Dev's P.O.V.

Just as I'm about to step into the classroom, I realize that the first class has ended, and it's now break time. I halt in my tracks, preparing to enter, when suddenly, Arya's voice rings out, urging me to stop, "Stop right there!"

I turn, and my eyes lock onto Arya, who is looking at me with an almost conspiratorial grin. She gestures to Mayank, who rises from his seat beside her with an amused expression. Together, they approach me, like two mischievous co-conspirators with a secret plan.

I'm momentarily puzzled, and then Arya clears her throat dramatically, as if about to make a grand announcement. I exchange a puzzled glance with Mayank, who seems equally amused and mysterious.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please!" Arya's voice booms with playful theatrics, her arms outstretched as if addressing a captivated audience.

Mayank joins in with equal enthusiasm, his tone matching Arya's dramatic flair, "Introducing the stars of the star, the one and only... superstar singer..."

Both of them simultaneously raise their voices in unison, their faces alight with amusement and excitement, "DEV SHARMA!"

I can't help but laugh at their over-the-top antics, embarrassment creeping over me as they hold me on either side like I'm some sort of celebrity. And then, to my surprise, a ripple of applause starts to spread through the classroom. Confused, I look around and realize that everyone in the class is joining in, clapping and cheering as if I've just won a grand prize.

Flustered, I shake my head, "What are you guys doing?"

Mayank's grin widens, and he explains, "You remember that performance you and Piya gave at the Independence Day fest? Everyone loved it. You guys had the entire crowd cheering for you. But then you fell sick, and you weren't able to come to the school after that. So, we're giving you a belated round of applause and congratulations!"

A mix of emotions washes over me- embarrassment, gratitude, and a sense of warmth. Who knew that a small performance would have such a lasting impact? As the applause continues, I can't help but chuckle at the dramatic scene that Arya and Mayank have orchestrated. Even amidst my embarrassment, their playful gesture fills my heart with a sense of belonging and camaraderie that I hadn't anticipated.

Throughout my life, I've always felt like a nobody, just a face in the crowd, invisible to the world around me. The only time I managed to capture anyone's attention was when my name was linked with Vikram's in those hurtful rumors. It was as if my existence was defined by that one unfortunate event, as if that was the only mark I left on this world.

But now, everything is changing. It's like the pieces of my life are slowly coming together, forming a mosaic of experiences that I never thought were possible for someone like me. I have friends-real friends- who see me for who I am, not just as a pawn in someone else's game. They appreciate my skills, my passions, and the person I've always wanted to be.

As I stand there, bathed in the warmth of applause, I can't help but attribute this transformation to one remarkable individual. A person who entered my life like a beacon of hope, piercing through the darkest clouds of despair. My gaze naturally finds its way to the source of this profound change - Raj.

He sits in the midst of the applauding crowd, a genuine smile adorning his face, his eyes radiating an unwavering warmth. When our eyes lock, a tidal wave of emotions engulfs me.

It's almost surreal to comprehend that someone as confident and charismatic as Raj could find something valuable in someone like me. His steadfast support and authentic friendship have resurrected a part of me that I believed was forever lost.

I was broken, a tapestry of scars and shattered dreams, until you came along and rewove the fabric of my life with threads of hope and love. With your touch, the pieces of my soul began to mend, and in your eyes, I found the reflection of a future filled with endless possibilities. You painted a new canvas of hope, where the colors of happiness danced in vibrant harmony, chasing away the shadows of my past.

I can feel tears welling up at the corners of my eyes, emotions swelling within me like a surging tide. Overwhelming doesn't begin to describe it - the realization that I am no longer defined by the rumors, the shadows, or the lingering doubts. In this moment, surrounded by friends who genuinely care, I just feel like I have finally found a place where I truly belong.

I take my seat next to Raj, and he leans in to whisper a soft "hi."

I respond with a shy "hi" in return, my heart fluttering at his proximity. As I settle down, I can't help but feel a rush of memories flooding back, like a movie reel playing in my mind.

The scene from that evening replays before my eyes- the tranquil setting sun, the gentle breeze rustling the leaves, and the warmth of Raj's lips pressed against mine.

My cheeks catch fire, and I scramble to break our eye contact, suddenly fascinated by the pattern on my desk. The memory is so vivid, so intense, that it's as if I can still feel the touch of his lips on mine. My heart races in response, and I can practically hear it pounding in my ears. It's like a secret that I can't share with anyone, a moment that feels too private and too precious to be spoken.

A soft chuckle from Raj draws my attention back, he must have noticed my reaction. I swear he can read my thoughts. In this strange, exhilarating way, he seems to know my heart's most intimate whispers. It's both thrilling and terrifying to think that he knows what's going on in my mind, especially when it involves something as intimate as that stolen kiss.

In the quiet classroom, as the teacher's voice drones on, my world shrinks down to a single point of fascination - Raj. The words on the chalkboard blur into insignificance as my attention finds its way to Raj, seated right next to me. His presence is the only lesson I want to absorb, the sweetest subject in the classroom.

Amidst the hum of the lesson, something magical happens. A soft touch beneath the desk, and time stands still. Raj's fingers reach for mine, gently intertwining like the first delicate threads of a friendship bracelet. My heart flutters like a captured butterfly, and I can feel my cheeks turning the rosiest shade of pink.

I feign focus on my textbook, pretending to be engrossed in the world of zoology, but Raj's touch is an enchantment I can't resist. His hand in mine is a reassuring warmth, and it makes my heart dance like a novice ballerina experiencing her first waltz.

I maintain the façade of a diligent student, but Raj's touch is a magnetic pull, defying the laws of gravity. Each brush of his thumb against my skin feels like a spark, an electric connection that sparks the sweet symphony of first. In that moment, digestive juice of liver takes a backseat, and my heart solves an equation of its own - the equation of Raj.

I sneak a furtive glance at Raj, and in that moment, our eyes collide, creating some sort of magic. His smile is a sugary delight, like a cupcake adorned with colorful sprinkles, and I'm drowning in the sweetness of his affection. His gaze tells tales of promises that set my heart off on a wild game of hopscotch, and I'm the clumsiest player in the world.

Ensnared in this gravitational pull, my lips can't help but curve into a smile that's a hybrid of a shy emoji and a blushing one. Raj's expression is a masterpiece, a perfect blend of adoration and mischief, and I'm powerless against the gravitational force that draws me closer to him, much like the Earth orbiting the sun.

Then, a tender pressure grazes my hand. His thumb traces invisible patterns on my knuckles, and suddenly, I'm engaged in a ticklish game of connect-the-dots. It feels like he's writing love notes on my skin in Morse code. A blush blooms on my cheeks, matching the hue of a ripe strawberry, and my cool demeanor melts away like ice cream on a sweltering summer day. The classroom dissolves, leaving behind a world where only Raj and I exist.

"You alright?" Raj plays innocent, as if he hasn't just sent my heart on a rollercoaster.

I clear my throat, attempting to sound composed but ending up with a squeak reminiscent of a strangled bird. "Yeah, but you're turning 'concentration' into a foreign language," I confess, my voice a few octaves higher than usual.

Raj's grin takes on a mischievous twist. "Oh, am I now?" he teases, his eyes twinkling with the secrets of a million chuckles.

I nod, my cheeks still sporting a vibrant blush. "Yes, your thumb... It's- It's distracting," I admit, waving my hand around like a magician trying to unveil the source of all my blushing.

He arches an eyebrow, utterly unapologetic. "My thumb? Doing what exactly?" His thumb resumes its dance over my knuckles, sending delightful shivers down my spine, and my heartbeat becomes a drumroll of excitement.

I roll my eyes, unable to stifle the laughter bubbling up. "You're incorrigible," I accuse, a mix of exasperation and affection in my words.

Amid my attempts to decipher the components of bile on the board, Raj executes a move worthy of the "Best Comedy Romance" award. His pen "accidentally" takes a plunge to the floor, creating a clattering commotion by my feet. I shoot him a puzzled look, and he responds with a solemn nod towards the fallen pen. Obliging, I lean down to retrieve it, but before my thoughts can catch up, he leans in and plants a lightning-quick kiss on my cheek. Surprise courses through me, transforming into the fizzy delight of popping candy, while my cheeks blush like a radiant Christmas tree.

Caught entirely off guard, I straighten up as if someone just tugged my marionette strings. My fingertips linger on the spot where his lips graced my skin, as if preserving the sensation for eternity. My heart performs a joyful dance, a cosmic ballet in sync with the universe's rhythm. A discreet glance confirms that the teacher remains lost in the world of liver, oblivious to my brief encounter with a space-time distortion.

As I begin to regain my composure, a sudden cough disrupts the classroom's tranquility, akin to the announcement of an unexpected pop quiz. My gaze shifts towards the source of this sonic interruption - Arya, the reigning queen of comedic timing, seated directly behind us. She manages to cough in a way that sounds like a fusion between a foghorn and a soprano's aria.

"Get a room, you both!" Arya says, words punctuated in between her dramatic coughs.

I turn to Raj, who's grinning as if he's just performed the world's most enchanting magic trick. His eyes twinkle with mischief, and his dimples are like miniature craters of charm. I wish I could disappear into a black hole. And then, he winks at me, and I feel like a stupid character from cringy a rom-com, my heart composing poetry in iambic pentameter. I blush so intensely that I might turn into a human tomato, and I pretend to immerse myself in my textbook, as if fat emulsification has suddenly become more fascinating than starring in my very own chick flick.

Raj chuckles turning to Arya feigning dramatic concern, "Poor Arya, you must have a chronic coughing condition."

Arya waves her hand dismissively, her face an exaggerated portrait of suffering. "Oh, it's a genuine medical emergency, triggered by the perpetual state of being eternally single," she deadpans before succumbing to her own laughter, with Raj joining in.

I manage to eke out a chuckle while feigning deep involvement in my textbook, though these fatal structures of fatty acids can't restrain the infectious grin that's spreading within me.

Suddenly, the teacher's voice crashes into the scene like thunder, shattering our invisible bubble of hilarity. "What's happening over there?"

The entire classroom's attention snaps towards us like a compass needle pointing north. Raj and I exchange guilty glances, our smiles resembling those of co-conspirators caught red-handed. The teacher's gaze carries the stern authority of someone on the brink of unraveling a deep mystery, and for a brief moment, the room is so silent that you could hear a pencil drop.

Then, as if carried by a mischievous breeze, Arya's voice drifts through the silence. "Romance."

Raj and I lock eyes, our expressions mirroring cartoon characters caught in the spotlight of comedy. It's as if Arya has just hit the punchline button, and the three of us burst into laughter, as infectious as a yawn in a hushed room.

The teacher's expression morphed from stern to sheer disbelief, his eyebrows reaching for the ceiling as if attempting to escape the absurdity. He shook his head as if to reset his brain, caught in the crossfire of teenage antics and hormones.