Chapter 4
The Distance Between Two Seats
The classroom felt different that day.
Not quieter.
Not louder.
Just… aware.
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Bela noticed it the moment she walked in.
People weren't just whispering anymore.
They were watching.
Carefully.
Like something was about to happen.
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She ignored it.
Or at least, she pretended to.
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Her steps slowed slightly as she reached the last bench.
Vihaan was already there.
Of course he was.
Same position. Same silence.
But this time—
There was something else.
A notebook open in front of him.
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Bela sat down, placing her bag gently beside her.
She glanced at the notebook.
Filled pages.
Neat handwriting.
Complex calculations.
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"You do this for fun?" she asked softly.
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No response.
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She leaned a little closer, trying to read.
Before she could—
He closed it.
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"…No," he said.
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Bela blinked.
"That looked like a yes."
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"It wasn't."
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A pause.
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"You're very confusing," she muttered.
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"…You talk too much."
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That almost made her smile.
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Before she could reply, the teacher walked in.
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"Everyone, settle down. We're doing a group activity today."
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Groans filled the room.
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"Four students in each group," the teacher continued. "I'll assign them."
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Bela felt a small sense of relief.
Group work meant—
Distraction.
Noise.
Less tension.
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"Ritika, Ayaan, Neha…"
Names continued.
Groups formed quickly.
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Then—
"Bela… Samar…"
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Bela looked up.
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"…Vihaan."
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The class went silent.
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For a second—
Even the teacher seemed to realize what she had done.
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But it was too late.
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Ritika's expression tightened instantly.
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"Ma'am," she started, "can I—"
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"No changes," the teacher said firmly.
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And just like that—
It was decided.
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Bela glanced at Samar.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, like this should be interesting.
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Vihaan didn't react.
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"Move your desks together," the teacher instructed.
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Chairs scraped.
Voices filled the room again.
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Samar pulled his chair closer, sitting across from Bela.
Vihaan didn't move.
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"…You're in the group too," Samar said.
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"I know."
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"Then move."
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A pause.
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Vihaan sighed lightly, dragging his chair just enough to face them.
Minimal effort.
Maximum reluctance.
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"Great," Samar muttered. "This feels very cooperative."
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Bela almost laughed.
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The teacher handed out the assignment.
A complex problem.
Multiple steps.
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"Discuss and solve," she said. "You have forty minutes."
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Samar leaned forward immediately.
"Okay, let's split it."
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"I'll do the first part," Bela said.
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"I'll take the last," Samar added.
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Both of them looked at Vihaan.
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"…What?" he said.
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"Middle," Samar replied.
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"I'm not doing it."
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Bela frowned slightly. "Why not?"
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"Because I don't need to."
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Samar leaned back.
"Yeah, we noticed that yesterday. But this is a group task."
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Vihaan didn't respond.
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Bela looked at him for a moment.
Then—
She slid the paper slightly toward him.
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"Just check it then," she said.
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He didn't move.
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"Please?"
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That word hung in the air.
Soft.
Unexpected.
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For a second—
Something shifted in his expression.
Barely noticeable.
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Then—
He took the paper.
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"…Wrong," he said after a glance.
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Bela frowned. "Where?"
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He pointed.
"Here. You skipped a step."
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She leaned closer.
Their shoulders almost touching.
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Samar watched quietly.
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Bela followed his explanation carefully.
"…Oh," she murmured. "I see it."
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"You always rush," Vihaan said.
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"I don't rush."
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"You do."
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She looked at him.
"…You've known me for two days."
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"That's enough."
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Bela blinked.
Then—
She smiled.
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"Okay," she said. "Then help me not rush."
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A pause.
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Vihaan didn't reply.
But he didn't move away either.
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Minutes passed.
The three of them working—somewhat together.
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Samar occasionally added something.
Bela focused.
Vihaan corrected.
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It wasn't smooth.
But it wasn't distant either.
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Across the room—
Ritika watched.
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Her pen tapped against her notebook repeatedly.
Eyes fixed.
Jaw tight.
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This wasn't supposed to happen.
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Back at the desk—
Bela leaned back slightly, stretching her fingers.
"That wasn't so bad."
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"For you," Samar said.
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She smiled faintly.
Then looked at Vihaan.
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"…Thank you."
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No response.
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But—
He didn't dismiss it.
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The bell rang.
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"Submit your work," the teacher said.
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Samar took the sheet, handing it in.
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Students began packing up.
Noise returning.
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Bela closed her notebook slowly.
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"You're not as bad as they say," she said.
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Silence.
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Then—
"…You don't know what they say."
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"I've heard enough."
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A pause.
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"And you still stayed?"
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Bela looked at him.
Calm.
Certain.
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"Yes."
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For a moment—
Neither of them looked away.
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Then—
Voices interrupted.
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"Vihaan!"
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Ritika again.
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"Can we talk?"
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He stood up without replying to Bela.
Walked away.
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Just like that.
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Bela watched him go.
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Something in her chest felt… strange.
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Not hurt.
Not disappointment.
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Just—
Awareness.
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Samar dropped back into his seat beside her.
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"So," he said casually, "you survived group work with him."
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She let out a small breath.
"Barely."
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Samar smiled slightly.
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Then, after a moment—
"He doesn't do that."
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"Do what?"
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"Sit with people. Talk. Help."
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Bela looked down at her notebook.
Then back toward where Vihaan had gone.
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"…Maybe he just needed a reason."
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Samar didn't reply.
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But for the first time—
He looked at her differently.
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Like he was starting to understand something.
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Something that hadn't been there before.
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Or maybe…
Something that finally was.