After school, we walked out together again.
Same distance.Same quiet balance.
But today the road outside the school gate felt different.
Crowded.
Too many people standing around doing nothing.
I felt it again.
That pressure.
Eyes pretending not to watch.
Ruhan slowed slightly.
"You feel it too, right?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Yes."
For a moment, neither of us moved.
The wind rustled the trees near the gate. Students passed by, laughing, talking.
But the strange feeling wouldn't leave.
Ruhan looked around carefully.
"They're not just watching," he said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
Before he could answer, something landed near our feet.
A small folded piece of paper.
Neither of us had seen who threw it.
Ruhan picked it up slowly.
He opened it.
His expression changed slightly.
"What does it say?" I asked.
He handed it to me.
Four words were written.
"You should stop now."
My fingers tightened around the paper.
"Stop what?" I whispered.
Ruhan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at me.
Directly.
Like he was trying to understand something.
"What?" I asked.
"You're not scared," he said.
"I am."
"Then why are you still standing here?"
I didn't know how to answer that at first.
But the truth had already been sitting in my chest for too long.
So I said it.
Quietly.
"I didn't stay because I'm brave."
Ruhan waited.
"I stayed because… it's you."
For the first time since we met, he looked genuinely surprised.
The noise of the street suddenly felt distant.
"I know things are complicated," I continued."I know people are watching. And I know something strange is happening."
I took a slow breath.
"But if the question is whether I should walk away…"
I looked straight at him.
"I can't."
He didn't speak.
Not immediately.
For a moment, the world felt strangely still.
Then he said softly,
"Pragati… you don't know what you might be getting into."
"Maybe not," I replied.
"But I know one thing."
"What?"
I folded the threatening note again.
"I'm not leaving."
Ruhan studied my face for a long moment.
Then something in his expression changed.
Not surprise anymore.
Respect.
Maybe something deeper.
Before he could say anything—
A motorcycle suddenly sped past the school gate.
The rider slowed slightly.
Just long enough to look directly at us.
Then he drove away.
Ruhan watched the disappearing bike.
Completely silent.
After a few seconds he said quietly,
"Looks like someone heard your answer."
And suddenly, the confession felt like it had just started a much bigger problem.
Written by Pragati Priya~✨