'Avantika.' Renuki stopped her friend outside the chemistry class.

'Yeah.'

'Why are you still mad at me?'

Avantika shifted under Renuki's gaze.

'Am not really mad at you I just... I just needed some time to cool off.'

Renuki looked at her confused.

'Cool off as in?'

'I meant that uh.... Renuki... uh.... You were the one who wanted this kind of life. You forced me into this as well and then suddenly you asked what would happen if you don't wear makeup. After forcing me so much for the past few years you asked me this question.' Avantika's voice wavered as she spoke.

Renuki's jaw dropped slightly. She never expected this.

'I.... uh... I am sorry. I was just so frustrated because I got up late and then the day before there was a dinner party as well...'

Avantika nodded.

'Okay but next time give me a warning before you bail.'

'I doubt I ever would though.'

Avantika laughed and hugged her friend. Together they entered the classroom.

For today's lesson, they were going to do a practical. Renuki was a bit hesitant when Ms Abimaanya announced that because she clearly remembered what happened at the previous practical. She really did not want a repeat of that so she chose a bench that was far away from Kevan.

Kevan looked around to see if Renuki was close by. He spotted her three benches behind him. He gave her a small wave when she caught his eye. She looked way without any response. Of course.

'Isn't he the one who –' Avantika began.

'Chup,' Renuki put her hand up, 'I do not want to talk about that day please.'

'Okay,' Avantika smiled as she turned forward, 'but he seems to have taken an interest in you.'

Renuki hit her friend on the shoulder which resulted in her laughing.

'I was only kidding Renu.' Avantika said as she tried to stop her laugh.

'I don't like this and I don't like him and...'

'Woah woah woah lady I did not mention anything about you liking him.'

Renuki's eyes widened.

'Wait Renu are you...' Avantika looked at Renuki closer, 'Oh my gosh yes you are.'

'I am what?' Renuki asked taking a few steps back as her friend brought her face closer to hers.

'You are blushing.'

Renuki patted her cheeks and frowned.

'No, I am not!'

Avantika smirked.

'Whatever you say.'

Renuki rolled her eyes at Avantika before she started to flip through the pages of the practical book. Today's practical was a qualitative analysis, something that Renuki enjoyed. She loved watching the colour changing in the solutions as she added drops of reagents. Of course, she wouldn't have time to admire all of that during exams but she just couldn't but be in awe of it all. Her most favourite had to be the first practical that they did a few months back where they produced iodide crystals which literally resembled pixie dust! She hoped that they could do that test again soon.

'Hey Renu. Free today?' Avantika asked as she poured an unknown colourless solution given by the teacher into a test tube.

'Yeah I guess.'

'Been meaning to update my wardrobe for some time now so coming with me?'

'Like duh.'

And they got into a conversation about the latest fashion trends while they carried out their practical.

'Okay on a scale of one to ten how do you think that new black dress from Mango would look on me. Cause I've had my eye on that ever since it came out.' Renuki asked.

Just then Kevan passed them slowly, eavesdropping on their conversation, holding a test tube which was half filled with the colourless solution, NaOH.

'The one with the low back and cinches at the waist?'

Renuki nodded.

'Definitely a ten out of ten.' Avantika exclaimed.

Kevan slightly tipped the test tube in Renuki's direction. Renuki shrieked. Kevan laughed as he bought the test tube back up making sure nothing had spilt.

'Did you really think that I would waste a perfectly good solution on a person like you?' Kevan scoffed at her.

Renuki's jaw dropped.

'What do you mean a person like me?' she put her hands on her hips as she questioned Kevan indignantly.

'What's going on here?' Miss Abimaanya arrived at the scene.

'Just clearing a doubt for Renuki Miss.' Kevan answered, masking his smirk with an innocence that fooled everyone except Renuki.

'Okay. But remember you only get an hour and a half for this practical. And for your exams its only less than an hour.' Miss told them before going around to check on the other students.

'Okay and your doubt as to what kind of person you are like. Well.... Posh, bigshot, rich, money minded.' Kevan said before going to his seat.

But before Renuki could turn and complain to Avantika Kevan returned and said to Avantika,

'Oh, and you said that she,' he pointed his thumb at Renuki who was fuming, 'is a ten?'

Speechless, Avantika nodded. Kevan scanned Renuki from top to bottom.

'On the pH scale, maybe because you're basic.' Kevan smirked at the stunned girls and left to his bench.

Avantika blinked at him.

'Did he just -?'

But Renuki put a hand out to stop her.

'I don't want to talk about it.'

👓

Renuki observed herself on the fit on room mirror. The black dress that she had been dying to buy did look good on her but it was a little unflattering on her chest. She sighed. Lately it had been getting tough to buy good clothes for herself. Not happy with the dress she changed into the clothes she entered the store in. A brown button blouse and a navy blue maxi skirt.

'What took you so long?' Avantika asked as Renuki came out of the room.

'Was unsure about tis dress.' And Renuki showed the dress to her best friend.

'But you wanted it so badly didn't you.'

'Yeah but it doesn't fit.'

Avantika narrowed her eyes at Renuki.

'Don't lie.'

'Okay okay. It doesn't look that great on me.'

Avantika pouted but the black dress was soon forgotten when she saw a saleswoman take a sunny yellow mini dress.

Avantika's eyes widened.

'I want that!' she exclaimed and followed the saleswoman while Renuki shook her head and smiled.

She went to explore the Charles and Keith store which was next to Mango while Avantika tried on the dress she just got. 

She had enough shoes to wear for at least two months without repeating them but she still couldn't stop herself from buying more. So, in order to stop herself from doing that she put a ban on herself.

She will not buy anymore shoes until she has worn every pair at least once. And that is why right now she was staring longingly at the shoes. She was probably there for a while because Avantika, who now had a bag hanging by her arm, nudged her shoulders.

'I thought you weren't going to buy anymore shoes.'

'I said I won't buy. Not stay away from ogling at them.' Renuki smiled sneakily.

Avantika grinned.

'Anyways am starving. How about a burgher?'

Renuki gave a strained smile.

'I am actually not that hungry –' Renuki began but after looking at Avantika who mimed being extremely tired she agreed. At McDonald's Avantika ordered a big mac meal just as she was craving. Renuki ordered a black coffee.

Avantika eyed the dark drink with distaste.

'Out of all the food we can pick from and you go for coffee.'

Renuki smiled.

'Like I said. I am not hungry.'

Avantika looked at her friend with worry. She hadn't been eating a lot lately. Renuki made it look like she was eating but Avantika knew better.

'Renuki...' Avantika began but Renuki interrupted.

'I am not hungry.' She said, her tone final.

Avantika agreed and continued to have her unhealthy snack.

👓

Kevan finished his homework early and now he was bored. He went outside his room and past his parents' room. His father was too engrossed in his phone and he could hear his mother in the kitchen downstairs. Tip toeing back to his room and making sure that his brat of a brother wasn't around he went to his hidden apps and checked the notifications on his social media.

Renuki Gunasekera followed you.

To say he was shocked would be an understatement. Granting him his request was one thing but following him back was another. Especially after the way he treated her at school today. but then he noticed the time and it said 1:58 pm. Oh, that would explain it. She had followed him last night before today's incident had happened.

He clicked on her name and started going through her profile again. Nothing much had been updated except for a picture of her and Avantika with some bags of clothes. Kevan snorted at that picture. He never understood a girls' obsession with having too much clothes. Like they wanted to wear one outfit only once. Yes, there were few girls whom he knew who weren't like that but they are like an endangered species. Someone like Shenali. She was a good friend of his and someone who wasn't obsessed with fashion and makeup. Girls like them are much easier to be friends with and definitely so much nicer.

Thinking about her made him wonder where she was for the past week. He barely saw her at school and she didn't call him anymore. She was one of the few friends that his parents had accepted because of her good grades. And so, worried for his friend he decided to check up on her.

'Hello.'

'Hi Kevan.'

'Where are you child?'

'oh...um... I am actually at...'

But Shenali didn't complete the rest of her sentence because she began to laugh. Kevan kept his phone at a distance because the laughs and shrieks were too high pitched for his poor ears to handle. Kevan frowned. Where was she? And the answer to that came in the form of a deep laugh.

'Rohan stop it! Can't you see I am on the phone!'

Feeling awkward Kevan made a move to hang up.

'Uh... It's okay. I'll call later.'

'Wait... Kev – '

But he had already hung up.

He was really confused. If Shenali had a boyfriend why wouldn't she tell him? Maybe it was just another friend but it was weird.

'Gah it's not like he is the only friend she has anyways.' he muttered to himself before deciding to go downstairs for a snack. He figured he'll talk to her later and sort it out.

👓

well hello there *waves* i updated today instead of tomorrow because my dear jaan just couldnt wait without a chapter *cough cough*  __aathii__ and also aur kyonki main tumhen pyaar karata hoon pata hai (yes i totally used google translate for this ;))

oh and Renuki's look in this chapter was designed by GSSallay

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till next time pH scales

take care

=)❤sammy

p.s. i apologise if the images are too big. i do not know how to change their sizes

p.p.s. and yes those are actual designs from the MANGO store

p.p.p.s. guess the location as to where they went shopping ;) it is somewhere in sri lanka

p.p.p.p.s. no more updates for atleast another 3 days because i am working on other projects as well and i need to take a break