As soon as we entered the school, she let go of my hand… and then she just disappeared.
I saw she wasn't there, but someone I knew — my friend — was standing there saying,
"You're always getting lost somewhere, hurry up, assembly has started!"
"And I still couldn't understand where she went."
"Or was it all just a dream?"
I walked with him, but honestly, my mind was somewhere else — still wondering where she went.
I wanted to know everything about her: her name, her likes, her world.
Yesterday's walk had planted a seed of hope.
Today… maybe today I'll ask her name.
And maybe… tell her how I feel.
But then a thought hit me —
"This can't be love, right?"
"But will she accept me?"
It's too soon.
We just met yesterday, and I'm already thinking of confessing?
That would be wrong.
And anyway, this isn't love… right?
Love doesn't just happen like that.
What if I told her and she stopped being my friend too?
So I decided: today I'll only ask her name… and try to be her friend.
We entered the class.
I sat on my bench.
She was sitting ahead with her friends.
First time I noticed her.
I never cared about her before that.
She was just an invisible girl for me, someone who never existed.
But now, I just wanted to stare at her, and I couldn't stop thinking about her.
My mind was still replaying everything from yesterday.
I imagined her smile… and I smiled too.
Big mistake.
I didn't even notice that the teacher had entered and was standing right next to me.
"Ahem ahem… what angel are you thinking about?"
I blurted out,
"She's really sweet, man… how do I even explain…"
And then I opened my eyes.
Sir was literally in front of my face.
He shouted'
"Get out of the class! If you want to dream, do it at home. We don't need you here!"
Everyone in the class started laughing, like my embarrassment was their entertainment for the day.
But she didn't even notice.
She was busy with some kind of work, I guess… or maybe she just didn't want to look at me.
Who knows the reality?
Still, that punishment wasn't that bad.
I walked out.
But honestly?
That wasn't punishment…
That was a REWARD —
Because she was sitting right in front of me, and I could just… look at her.
Fifteen minutes.
First time ever.
My heart raced every second, stealing glances at her through the window.
The period ended.
Sir walked out and told me,
"Son, you're good at studies. Stay away from distractions like this."
I said, "Yes sir,"
…but my mind was still stuck on her.
Next period started. English.
But honestly, I didn't care.
All I cared about was lunch break —
because today, I had to know her name.
I was so stressed, my stomach felt weird.
Probably anxiety.
One whole hour left till lunch.
And my friend kept poking me,
"What happened yesterday? Come on, tell me!"
I didn't want to tell him… he'd just get emotional.
But he didn't stop asking, so I gave in and told him,
"I'll explain everything. Just wait for some time."
We started talking, and that helped.
Time passed faster.
He asked me what I brought in my lunchbox.
I said, "Matar paneer."
And I saw a whole ocean in his mouth.
I thought I'd drown.
Still, he said,
"Ohkay, then we'll eat together like we do every day."
He completely forgot what we were talking about and started thinking only about that matar paneer.
I still had to tell him what happened… but later.
Maybe tomorrow. Who knows?
And then suddenly — it was lunch break.
My friend went to wash his hands,
because he was drooling already.
I rushed to the canteen, determined not to miss her this time.
As I arrived, she had just started her meal.
This was it — my chance.
I took a deep breath and walked toward her.
She looked up, surprised for a second, then smiled and said,
"Yesterday I didn't ask your name. Will you tell me today?"
Before I could say anything, a guy came and she started talking to him like they had known each other for a long time.
I was feeling jealous for no reason.
I was just standing there.
After some chatting, that guy left.
She told me he was her cousin.
I said,
"I didn't ask. It's your personal matter."
She smiled teasingly and said,
"As if I didn't know you were jealous."
Suddenly, my best friend appeared from behind and shouted dramatically,
"Don't tell me you're going to eat your lunch with that girl! I'm your best friend, and now you've forgotten me and are sharing your lunch with a girl you just met!"
I froze in embarrassment.
She looked at him, then back at me with a curious smile.
"What is he talking about? Lunch? Is he going on a date with you?"
She asked playfully.
I laughed, trying to shake off the awkwardness.
"No, he's just crazy."
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
She stood up, gave me one last glance with a half-smile, and walked away toward her friends.
This was the start of a new crush.
Not love.
Not yet.
Because love means different things to different people.
There are 8 billion people in the world… maybe even more.
And for each of them, love means something unique.
For me?
Right now…
This is just a crush.
But this time —
I hope it doesn't end like the last one.
She left early for class.
I had to drag my overdramatic friend back with me.
He kept saying,
"You gave my paneer to that girl!
You didn't even tell me about her!
You made a friend who's a girl, now you'll forget me!
You betrayed me!"
Everyone was staring at us.
On the way back to class, our teacher asked what happened to him.
I said,
"He couldn't eat his lunch because his stomach hurts, and now he's depressed."
He looked at me like I was the biggest liar in the world.
NVM it.
And I kept thinking —
"Why is this guy so overdramatic, man…"