Chapter 7
Things That Shouldn't Matter
The whispers didn't stop.
They just changed direction.
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Now they weren't just about him.
They were about her.
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Bela noticed it during the second period.
And third.
And by the time lunch came around—
She was tired of pretending she didn't hear it.
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"…She's trying too hard."
"Obviously. Why else would she sit there?"
"He doesn't even look at her."
"Yeah, but she keeps talking to him."
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Bela closed her notebook a little harder than necessary.
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"…You're distracted again."
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She didn't look at him.
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"I'm fine."
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"You're not."
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"I said I'm fine."
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This time—
Her tone wasn't soft.
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It was sharp.
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Vihaan noticed.
Of course he did.
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A pause.
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Then—
"Then stop acting like you're not."
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Bela turned to him.
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"What does that even mean?"
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"It means you're letting things affect you."
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"And?"
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"And you shouldn't."
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She let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh.
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"Right. Because it's that easy."
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"It is."
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That answer—
Something about it snapped.
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Bela stared at him.
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"You don't get to say that."
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His expression didn't change.
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"I just did."
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"No," she said, her voice rising slightly, "you don't get to act like nothing matters and expect everyone else to do the same."
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A few students nearby glanced at them.
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Bela didn't care.
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"Not everyone is like you," she continued. "Not everyone can just ignore everything like it doesn't exist."
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Vihaan's eyes hardened slightly.
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"Then maybe they should learn."
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That did it.
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Bela pushed her chair back slightly.
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"Maybe you should learn that people are not as empty as you pretend to be."
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Silence.
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The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Irreversible.
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For the first time—
Vihaan's expression changed.
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Not much.
But enough.
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"…You don't know anything about me."
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His voice was low.
Controlled.
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But there was something under it.
Something close to anger.
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Bela felt it.
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But she didn't stop.
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"Then tell me," she said.
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A pause.
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"Or is that too much effort too?"
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The classroom had gone quieter now.
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People were watching.
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Waiting.
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Vihaan stood up.
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Slowly.
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Not loudly.
Not aggressively.
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But the movement itself felt like a shift.
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"You think you understand things?" he said.
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Bela didn't respond.
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"You don't," he continued.
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His gaze locked onto hers.
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"And you shouldn't pretend like you do."
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Bela's chest tightened slightly.
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"I'm not pretending."
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"You are."
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"How?"
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"By thinking you can fix things you don't even understand."
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That—
That wasn't what she was trying to do.
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But hearing it like that—
It hurt.
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"I'm not trying to fix you," she said quietly.
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"Good," he replied.
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Because his next words—
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"…because I'm not broken."
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Something about that—
The way he said it.
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So certain.
So final.
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Made something inside her ache.
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Because it didn't sound true.
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"…Then why does it feel like you are?" she asked.
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Silence.
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For a second—
Too long.
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Then—
"That's your problem."
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He picked up his bag.
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And walked out.
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Just like that.
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Leaving behind—
Silence.
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And a room full of eyes.
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Bela stood there.
Still.
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Her hands clenched slightly at her sides.
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She didn't move.
Didn't speak.
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Didn't react.
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Not until—
"Hey."
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Samar's voice.
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Soft.
Careful.
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"You okay?"
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Bela nodded.
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Too quickly.
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"I'm fine."
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He didn't believe her.
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But he didn't push.
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"…You didn't mean it," he said.
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Bela let out a quiet breath.
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"I didn't mean to say it like that."
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A pause.
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"But I meant it."
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Samar studied her for a moment.
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Then—
"You're both stubborn."
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That almost made her smile.
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Almost.
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The rest of the day passed slowly.
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Too slowly.
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Vihaan didn't come back.
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His seat stayed empty.
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And for some reason—
That felt worse than his silence.
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After school—
Bela walked out alone.
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The sky was slightly darker than usual.
Clouds gathering.
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She didn't notice where she was going.
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Not until—
She stopped.
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The basketball court.
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Empty.
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Or so she thought.
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He was there.
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Standing near the edge.
Hands in his pockets.
Looking… somewhere far away.
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For a moment—
She considered leaving.
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Turning around.
Pretending she never came.
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But—
She didn't.
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Instead—
She walked forward.
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Slowly.
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Until she was close enough.
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"…You left."
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He didn't turn.
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"You stayed."
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That wasn't an answer.
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But it wasn't nothing either.
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Bela crossed her arms slightly.
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"I didn't mean to say it like that."
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Silence.
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"I shouldn't have said you were pretending."
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A pause.
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"But you were wrong too," she added.
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That made him look at her.
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Finally.
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"…Of course I was."
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Sarcasm.
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Bela exhaled.
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"This isn't about being right."
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"Then what is it about?"
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"…People," she said softly.
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Another pause.
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"You can ignore them," she continued. "I can't always do that."
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"Then you'll get hurt."
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"I know."
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That answer surprised him.
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"…Then why still care?"
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Bela looked at him.
Really looked.
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Because she knew the answer.
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"I don't have the luxury not to."
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The words slipped out.
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And for a moment—
She wished she could take them back.
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Because they meant more than he understood.
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More than she could explain.
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Vihaan frowned slightly.
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"What does that mean?"
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Bela looked away.
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"…Nothing."
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A lie.
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But a necessary one.
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Silence settled between them.
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Not heavy this time.
Just… quiet.
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After a moment—
"…You talk too much," he said.
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Bela blinked.
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Then—
A small smile.
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"You listen too much."
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That almost—
Almost—
Looked like the hint of something on his face.
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Not a smile.
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But something close.
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And for now—
That was enough.