Monday Morning — New Energy
Something had changed in Class 9-A.
Arjun now trained every morning at 6:00 a.m. sharp with Kabir.
Sijita still topped every surprise test.
But now… she sometimes looked out the window during sports period.
Tina noticed first.
"Breaking news: Miss Perfect is distracted."
Sijita rolled her eyes.
But she didn't deny it.
6:00 A.M. — The Field
Kabir was sweating heavily.
"Again," Arjun said calmly.
"You don't get tired?" Kabir asked.
"I do," Arjun smiled. "I just don't quit when I'm tired."
Coach Banerjee watched from a distance.
He made a decision that day.
"Inter-school 400m lead runner… Arjun."
Kabir froze.
For one second — jealousy flashed in his eyes.
But Arjun turned and said,
"You're anchor. We win together."
Kabir's pride softened.
Still… something burned inside him.
( Academic Rivalry)
In physics class, Mrs. Sen announced:
"Science Quiz selection test today."
Sijita's moment.
She wrote confidently.
When results came?
1st — Sijita Roy
2nd — Arjun Sen
Only one mark difference.
For the first time, Sijita felt competition.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just… close.
She looked at him.
He simply said, "You explain better than me. You deserve it."
Why wasn't he trying to defeat her?
That confused her more than rivalry.
( Tina's Drama Sticker
Tina posted)
"Sports King and Study Queen???"
The class group chat exploded.
Rohan: "Are we witnessing history?"
Maya: "Ignore them."
Kabir: "Focus on practice."
Sijita felt embarrassed.
Arjun didn't react.
That calmness again.
Inter-School Championship Day
Crowd loud.
Drums beating.
Greenwood High vs 6 other schools.
Arjun stretched quietly.
Kabir adjusted his spikes.
Sijita stood near the stands pretending she wasn't nervous.
Whistle.
Arjun ran beautifully — controlled, balanced.
Final 100 meters.
Another school's runner pushed ahead.
Kabir shouted from the side,
"NOW!"
Arjun sprinted.
He crossed first.
By 0.8 seconds.
The stadium erupted.
Kabir hugged him.
Coach Banerjee clapped hard.
Even Mr. Adhikari smiled.
But Arjun looked at the stands.
Sijita was clapping.
Not like a topper.
Like someone proud.
🌧 After the Victory
Evening. Empty corridor.
Sijita walked up to him.
"You always stay calm. Even under pressure."
He looked at her.
"I'm calm on the outside."
She blinked. "And inside?"
He hesitated.
"Inside… I don't want to disappoint people."
That was honest.
She whispered,
"I don't want to lose control."
They stood there — not touching, not confessing.
Just understanding.
Kabir's Conflict
Later that night, Kabir texted Arjun.
"You deserved the win."
Pause.
"But I don't want to always stand second."
Arjun replied:
"Then let's both become stronger."
No ego. No insult.
Kabir stared at the message.
Maybe this wasn't rivalry.
Maybe this was growth.
Final Scene — Slow Burn Begins
Next morning.
Class 9-A.
Sijita didn't sit in the first bench.
She sat beside Arjun.
Rohan dropped his pen dramatically.
Tina gasped.
Maya smiled knowingly.
Kabir just smirked slightly.
Mrs. Sen entered and said,
"High school is not about winning alone. It's about who you become."
Arjun and Sijita exchanged a look.
Something had started.
Not love yet.
Not fully rivalry.
But something strong.
And this was only the beginning.