Dishita's POV
I hadn't planned to sit next to Harshith.
During snack break, the classroom relaxed into a softer kind of noise—wrappers crinkling, quiet chatter, teachers still far away. I took out my snack slowly, my thoughts still tangled from everything that had happened.
That's when Harshith leaned slightly toward me.
"Hey," he said, lowering his voice. "Do you want this?"
I looked up.
In his hand was a marshmallow, neatly wrapped in paper.
"My mom packed extra," he added quickly, almost embarrassed. "I don't really like sweet stuff."
For a second, I just stared.
"For me?" I asked.
He nodded.
Our fingers brushed as I took it, and I felt heat rush to my face. I looked down immediately, pretending to focus on unwrapping it.
"Thank you," I whispered.
It was such a small thing—just a marshmallow from home—but it felt warm, thoughtful. After the tension of the past few days, that kindness made my chest feel lighter.
I bit into it and smiled without realizing.
Nova's POV
Snack break had a way of revealing things people tried to hide.
I noticed Dishita sitting straighter than usual, her shoulders less tense. Harshith leaned closer, said something I couldn't hear, then held out his hand.
She paused.
Then she smiled.
A soft smile. The kind that sneaks up on you.
Magdalin caught my eye from the other side of the room. I tilted my head slightly. She nodded.
We both understood.
Harshith's POV
I hadn't overthought it.
The marshmallow had been in my lunch box since morning. My mom always packed a little extra, just in case.
When I saw Dishita during snack break, quiet and distant, I felt like I should do something—anything.
So I offered it.
When she blushed and smiled, something warm settled in my chest.
It wasn't about the snack.
It was about the way she looked at me afterward—like she felt seen.
And for the first time, I wondered if this seat beside me meant more than coincidence.