As we walk in silence, not uttering a word, an eerie squeak from behind the bushes makes both of us jump in fear. Instinctively, we grab each other's hands, our fingers tangling as we quicken our pace. The bushes behind us begin to rustle frantically. We tighten our grip, exchanging wide-eyed glances, our faces as pale as ghosts.

Suddenly, with a loud rustle, a shadowy figure leaps out from the bushes toward us.

"AHHHHHH!" Abhimanyu and I scream in unison, clutching each other tightly.

The streetlight overhead flickers on, illuminating the dark silhouette. A soft "Meow" escapes the figure, revealing a harmless cat. The absurdity of the situation pulls us back to reality. We glance at each other, realizing how close we are, our hands still intertwined. We quickly let go, stepping apart.

"Ahem—I knew it was a cat," Abhimanyu stammers, refusing to meet my eyes. "I-I was just testing you to see if you're really a scaredy-cat."

Testing me? Right. As if I'd believe that.

I stop in my tracks, unable to believe his words, and burst into laughter.

"Vani! Stop laughing. You were scared too! And I was definitely testing you," Abhimanyu tries his best to justify himself, his face growing redder with every word.

"Yeah, sure. Haha—of course, I believe you, Manyu," I manage to say between fits of laughter, wiping away the tears that gather in the corners of my eyes.

Our walk home turns lighthearted as Abhimanyu continues to defend his actions. His attempts to explain are as amusing as the event itself. The evening air cools around us, and the soft glow of the streetlights reflects our warm exchange. As we near my house, Abhimanyu slows down and stops at the front gate.

Just as I'm about to head inside, he gently takes my hand, making me turn around. For someone who usually has a lot to say, Abhimanyu appears unusually quiet tonight.

"I liked us today," he murmurs softly, his words almost lost to the night. His gaze flickers from our joined hands to meet my eyes. "Be safe, Mickey."

Why does he look so serious? He seemed sincere when he said it, not his usual playful self.

Without waiting for a reply, he lets go and walks away, not bothering to look back. I stand there for a moment, watching him disappear into the darkness before heading inside myself. My parents were out attending a distant cousin's wedding reception, so I take my dinner upstairs to my room.

As I settle in, Abhimanyu's parting words echo in my mind: "I liked us today." They replay in my head like a broken record, leaving me both puzzled and slightly amused. The memory of the cat incident makes me smile all over again. I laugh to myself, thinking about how desperately he tried to justify his fear. A sudden chill runs down my spine when a motorbike roars past outside, snapping me back to reality. I think back to earlier—how Abhimanyu really had saved me. "He did save me big time," I mutter under my breath.

"I can't tell this to my parents; they'd ground me for life," I think, shaking my head with a wry smile.

I sit upright on my bed, phone in hand, the soft glow of the screen casting a faint light across the room. As I scroll through my contact list, one name stands out, bringing a smile to my face: "Stupid Noodles"—a.k.a. Abhimanyu. Still grinning, I tap on his name and type out a message.

"Thank you for saving me earlier. I owe you one. Oh, and watch out for the bushes and cute little cats [inserts: walking cat gif]."

I hit send and stare at the screen for a moment, amused by my own playfulness. A small chuckle escapes my lips as I shake my head, replaying the events of the evening.

Barely a second later, my screen lights up with a new message from Abhimanyu. I click on the notification, my heart skipping a beat.

"Happy to be of service! I'll be ready for any surprises next time. And who knows, maybe I'll get to see that smile in person soon."

What does he mean by that? Is he flirting?

I stop grinning like an idiot and glance around the room, half-expecting Abhimanyu to pop out of nowhere. "How did this idiot know I was smiling?" I mutter, amusement tangled with confusion. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but there's a flutter in my chest—a reminder of the way he looked at me earlier, like I actually mattered.

I set my phone face down on the bed, trying to avoid further distractions. After slipping into my favorite pajama set—a soft, oversized top and comfy shorts—I pull out my study materials. With the entrance exam for Blackthorn Academy just a month away, I couldn't afford to waste time. I manage to study for a few hours before hearing my parents come home. They sound exhausted, and after a quick exchange, they head to bed.

"Vani, get some sleep, dear," my dad says gently from the doorway, left slightly ajar.

"Yes, Dad. I will," I reply with a nod, though my mind is still buzzing with thoughts of the exam and the evening's events.

Finally, I close my books and settle into bed. The weight of tomorrow's expectations settles over me like a blanket. The entrance exam looms in the distance, and with it, my shot at getting into Blackthorn Academy. One last chance to prove myself. One final step toward something bigger than the routine I've known for so long.

I can't let my thoughts wander too much. Focus only on Blackthorn Vani—nothing else.

As I close my eyes, the night's stillness envelopes me, along with the memory of Abhimanyu's unusual message. I smile to myself, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nerves for what's to come.

"For now, I guess all I can do is breathe, rest, and hope tomorrow isn't as daunting as it feels."

A u t h o r's   N o t e 

Yes, I know this chapter is on the shorter side—clearly, I was aiming for brevity over brilliance. But fear not! The upcoming chapters are where the magic really happens. Think of this as a tantalizing appetizer before the feast. 😏

Much love to you all, my lovely blueberries ⭐

Please do the unthinkable and leave a VOMMENT (i.e., Vote + Comment). My ego, and possibly my sanity, depend on it! ❤️

xoxo

Yours, your ever-humble Blueberry