If you asked me back then, I would've said he was just another classmate.
Nothing more.
Nothing special.
Just someone who happened to exist in the same classroom as me.
Classes went on like they always did—boring explanations, random scoldings, and last-minute panic before tests.
"Damn it! I forgot to study THIS!" screamed Chita.
"At least you learnt it! I didn't even study anything!! I freaking woke up at 5 a.m. to study but ended up reading some Wattpad shit!" Ashlin exclaimed.
I rolled my eyes slightly, trying to focus on my book, even though I hadn't studied much either.
From behind him, everything felt… normal.
Too normal.
He talked to others, laughed like usual, acted like nothing had changed.
Which made sense.
Because nothing had changed.
At least, not for him.
Sometimes, during breaks, we ended up playing hand cricket.
It wasn't planned.
It just… happened.
"Out!" he said, way too confidently.
"That was NOT out," I argued immediately.
"It was," he smirked.
"It wasn't."
"It was."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're cheating."
He laughed.
And for a second, I just… paused.
Because I realized something.
I didn't find him annoying.
Not really.
Not the way I thought I did.
But I pushed that thought away just as quickly.
It didn't mean anything.
It was just a game.
Just a normal conversation.
Just another classmate.
Right?
I went back to my seat, trying not to think too much about it.
Trying not to notice the small things.
Like how easy it was to talk to him.
Or how natural it felt.
Or how I didn't mind being around him.
No.
That didn't mean anything.
It couldn't.
Because I didn't like him.
I was sure of that.
…at least, that's what I kept telling myself.