Rhea's Pov
The notice came right after morning attendance.
INTER-HOUSE ACTIVITY DAY.
Whole school. Mixed seating. No escape.
The class reacted like it was a disaster movie trailer.
Front benchers looked offended.
Middle benchers looked confused.
Back benchers looked… entertained.
Samar grinned. "So you're telling me we'll be forced to cooperate?"
Dev sighed. "This violates at least three human rights."
Aryan clapped. "I love chaos."
I glanced sideways.
Kabir was reading the notice quietly. No reaction. No commentary.
Neil leaned back in his chair. "This is how wars start."
Assembly Hall – Seating Disaster
They arranged chairs randomly.
Which was code for emotional damage.
I ended up sitting between Kabir and a front-bench girl who smelled like ambition and highlighter pens.
Neil and Samar were two rows ahead. Dev and Aryan somewhere behind, probably instigating something.
Kabir shifted slightly so our arms didn't touch.
Not dramatically.
Just… thoughtfully.
I noticed anyway.
"You don't have to sit like I'm radioactive," I whispered.
He replied, just as softly, "I know."
Pause.
Then, "Habit."
I didn't ask what kind.
Some silences are private property.
First Event: Debate (Of Course)
Front benchers volunteered faster than light.
One of them took the mic and started talking like confidence could replace facts.
I muttered, "If confidence were marks, they'd top every exam."
Kabir's lips twitched.
Tiny.
Barely there.
But I saw it.
Victory.
Neil was dragged onto the opposing team last minute.
He spoke calmly. Clearly. No attitude.
The hall listened.
People actually listened.
When he finished, there was applause.
Real applause. Not polite.
I felt something settle again.
Kabir watched him—not proudly, not suspiciously.
Just… acknowledging.
Between Events – Corridor
Crowded. Loud. Everyone everywhere.
I got pushed slightly to the side.
Kabir's hand came up automatically—just enough to block the crowd, not touching me.
Instinctive.
Protective, but subtle enough to pretend it wasn't.
"You good?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yeah."
Then added, "You do that a lot."
He frowned. "Do what?"
"Look out without making it obvious."
He thought for a second. "Someone has to."
I snorted. "Hero complex?"
He glanced at me. "More like… prevention."
That was very Kabir.
Not saving the day.
Just stopping it from going wrong.
Final Event: Group Challenge
Mixed teams.
Fate—or the teacher—was cruel.
Me. Kabir. Neil. Two front-bench toppers.
The toppers immediately started giving orders.
Neil ignored them and focused on the task.
Kabir listened. Observed. Then quietly said, "That won't work."
One topper scoffed. "And you know better?"
Kabir didn't argue. He just showed them.
Efficient. Clean. Correct.
They shut up.
Neil glanced back at us and said, "We good?"
Kabir nodded. "We're good."
For the first time, the team felt balanced.
Not loud.
Not dominant.
Just… functional.
We won.
End of the Day – Steps Outside
Everyone was exhausted.
Happy. Annoyed. Overstimulated.
I sat on the steps, stretching my legs.
Kabir sat a little distance away.
Not close.
Not far.
"Today was…" I started.
He finished, "…a lot."
I smiled. "Yeah."
We sat quietly.
No tension crackling.
No romance screaming.
Just ease.
Neil and Samar were arguing nearby. Dev and Aryan laughing.
Normal.
Kabir stood up. "You heading out?"
"In a minute."
He nodded. Then paused.
"You did good today."
I blinked. "I didn't do anything."
He looked at me. "Exactly."
Then he walked away.
Rhea's Thought (End Note)
Not everything needs a label.
Not every moment needs meaning.
Some people just… show up.
Stand where needed.
Leave without noise.
Kabir was like that.
And for now—
that was enough.🙂😳❤️