🎵 Song: Ghungroo (Instrumental) – War

"Competition makes rivals...

But sometimes...

it creates reasons to smile at just one person."

Monday morning...

The excitement in St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School was completely different.

Students weren't talking about homework.

Or surprise tests.

Or assignments.

Everyone had only one topic.

The Inter-Class Football Match.

Class 10 vs Class 11.

The winning team would qualify for the annual inter-house championship.

Since Reyansh Malhotra was the captain of Class 10...

Half the school had already gathered around the football ground.

Inside Class 11-A...

Mehak excitedly entered the classroom.

"Aarohi!"

"You know what?"

Aarohi looked up from her notebook.

"What happened?"

"The football match!"

"Our class against Class 10."

"Oh..."

Aarohi nodded.

"I heard."

Mehak smiled mischievously.

"And guess who's leading Class 10?"

Aarohi sighed.

"I know."

"Reyansh."

Mehak laughed.

"This is going to be fun."

Meanwhile...

Near the football ground...

The Class 10 team was already warming up.

Reyansh effortlessly dribbled the football across the field before passing it to Arjun.

"Nice."

Arjun whistled.

"You seem unusually motivated today."

Reyansh smirked.

"I always am."

"Hmm..."

"I don't believe you."

"Why?"

"I think someone from Class 11 is watching."

Reyansh rolled his eyes.

"Focus on the match."

"I am."

Arjun laughed.

"You're the one getting distracted."

A little later...

Students slowly gathered around the field.

Cheers echoed from every corner.

Some carried handmade banners.

Others loudly shouted their class slogans.

The atmosphere felt like a mini tournament.

Aarohi and Mehak found seats in the front row of the Class 11 section.

Mehak looked around excitedly.

"This is going to be amazing."

Aarohi nodded.

"I've never seen a school football match before."

"Then you're in for a treat."

The Class 10 team entered the field.

Loud cheers erupted instantly.

"Reyansh!"

"Captain!"

"Come on!"

Students shouted from every direction.

Reyansh simply waved casually before adjusting the captain's armband.

As he looked around the stands...

His eyes instinctively searched for one person.

Within seconds...

He found her.

Aarohi.

Sitting beside Mehak.

She was quietly watching the field.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Before the referee called both teams...

There was a five-minute break for final preparations.

Reyansh casually jogged toward the stands.

Arjun looked confused.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be back."

Aarohi was talking to Mehak when someone stopped in front of her.

She looked up.

"...Reyansh?"

He smiled.

"Morning, Senior."

"You should be warming up."

"I already did."

"What are you doing here?"

"I have an important question."

Mehak quietly looked at Aarohi.

Then at Reyansh.

She immediately understood.

"I'll... um... go get water."

Without waiting for an answer...

She disappeared with a smile.

Now...

Only Aarohi and Reyansh remained.

He folded his arms.

"So..."

She looked at him curiously.

"What?"

"Today's match."

"Hmm?"

"Who are you supporting?"

Aarohi smiled.

"Obviously..."

"My own class."

He raised an eyebrow.

"So..."

"Class 11?"

She nodded proudly.

"Of course."

"I'm in Class 11."

He pretended to look disappointed.

"Wow."

"My own neighbour betrayed me."

She laughed.

"I didn't betray you."

"I just support my class."

"Hmm."

He crossed his arms dramatically.

"I'm hurt."

"You'll survive."

"I don't know..."

"I might not."

She rolled her eyes.

"Drama king."

Reyansh suddenly smiled.

"Fine."

"Support Class 11."

"I will."

"But..."

He pointed toward the football field.

"If..."

"My Class 10 team wins..."

She looked at him suspiciously.

"...then?"

"You'll have to accept a punishment."

Aarohi blinked.

"A punishment?"

"Yes."

"For not believing in me."

She folded her arms.

"And what if Class 11 wins?"

He thought for a second.

"Then..."

"You can choose my punishment."

She smiled.

"Deal?"

He extended his hand.

"Deal."

After a brief hesitation...

Aarohi shook his hand.

"Deal."

Just then...

The referee's whistle echoed.

"Captains!"

"On the field!"

Reyansh was about to leave.

But before walking away...

He leaned slightly closer.

Close enough that only she could hear him.

His voice dropped to a soft whisper.

"Don't cheer too loudly for Class 11..."

He paused.

A tiny smile appeared on his lips.

"...because every time you cheer against me..."

"...I'll only play harder to impress you."

Aarohi's eyes widened.

Her heartbeat skipped.

"W-What?"

But before she could recover...

He had already stepped back.

His signature smirk returned.

"Wish me luck, Senior."

Without waiting for her reply...

He jogged back toward the football field.

Aarohi remained frozen.

"He..."

"Did he just say..."

Her cheeks slowly turned pink.

At that exact moment...

Mehak returned with two water bottles.

She immediately noticed Aarohi's face.

"What happened?"

Aarohi looked away.

"N-Nothing."

Mehak narrowed her eyes.

"You're blushing."

"I-It's hot outside."

Mehak looked up at the cloudy sky.

"It's barely sunny."

Aarohi had no answer.

On the field...

Arjun jogged beside Reyansh.

"What took you so long?"

Reyansh simply smiled while adjusting his captain's armband.

"Nothing."

"You were talking to your Senior, weren't you?"

Reyansh looked straight ahead.

"...Maybe."

Arjun laughed.

"I knew it."

The referee blew the whistle.

Both teams lined up.

The crowd roared with excitement.

From the stands...

Aarohi looked at the field.

Her eyes unknowingly searched for only one player.

And on the field...

Before taking his position...

Reyansh looked toward the stands one last time.

Their eyes met.

For just a heartbeat.

Then...

The match began.

End of Chapter 21 ⚽💙