Siya POV:
"Good morning, God. Please be good to me today."
I whispered this while opening my window, because trust me—if there was any day I needed divine help, it was today.
Today was the day.
The day Vani ma'am had promised to finally change our places.
And the memories of last time still stung. One small shift from my seat and I got taunted in front of the whole class. Not directly… but those indirect words? They cut deep. So yeah, my heart was in knots.
All I could think was: Where will she make me sit? First bench? Some corner no one notices? God, please no.
But at the same time, this past week had been… honestly, memorable. Sitting with Era beside me, Shela behind me, laughing, teasing during uniform measurements… it had been fun. I didn't want it to end.
I could still remember the tailor teasing Era, asking if she was really in 10th because she looked so tiny. Shela had smirked and joked, "Yes sir, she looks like my kid, but trust me, she's 15." Era's face turned red with protests, and I had hidden my own behind my hands, laughing silently. Those moments were everything.
And now… they were about to be shuffled away.
The morning assembly ended, and as usual, our class turned into a fish market. Era shouted my name across the row, "Siya, you in this world or still dreaming?"
I giggled back, "Yes, yes, I'm here."
We made promises to stick together, even if ma'am separated us. But deep down, I knew Era wouldn't risk getting into trouble — her parents had ties with all the teachers. One complaint, and she'd be finished. And Shela? She had changed lately, too. More serious, more focused… maybe because of him. Praan, the topper. Yeah, something was cooking there. And nope, I wasn't brave enough to ask.
Then it happened.
Second lecture.
Vani ma'am walked in, exchanged a few words with Mohi ma'am, and suddenly the air in the room grew heavy.
"All of you stand up. Out of the class. We're changing places today."
My stomach dropped.
One by one, names were called. Shela. Then Era. Then me.
And guess what?
I ended up right between Ayesha and Ayyan. Literally in the middle. Me → Ayesha → Ayyan.
My mind: Should I laugh? Cry? Thank God? Or curse Him?
On one side, I could finally observe my so-called idol up close. On the other, I had front-row seats to their non-stop flirting-fighting duo. And let me tell you—it was pure torture.
Nayyan, their childhood friend, didn't make things easier. He was practically hosting a live drama. Teasing them, poking them, forcing conversations. Ayyan teased Ayesha, she taunted him back, and they argued in that sweet, cringey way.
And me?
I was invisible. Or worse—used.
Nayyan kept dragging me into the conversation just to ask for my opinion. Ayyan brushed it off like, "She won't understand, let it be." Then Ayesha would glare at him like, Who are you to decide for her? And they'd go back to fighting.
It was like I was the message box passing notes between them.
Not Siya, the girl. Just Siya, the middle link.
And the worst part? Sometimes Ayyan actually spoke to me. But only to calm Ayesha down when she was mad at him. I wanted to scream, Talk to her yourself! Leave me out of your love story!
But I didn't.
Because I'm Siya.
And Siya doesn't scream.
By the end of the day, all I could think was:
Maybe this is my fate.
To be the silent matchmaker in someone else's love story.
But what if… just what if… fate had something else in store?