🎵 Song: Kaise Hua – Instrumental Version

"Sometimes...

you don't realize how important someone's presence has become...

until one ordinary day feels strangely incomplete without them."

The school corridors were as lively as ever.

Students rushed to their classrooms.

Some laughed loudly.

Some revised for surprise tests.

Others complained about homework they had forgotten to complete.

Everything was exactly the same.

Except...

For one person.

Class 10-B

Reyansh Malhotra walked into his classroom with his usual confident stride.

His classmates greeted him.

"Morning, Rey!"

"Football practice today?"

"Bro, district selections are next week!"

Normally...

He would have replied with a joke or a smirk.

Today...

He simply nodded and sat down.

Arjun, who sat beside him, immediately noticed the difference.

"You're quiet."

"Hmm."

"You fought with someone?"

"No."

"You lost a match?"

"No."

"You failed a test?"

Reyansh looked at him.

"I haven't even written one."

"Then why do you look like someone cancelled your vacation?"

Reyansh ignored him.

The first period began.

The mathematics teacher explained a new chapter.

Normally...

Reyansh would answer every question before anyone else.

But today...

He wasn't even looking at the board.

His notebook remained blank.

His pen rested lazily between his fingers.

Without thinking...

His eyes wandered toward the classroom window.

From there...

He could see a small part of the senior block.

A habit.

One he hadn't noticed developing.

"She has fever."

Anaya's words from the morning echoed in his mind.

The teacher suddenly called his name.

"Reyansh."

He looked up.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I asked you to solve the question."

Silence.

For the first time...

Reyansh had absolutely no idea what the question was.

The entire class looked at him in surprise.

Even the teacher raised an eyebrow.

"Are you feeling alright?"

He quickly stood up.

"Yes, ma'am."

"I just... wasn't paying attention."

The teacher nodded.

"Sit down."

"And try to focus."

"Yes, ma'am."

The class whispered among themselves.

"Did Reyansh just lose focus?"

"That's impossible."

"He never zones out."

Arjun simply smiled to himself.

He already knew the reason.

Lunch Break

Usually...

Reyansh would be the loudest person in his group.

Today...

He quietly sat with his lunch untouched.

Arjun opened his juice box and looked at him.

"You're not eating?"

"I will."

"When?"

"Later."

Arjun sighed.

"Bro."

"Hmm?"

"You've looked toward the senior block at least ten times today."

Reyansh immediately denied it.

"I have not."

"You have."

"I was just looking outside."

"The senior block is outside."

Reyansh glared at him.

"You observe too much."

"I have to."

"Someone has to keep track of your dramatic behavior."

Reyansh finally opened his lunchbox.

But after taking one bite...

He closed it again.

He wasn't hungry.

Arjun leaned back in his chair.

"So..."

"So what?"

"You're worried."

"No."

"You are."

"I'm not."

Arjun smiled knowingly.

"It's because Aarohi isn't here."

The moment her name was mentioned...

Reyansh became quiet.

After a few seconds...

He sighed.

"I don't know."

Arjun folded his arms.

"You don't know?"

"I mean..."

He looked down at the table.

"...the school feels weird today."

Arjun smiled.

"Weird?"

"Hmm."

"Too quiet."

"You mean..."

He smirked.

"...your Ocean isn't here to argue with you?"

Reyansh immediately looked at him.

"Don't call her that."

Arjun laughed.

"Why?"

"Only you can?"

Reyansh didn't answer.

Arjun smiled wider.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The possessiveness."

"I'm not possessive."

"No?"

"You just stopped me from using the nickname."

Reyansh stayed silent.

Arjun shook his head.

"You know..."

"What?"

"You've never cared when someone skipped school."

"I still don't."

"Really?"

"Then why did you ask Anaya where Aarohi was this morning?"

Reyansh blinked.

"I..."

"You've looked toward the senior block all day."

"You haven't smiled properly once."

"You didn't finish your lunch."

"You forgot a math question."

"And now you're pretending nothing is wrong."

Reyansh looked away.

"...She's sick."

His voice was much softer than before.

Arjun nodded.

"I know."

"Anyone would worry."

"I guess."

For a brief moment...

Neither of them spoke.

Then Arjun smiled gently.

"She'll be okay."

Reyansh looked at him.

"Yeah."

"It's just a fever."

"Exactly."

"So stop acting like the world has ended."

Reyansh let out a small laugh.

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

"You looked like someone stole your football."

Reyansh chuckled.

"Shut up."

"There he is."

"My annoying best friend is back."

Football Practice

After classes...

The football team gathered on the field.

The coach blew the whistle.

"Let's begin!"

Normally...

Reyansh dominated every practice session.

But today...

He missed easy passes.

His timing was off.

His concentration kept breaking.

The coach stopped the game.

"Reyansh!"

"Yes, sir?"

"What's wrong with you today?"

"Nothing, sir."

"Nothing?"

"You've missed three passes."

"You've never done that before."

Reyansh lowered his eyes.

"Sorry, sir."

"Focus."

"Yes, sir."

As practice resumed...

Arjun quietly jogged beside him.

"You really are distracted."

"I'm trying."

"I know."

He smiled before adding—

"Go home after practice."

"And check on your Ocean."

Reyansh immediately looked at him.

"I never said I was going."

"You don't have to."

Arjun laughed.

"I already know you will."

For the first time that day...

Reyansh smiled properly.

A small one.

Almost invisible.

But it was enough for Arjun to know.

His best friend had already lost the battle.

Even if he refused to admit it.

Because the truth was simple.

The loud school corridors...

The football field...

The classroom...

Even the entire day...

Didn't feel the same...

Without one shy senior girl with ocean-blue eyes.

End of Chapter 34 🌊🤍