Chapter 10
The Side No One Talks About
The announcement came during the last period.
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"Attention everyone," the teacher said, closing her book. "Our inter-school basketball match is scheduled for next week."
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The class instantly came alive.
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"Finally!"
"We're going to win this time!"
"Last year was so close—"
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Voices overlapped.
Excitement spread quickly.
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Bela looked up from her notebook, slightly surprised by the sudden energy.
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"…You didn't know?" Samar turned back toward her, amused.
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She shook her head.
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"It's kind of a big deal here," he said. "Half the school shows up."
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"Half?" she asked.
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"Okay—almost everyone."
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Bela smiled faintly.
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"That sounds intense."
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"It is," he replied. "Especially when he plays."
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Bela frowned slightly.
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"…Who?"
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Samar raised an eyebrow.
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Then slowly—
He tilted his head toward her side.
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Bela followed his gaze.
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And stopped.
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Vihaan.
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"…Him?" she asked, almost unsure.
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Samar chuckled lightly.
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"Yeah. Didn't see that coming, did you?"
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Bela blinked.
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No.
She didn't.
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Because nothing about him—
The silence.
The distance.
The stillness—
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Screamed basketball player.
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"You're joking," she said.
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"I'm not."
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Bela looked at Vihaan again.
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He hadn't reacted to the announcement.
Hadn't joined the excitement.
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He was just…
Sitting there.
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Like it had nothing to do with him.
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"…He plays?" she asked softly.
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Samar leaned back in his chair.
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"He doesn't just play."
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A pause.
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"He carries the team."
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That—
That she didn't expect.
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Bela turned slightly, studying him again.
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Trying to imagine it.
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And failing.
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"Practice starts today after school," the teacher continued.
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More cheers.
More noise.
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"Only selected players are required to stay."
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A few students groaned.
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Others looked excited.
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Bela's eyes shifted again.
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Vihaan still hadn't moved.
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Still hadn't reacted.
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And somehow—
That made her more curious.
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After class—
The energy didn't die down.
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Students filled the corridors, talking about the match.
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"Do you think we'll win?"
"Of course we will!"
"With Vihaan playing? Definitely."
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Bela walked beside Samar, listening quietly.
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"…Is he really that good?" she asked.
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Samar glanced at her.
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"You'll see."
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"That doesn't answer my question."
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"It does."
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She frowned slightly.
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"That's annoying."
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Samar smirked.
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"I learned from the best."
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Bela rolled her eyes lightly.
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But her thoughts stayed somewhere else.
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With him.
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After school—
Most students left.
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But not all.
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Bela stood near the gate for a moment.
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She could leave.
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Go home.
Rest.
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That would be the smart choice.
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But—
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"…You're staying, aren't you?"
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Samar's voice again.
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Bela turned.
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"…Maybe."
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He smiled slightly.
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"Thought so."
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Without another word—
He walked toward the basketball court.
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Bela hesitated.
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Then—
She followed.
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The court was already alive.
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Shoes squeaking against the floor.
Balls bouncing.
Voices calling out plays.
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The air felt different here.
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Faster.
Sharper.
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Bela stood near the edge.
Watching.
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And then—
She saw him.
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Vihaan.
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For a moment—
She didn't recognize him.
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Because this—
This wasn't the same person.
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His movements were quick.
Precise.
Controlled.
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He wasn't quiet.
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He wasn't distant.
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He was—
Focused.
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Alive.
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"Pass!"
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His voice cut through the noise.
Clear.
Strong.
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The ball moved.
Fast.
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He caught it effortlessly.
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A step.
A turn.
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And then—
A clean shot.
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The ball went in.
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Perfect.
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Cheers erupted instantly.
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"Nice!"
"That's what I'm talking about!"
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Bela didn't move.
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Couldn't.
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Because something about the way he played—
The way he moved—
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It wasn't just skill.
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It was… something else.
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Something she couldn't explain.
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"…Told you."
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Samar's voice beside her.
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She didn't respond.
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Her eyes stayed on the court.
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On him.
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Practice continued.
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Fast-paced.
Intense.
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Vihaan moved like he belonged there.
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Like this was the only place where he wasn't holding back.
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No walls.
No distance.
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Just—
Him.
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Bela felt something shift inside her.
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Something unfamiliar.
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Because this wasn't just curiosity anymore.
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This was—
Admiration.
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Pure.
Unfiltered.
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At one point—
Vihaan paused.
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Hands on his knees.
Breathing slightly heavier.
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He looked up—
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And for a second—
His eyes met hers.
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Bela froze.
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Because in that moment—
Everything else disappeared.
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The noise.
The people.
The movement.
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Just—
That look.
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And then—
He looked away.
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Like it didn't happen.
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Like it didn't matter.
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But it did.
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At least to her.
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"Break!" someone called out.
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Players stepped back.
Grabbing water bottles.
Talking loudly.
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Bela stood still.
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She hadn't realized how long she'd been watching.
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"…You should go," Samar said quietly.
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She blinked.
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"Why?"
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"You look tired."
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She hesitated.
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"I'm fine."
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"You say that a lot."
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Bela didn't reply.
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Because he wasn't wrong.
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Before she could move—
Someone walked past her.
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Fast.
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And stopped in front of Vihaan.
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Ritika.
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Of course.
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She held out a water bottle.
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Smiling.
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Confident.
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Bela's chest tightened slightly.
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She didn't know why.
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She shouldn't care.
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But—
She did.
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Vihaan looked at the bottle.
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Then at Ritika.
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A pause.
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And then—
He took it.
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Opened it.
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And drank.
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Simple.
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Normal.
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But—
It didn't feel that way.
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Not to Bela.
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Because something about that moment—
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Hurt.
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Just a little.
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And she didn't understand why.
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"…You okay?"
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Samar again.
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Bela forced a small nod.
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"Yeah."
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But her eyes—
Stayed on the court.
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On him.
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And for the first time—
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She realized something she hadn't before.
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This wasn't just about staying.
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This wasn't just about caring.
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Somewhere along the way—
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She had started feeling something she couldn't control.
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Something she hadn't planned.
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Something dangerous.
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And the worst part?
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She didn't want to stop it.