The next morning, the sky was clear---too clear for Ami's mood.
She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her school uniform. The skirt sat neatly just above her knees, the fabric crisp, her white blouse tucked in perfectly. With a sigh, she tied her hair into a high ponytail, letting a few loose strands fall to frame her face.
Birthday banners were already being hung around LM Villa. That brat was throwing herself a party like she was royalty.
When Ami arrived at school, she noticed students crowding around someone ahead. Curiously, she walked a little closer.
Alia.
Alia was passing out glossy black and gold invitation cards to every student with her signature smugness.
Alia (loudly): "Obviously, everyone is invited. It's my 18th grand birthday. It'll be massive. Dress code is gorgeous. If you show up looking poor, just stay home."
As Ami walked past, Alia gave her a sneer that screamed, "You won't make it."
Ami walked right past Alia with the calm grace of someone who had already won a battle in her head.
A small smirk curled at the edge of her lips. As if I care, she thought, brushing imaginary dust off her skirt like Alia's presence was no more than background noise.
Just then, she met Sneha near the lockers.
Ami approached with a confident grin.
Ami: "You ready for tonight?"
Sneha:"Duh. I've been waiting to shake things up."
Before they could say more,Saad appeared from behind, resting his elbow on Ami's shoulder.
Saad: "So it's official then? We're claiming the title of Party Breakers of the Year?"
Before anyone could reply, Dylan approached from behind Saad, waving a shiny invitation card.
Dylan: "Party? This one?"
Sneha: (raising an eyebrow) "Wait… you didn't know? Soha didn't tell you?"
Dylan: (shaking his head) "We didn't talk last night. I was working on an assignment. What's happening?"
Sneha: "We're taking down Alia's domestic ego tonight."
Dylan: "Huh? Sounds chaotic. Will Soha be there?"
Ami: "You think she won't be?"
Dylan: "Well, you know her. She's too soft-hearted for drama."
Sneha: "Just having her there, standing with us, will be enough."
Dylan: "If she's going, I'm going. Count me in."
Saad: "Don't be a chicken, man! Be a real dude like me-we're sneaking in crackers, setting off fireworks inside!"
Dylan: (eyes wide) "Inside?! Are you crazy?"
Sneha: (deadpan) "Ignore him. He's high on attention."
Saad: (mock offended) "Excuse me, ma'am, I'm high on justice."
Just then, a familiar voice floated toward them.
Soha: "Heeyyy guys! What did I miss?"
She approached with her usual sunshine energy, but the moment her eyes landed on Dylan, her cheeks flushed pink.
Soha: (half-shy, smiling) "Oh… Dylan, you're here too?"
Dylan: "Yeah, I wanted to see you. Thought you'd be with them."
Ami: "Damn, Soha. When will your honeymoon phase end? Still blushing like a tomato?"
Sneha: "I bet they haven't even kissed yet."
Soha: "Guys! Shut up!"
Dylan: "Yeah... we haven't. But we will soon."
Sneha: "What's stopping you? Aren't you already a couple?"
Dylan: "She's taking her time. I respect that. I'll give her an official proposal."
Saad: (groaning) "Booo-ring~ You should've kept it a surprise for the drama!"
Soha: (smiling now) "Nah, it's okay. Dylan likes being straightforward. That's one of the things I like about him."
Ami: (smirking) "Okay, okay---lovebirds, break it up. I'm heading to the rooftop. I need fresh air before history class sucks out my soul."
Sneha: "What about actual history class?"
Ami: (already walking away) "Nehhh, history can wait. Oxygen comes first."
As the class bell rang, Sneha groaned.
Sneha: "Ugh, screw it. History is boring anyway. I'm joining Ami."
She quietly slipped out of the hallway and made her way up the stairs. As she reached the rooftop door, she casually pushed it open---
???: "GOT YOU!"
Sneha: "Huh----WHA---?"
CRASH!
Suddenly, something---or rather someone--yanked the door open from the other side with too much force. Sneha stumbled forward with a loud crash and landed right on top of someone. Literally. Her eyes squeezed shut from the impact, only to snap open when she realized---
Her lips had collided with someone else's.
She slowly opened one eye, her face barely inches away from-
Saad.
Sneha: (mortified, blinking rapidly) "W-WHAT THE---?!"
Saad (groaning): "Dang, Sneha... move. I can't breathe."
Sneha scrambled off him in panic, her face red as a tomato.
Sneha: "Did we just---?! Did that actually just--?!"
Saad: (dead serious, sitting up, brushing dust off his uniform) "Yea. That definitely happened."
Sneha: (completely flustered) "You idiot!! You better have an explanation for this!"
Saad: (throwing his hands up) "I was trying to prank Ami! so I hid behind the door to scare her! How was I supposed to know you'd show up instead?!"
Sneha: (pointing a shaky finger at him) "You absolute dumbass! I just lost my lips virginity!"
Saad: (grinning, teasing) "Well hey, you stole mine too. So I think we're even."
Sneha: "EVEN?! You think I wanna be even with you?!"
Just then, the rooftop door creaked again.
Ami walked in holding a water bottle, raising an eyebrow at the chaotic scene.
Ami: "...Whoa. I leave for five minutes and you two are making out already?"
Sneha: (jumping away from Saad like he's on fire) "NO!! NO NO NO, it's not what it looks like!"
Ami (grinning): "Chill. Why are you explaining it to me?"
(Ami leans into Sneha's ear)
Ami (whispering): "He likes you. I know it too."
Sneha freezes like a statue.
Sneha: (stiffening like a rock) "...WHAT?!"
Saad: (standing up and pretending to dust off again) "I was aiming for Ami, ended up kissing Sneha. Plot twist of the year."
Sneha: (dramatically grabbing her forehead) "I can't live with this. I lost my lips virginity before marriage. I had dreams. I wanted to have kids first. Goodbye cruel world…"
Ami: (giggling uncontrollably) "Oh my God, Sneha, you're so dramatic! Relax!"
Saad: (pretending to be serious) "If it makes you feel better, I'll take responsibility. It was my first kiss too."
Sneha: (horrified) "SHUT UP, YOU ABSOLUTE MORON!!"
She stormed off, flustered beyond belief.
Ami: (watching her go, chuckling) "Poor Sneha. She's gonna replay that moment in her head for the next five years."
Saad: (rubbing his forehead) "Honestly? My head's still spinning."
Ami: (grinning) "Aww, still tasting the sweetness of the kiss? Digesting it slowly?"
Saad: "Ami. I'm begging you. Stop."
Ami: "Alright, alright. Go nap in the nurse's office or something. You clearly need a recovery break."
Saad: "I'm actually gonna do that. Emotionally exhausted."
He shuffled off while Ami shook her head, chuckling.
Later that evening
Ami (typing in the group chat):
"Be sure to make a grand appearance tonight. We're not just attending--we're going to slay this party."
She hit send with a smug little smirk, lounging on her bed as her phone lit up with replies almost instantly.
Saad: "Say no more, Queen. I was born to cause chaos in style."😉
(Ami could practically hear his dramatic voice through the emoji-probably tossing a fake rose in the air somewhere.)
Dylan: "Just tell me what to wear. I still don't understand how 'dress gorgeous' works. "
Soha: "I'm so nervous… Why do I feel like I'm about to walk into a battlefield in heels?": 🫠
Sneha: 💅
"Already picked my outfit, booked the Uber, rehearsed my walk, and warned my eyeliner not to smudge."
Ami grinned at her screen. Her friends were ready.
She looked over at the black dress hanging on her closet door---subtle shimmer, backless, with a daring slit at the side.
Ami (to herself, whispering):
"Let the curtain rise, Alia. You wanted a show."
Tonight... she wasn't just showing up.
She was making history.