flicking a strand of her hair like he had every right to.
Max just chuckled and nudged his arm like he was the reason her mood lifted. "Guess what? This is my don't-care-about-anyone hair," she said with a fake wink.
And me?
I was standing there like a full-time clown with no circus, watching my girl being wooed by the guy who once said, "I'll wait for you till the day you fall for me." I thought it was just a line. I thought he was joking.
But clearly, my man was not playing cricket. He was aiming for a goal.
I clenched my jaw. "Control, Ram. Be mature. Breathe," I told myself.
But my brain was already having a mental breakdown while Max did that thing with her eyes—sparkling, teasing. Not at me. At him.
Oh, now she's flipping her hair? Really, Max?
If my heart had a megaphone, it would be screaming, "Ma'am! Please stop using your sass powers against me. I'm already dead inside."
And then—he had to go there.
"I think you should wear that peach color more often. It really suits your vibe."
Your vibe? What is this? A shampoo ad?
I snapped. "Rithul, don't you have a class to attend? Or a mirror to flirt with?"
He raised a brow. "Chill, bro. Just being friendly."
"Sure," I said, smiling the fakest smile God ever created, "and I'm just here enjoying the free circus."
Max shot me a warning look. "Don't start, Mike."
And that name—Mike—pierced through me. She always used that name when she was pissed. That was her wall. Her guard.
And damn, she was putting on a show. But beneath the smile, I saw it. The cracks.
She was mad.
At me.
And she had every right to be.
But Rithul? Him?
I turned around, trying to walk away before I'd say something stupid again.
But my thoughts? Oh, they were screaming louder than ever:
"I swear, if he touches her shoulder one more time, I'm gonna turn this friendship drama into a K-drama."
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