Hiten sat frozen, staring blankly at Aarya as her words echoed in his head like a broken record.
Pair dance competition… registered… with you.
His jaw dropped, his spoon dangling mid-air. "Y-you did WHAT?!"
Aarya grinned mischievously, leaning in as if she were revealing the world's best-kept secret. "I registered us for the competition. Together. Isn't it exciting?"
"Exciting?!" Hiten nearly choked on his water. He banged the table so hard their plates rattled. "No, no, no—this is a disaster in disguise! A catastrophe dressed as choreography!"
Students nearby glanced over curiously, but Aarya just sipped her juice calmly, clearly enjoying his overreaction.
Hiten ran both hands down his face dramatically. "Do you even realize what you've done? I can't dance! My body is allergic to rhythm. If I step on stage, I'll collapse like a dying robot!"
Aarya laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth. "Oh, come on, don't be so dramatic. You're not that bad."
"Yes, I am!" Hiten stood up, pointing to himself. "This body? It was made for running late to class and falling over backpacks, not for spinning in front of an audience!"
Aarya leaned back, eyes sparkling with amusement. "You worry too much. That's why you need me. I'll handle the choreography—you just follow my lead."
"Follow your lead?!" Hiten clutched his chest, staggering back as if mortally wounded. "I can't even follow my own footsteps without tripping!"
The cafeteria roared with laughter, though most of it came from Aarya herself. She tried to catch her breath between giggles. "Relax, Hiten. Just meet me after school—we'll practice at your house."
Hiten froze mid-panic, blinking rapidly. "M-my… house?" Images flashed before his eyes: broken furniture, his mom walking in mid-spin, the living room reduced to rubble. "This is it. You're planning my funeral!"
"Hiten!" Aarya smacked his arm lightly, grinning ear to ear. "Stop being so dramatic. It'll be fine. Trust me."
Hiten groaned loudly, sinking back into his chair like a man defeated. "Fine… but know this, Aarya. If I trip on stage and the entire school laughs, my soul will haunt you forever. Every time you hear music, you'll see me—your clumsy ghost partner!"
Aarya laughed so hard her juice nearly spilled. "Deal! I'll dance with ghost-Hiten too."
He covered his face with his hands, mumbling, "This is the end of me. Goodbye, dignity. Goodbye, reputation. It was nice knowing you."
Aarya leaned closer, her voice soft but firm. "You'll survive, Hiten. We'll make this performance unforgettable. Together."
Her words silenced his complaints for a moment. He peeked through his fingers at her smile—the kind of smile that somehow made even the craziest idea feel… possible.
With a dramatic sigh, Hiten finally gave in. "Fine. But if I embarrass myself, you're taking all the blame!"
Aarya smirked, sipping the last of her juice. "I'll take it. Now, get ready. After school… the real fun begins."
Hiten slumped into his seat, muttering under his breath about "dance apocalypse" and "life-threatening spins." But deep down, beneath all the panic, a strange flutter of excitement stirred in his chest.
And just like that, what started as a normal school day turned into the beginning of something far more unpredictable—a partnership of chaos, laughter, and maybe… a memory neither of them would ever forget.