Elora didn’t believe in love at first sight. It felt too cinematic for someone who proudly ranted about being a man-hater.

In fact, it would be a myth to say she believed in love at all—until she saw him. Really saw him.

Three days, nine hours, and twelve seconds later.

The timing was cruelly precise. It was her birthday.

She groaned lowly throwing her phone on the couch across her room. That name, that one name was stamped on her mind. She could listen to Sarah blabbering about him for hours, but denied to admit it.

She stared at the wall blankly. She couldn't fall for someone-atleast that's what she thought. Just then, her phone's screen lit. The sudden glow provided warmth to the room, but the notification only stirred her inner turmoil further.

Her eyes widened, a crimson crept slowly onto her cheeks. They didn't go unnoticed by her.

The notification read “Marcus requested to follow you”.

Everything else faded away in the backdrop of arguments inside her-Should she accept the request? What if he sent it by mistake?

“I.. Shouldn't accept it.. I don't know him.. And I have just heard about him. He.. Why did he? Wait, how does he know me? Does he even.. know.. 𝘮𝘦? ”

She did what every other teenage would do-rang up her best friend-Sarah.

Finally, Sarah picked up. Elora said in a shaky voice “Your brother.. He sent me request on Instagram.. Do I accept it? What do you think? ”

Sarah gasped. She had no idea why Marcus, her brother had sent her best friend a request. She started connecting the dots. She went on a vacation to Siliguri and returned a week ago. It was nothing special, however something was odd, something she noticed today. Her brother, casually asked about Elora, acting nonchalant but Sarah let it go. She didn't take it seriously-until now.

“Sarah gasped on the other line. ‘Wait… Marcus? My cousin brother? On your Instagram?'

Elora’s voice cracked. ‘Yeah… I don’t get it. Why now?’

‘Hmm…’ Sarah hummed, a mischievous edge in her tone. ‘Maybe he noticed something. Maybe… he likes you?’

Elora froze, one hand clutching the phone, the other gripping the edge of the couch. The words echoed in her mind like tiny sparks.”

“No, that couldn't possibly happen. Oh wait, I'll talk to you in school tomorrow, mom's calling me downstairs, probably for dinner”

Elora said as she heard her mom call her out. She hung up and looked outside for a moment. Cold breeze entered the room and the windcatcher made familiar sounds. She sighed and left the room leaving the door slightly ajar, just like her heart.

On the other side of the screen, as dusk approached, the cheers in the football field grew louder. It was the very end moments of the match. Everyone held their breath together. The ball was kicked by the striker, passing the goalkeeper with precise expertise. The whistle was heard loud. One side of the ground erupted in cheers. The winning team celebrated.

The wooden bench made a sound as Marcus-the striker of the team lowered his body to sit down. His sighed. The smell of grass mixed with the lingering smell of the freshly baked cookies in the nearby bakery. His eyes roamed, and then became still as they caught sight of the ground and sky merging together afar.

The field slowly cleared and their was only occasional whispers, and praises of the coach.

Marcus fished for his phone in his bag and caught hold of it. He scrolled through the notifications and stopped by a particular one. His text with Sarah last night. He opened the chat and scrolled up. His fingers travelled a short mile before the stopped at a particular account which Sarah had sent him. He had practically begged for it.

Anyways.

He opened the account. His lips curved into a small smile. He clicked the profile picture. It was a girl trying to reach a book kept on the top shelf. Her height was barely 5'1.Her head fell backwards as she looked upto the book and her hair covered her back. She was wearing a white dress and although her face wasn't clearly visible, he could stare at it for quite a long time.

Just then Leo, his teammate called out, “Hey Marcus! Let's go! We have to head home”

The team decided to reward themselves with something to eat before they went back to their mundane lives again. Everyone headed to the nearest bakery. Leo and Matt decided on getting an apple pie while the rest were still making their choice. Marcus's eyes landed on the Scottish Macaroons. He remembered something and smiled to himself.

After fifteen minutes, the team exited and boarded the common bus, and the day was finally coming to an end.

That same night, after Elora had finished her dinner, she walked upstairs. Setting in the embrace of her blanket, she grabbed her book from the bedstand. While reading, a particular line made her think longer than the rest did. The line read ‘She denies it. But the truth is-she is slowly falling for him’.

She leaned back closing her eyes. His face flashed right before her eyes. The only pic she saw him in was a group pic with his friends. Sarah had made her see that while telling one of his stories. He had the brightest smile, and charming features. He looked a little reserved than the others, but caught her eye in a certain way.

She opened her eyes suddenly. Her heart racing at the thought. Was this a moment or a lifetime?

She still made no move to accept his follow request.

Meanwhile, Marcus was on a call with Sarah whining, “

‘She didn't accept my request yet.. Do you think she hates me? ’

‘Stop it! She'll accept it if she wants to. And besides I am tired of ranting about you to her the whole day.’, Sarah spoke being annoyed.

‘Well you're getting paid for it- 20£, remember? ’, Marcus said defensively.

Sarah groaned, ‘I didn't know you were that lovesick, jerk! ’

Marcus chuckle. ”

He closed his phone and stared at the wall.His eyes found their way back to his phone again but he pretended not to care.

Sleep didn't come to either of them.

The following week passed in a blur. Everyone in the school campus was busy with the preparations of Annual day. People barely had time to think about matters otherwise. The corridors were crowded. Several thoughts clouded Elora's mind, and the notification remained burried deep inside her heart and mind.

However, It was something she often thought about.

Sarah only made it worse by telling her stories about Marcus. And what surprised her was that she looked forward to hear them. Stories about how he cried like a baby after he lost a match, how he cooked cookies and it turned out a absolute disaster and how he tripped while running a marathon but didn't give up winning the hearts of hundreds.

Elora refused to acknowledge the small feelings that grew within her towards Marcus.

Near the mountains,Marcus too stared at the screen. He waited patiently,not loosing hope.

‘It'll take her time, after all I am stranger to her. I hope Sarah does the work for me’

The thought of pressing the unfollow button crossed his mind multiple times, but he couldn't bring himself to press it. Why? Even he was fighting battles inside himself to answer that.

However, he did know this was coming.

Sarah did her work perfectly, after all she was getting paid. She did everything in her limits to ignite that little spark every time Elora heard Marcus's name. And a smile tugged at Sarah's face each time she knew she succeeded in doing that.

What unsettled Marcus most was the thought-‘What if she never accepts my request? ’

Later at night, Elora comes back to her room tossing her phone on the bed. She opens her laptop settling on the bed. Her fingers stopped at the notification again, the cursor just hovering over it. She almost pressed the ‘Accept’button.Almost.But she caught herself just in time. “What did I.. Ugh! Stupid guy..! ”

She closes her laptop trying to sleep.

That same day earlier at dawn, where the sun rose in between the Rocky hills, the two teams clashed. Marcus is usually disciplined—routine, focus, control. But today particularly, he was distracted. Probably because he was checking the time too often, forgetting peace did not lie inside his zipped bag but in the green field.

That was the exact time he realized he is loosing his usual grip. His friends tried to cheer him up but nothing seemed to work.

𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦.

On the other side, during the Annual day practice Elora seemed to be distracted too. She stared out of the window, her mind elsewhere-maybe somewhere between trains and screens. Her friend nudged her gently, “Hey girl! Come back from your thoughts”She shook her head instantly and got back to practice.

This was unusual. Nobody had to ask her to focus. It was something that came naturally-at least for her. Later, she notices Sarah watching her quietly, not teasing this time, just observing.

Elora realizes she’s becoming 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦,and that 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 her.

To both of them, loosing themselves wasn't a option. Not to a story that hasn't even begun 𝘺𝘦𝘵.

As the sun set and the moon arose, to look after the sleeping city, along with the soft song of Cassette at every house, Marcus stood in his balcony. He watched the entire city preparing to drift to sleep, to hear the quite lullaby of life and to face the hustle of life tomorrow again. Cold breeze touched his face. His inner turmoil, partially calmed.

He had decided to not focus on the notification, not to a extent that he loses his usual self in the process.

𝘐𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

That same hour, Elora was rereading her old chats with Sarah. A quite thought came to her mind-‘The words didn't chang, she did’.

It's her feelings, the small and quite ones that stirred occasionally. That awoke that small hope inside her that even though sometimes or some situations, might break her and make her question 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦, maybe a chance isn't that bad. What if it actually works out? What if she actually finds someone to trust? To hold her when she breaks down?

Her phone made a sound. It was a picture sent by Sarah. It was a story uploaded by Marcus. Her eyes immediately drifted to him. He was standing with his friends... Maybe classmates? A girl was standing too close, his arms were draped around her neck. Elora squinted her eyes. She felt jealousy muddle inside her. She sighed turning off her phone, placing it on her table whith a soft thud. ‘Maybe.. He has someone better, already? ’

Marcus was sitting at his study table. He closed the book, checking the time. He had finished his work early than he expected. He opended his phone. His eyes lignered on that request and that profile pic, he blinked.

𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦, 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴.

If Elora accepted the request too late, maybe it wouldn't mean the same thing. He knew his request would automatically be cancelled after exactly a week from today and that disturbed him more than he admitted. He counted the days, but he denied telling himself it didn't matter.

ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ ʀᴜsʜᴇᴅ ᴘᴀsᴛ ᴇʟᴏʀᴀ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ sʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜ ʜᴇʀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ. sʜᴇ sᴋɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋғᴀsᴛ, ʙɪᴛɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ʜᴀʟғ-ʙᴜʀɴᴛ ᴛᴏᴀsᴛ ᴀs sʜᴇ ʜᴜʀʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡᴅᴇᴅ sᴛʀᴇᴇᴛs, ʙᴜᴍᴘɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢɪᴇs ᴀʟɪᴋᴇ. ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀs sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄʀᴏss ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴀᴅ, ʜᴇʀ sᴛᴇᴘs sʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ. ᴀ ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴏʀᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇ. sʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴇᴘ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ—ɪᴛ sɪᴍᴘʟʏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ sᴍᴇʟʟᴇᴅ ᴏғ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ. ʜᴇʀ ɢᴀᴢᴇ ʟᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴀ ɴᴇᴡʟʏ ᴅɪsᴘʟᴀʏᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴡᴀs ᴍᴜᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ʙᴀʀᴇ, ᴛᴡᴏ sɪʟʜᴏᴜᴇᴛᴛᴇs sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛ. sʜᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ, ғɪɴɢᴇʀs ᴛɪɢʜᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴀs sʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ: 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ʜᴇʀ sʜɪғᴛᴇᴅ.

ᴀᴄʀᴏss ᴛᴏᴡɴ, ᴍᴀʀᴄᴜs sᴛᴏᴏᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴀɪsʟᴇ, ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ, ᴘᴀᴜsɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅs.ʜᴇ ɪɴɪᴛɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ɪɴ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴀ ʙɪᴏʟᴏɢʏ ᴛᴇxᴛʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀ ᴏɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇs ʀᴜsᴛʟᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴏ ᴅɪᴅ ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ. ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʀᴇ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ғᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥-𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧.

ᴇʟᴏʀᴀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴄɪsɪᴏɴ.

That night, when the city prepared to doze off,Elora returned to her room tired after the practices. Moments later she emerged out of the shower and flipped on the bed.

She looked into the mirror,and smiled. She had finally made up her mind.She unlocked her phone and stared at the Notification.

‘

Marcus requested to follow you : Accept | Cancel

’

Her finger wandered over the two buttons. The two choices. One could lead to something more than strangers and the other would keep her in darkness forever.

sʜᴇ ғɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴄʟɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵.

She rang up Sarah immediately blurting out everything in one breath. It would be a lie to tell Sarah missed any opportunity to tease her.

Sarah said teasingly, “So, Will you text him? ”.Elora groaned internally. “No Sarah, I won't and I don't think he would too. Besides, shouldn't you sleep already by now? ”Sarah laughed, “Okay, fine.I will shut up, for now”.

Elora smiled a bit, “So, you said he plays..football? ”Sarah, “Quite interested,huh?well yeah, that jerk is actually good at something-football”

“Mhm..Do you think he is interested in me? I mean you obviously think that but isn't it..wrong? I mean I belong to a completely different world. I am not a athlete.I won't understand his feelings properly..and even though-”

Sarah said, “Okay girl, why don't we leave it to him to decide? And athletes love aesthetes. Like I love you? ”

Elora smile, “Love you too, champion.You are the best baller”

Yes, Sarah was a basketball player.

And Elora's insecurity was valid.It wasn't like Elora did not want to play, did not want to experience that part of the world and live that experience,it is just that she never got the proper opportunity to. And even if opportunity did come, it lasted for only a few months leaving Elora with a burning sensation to try again. Situations made her a aesthete, or else a athlete still remains inside her. Just asleep.Or maybe she chose to keep it asleep.

Sarah knew that. She knew every bit of Elora. They both did 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 better than 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦.

They weren't sisters, but they were 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.

After talking for a while about random stuff,They hung up.

On Marcus's way back home from school,as he kept walking through the quite alley,his phone lit up. He unlocked it and his breath hitched.

𝘌𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵.

He could see her posts, her highlights,that casual bio and-

“MARCUS! ”

Luke called out.Luke was his older brother. Someone he could always look upto.

Marcus quickly shoved his phone inside his pocket.

Luke noticed the slight change in Marcus's behavior and asked, “You're behaving unusual. Everything alright? You're red”.

Marcus choked on air, almost. He replied back defensively“Yeah, of course I am okay! It's not like Elora accepted my request!! ”He said and regretted it instantly.

Luke smirked knowing he had caught him red handed, “Elora, huh? Sarah's best friend? Tell me about it. You know you can't hide it anymore”

Marcus sighed.

It was true. He couldn't really hide anything from his older brother and so he spilled the beans.

“Satisfied now? ”Marcus rolled his eyes. Luke let you a humorous laugh and said, “Well, good luck”

It took no time for Luke to actually convince Marcus to initiate the first text. “C'mon!! You're the guy! Initiate it already man”Marcus, a bit motivated typed, “Hi” and deleted it instantly.

She hadn't seen it.. Right?

In a dimly lit room, Elora was scrolling through reels when she froze. “Hi”, she saw it but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. She

smiled and tossed,screaming internally into pillow before catching herself off guard

She gulped. Her eyes closed. Will he text her again? What if she makes the first move now?

On the other said Luke cursed Marcus,

“bro are you dumb? Like c'mon you're just texting a hi. You're not getting married, at least not yet! Stop behaving cowardly ”

Marcus glared at Luke and sighed.

This time, he texted ‘Hi’ and did not delete it. He was internally screaming too but his face looked calm, well according to him. Luke said,

“You look like you ate chilies for dinner. You're red”.

Marcus turned away defensively.

Elora's heart raced as she saw the text again. She typed back, “Hey.. ”.

Marcus saw it Isntantly. Luke peeked into the screen as well.

Marcus:What brand is your microwave?

Luke frowned and shouted, "What are you-. Seriously? Brooo! Don't-Shit! Unsend! "

Marcus panicked, "Huh? What? Oh no! What did I do-Brooo helpp!! "

Luke groaned, "Help!? By giving you a kiss or slap? "

Elora on the other side of the screen was just confused. She laughed. So that was his interest?

Elora:Why? Planning to bake me a cake?

Marcus blushed seeing her text while Luke grinned. Luke said, "Do you know even how to use a microwave? "

Marcus:Uhm, well, maybe?

Elora:Strawberry

Marcus:Noted, so this valentines me at your door?

Elora chuckled looking at the screen.

Elora:I don't believe in love at first sight though,if that's what you're aiming for.

Luke grinned,“Damn,she is smart. She knows your intentions quite well. Sarah did extra for her job”

Marcus glared at Luke, again. He wasn't interested in knowing if Sarah did a good job. What he was actually interested in knowing was-Why didn't Elora believe in love at first sight?

Marcus:Why?

Elora:I think it's not practical.

Marcus:What is love to you?

Elora blinked and typed

Elora:It's a slow understanding. It requires patience and understanding, it's something which is slow and not rushed. What about you? Do you believe in love at first sight?

Marcus:Mhm, I do.I think sometimes you just know the moment you see someone. That rush isn’t absurd—it’s kind of beautiful.

Luke said behind the screen, “Didn't know you were a poet. ”Marcus scoffed. Their mother called out, “Dinner is ready! If you're not downstairs in 10, dad will be upstairs in 5”

The boys cursed.

Marcus:Well, I'll catch up later. I have to go now.. Bye?

Elora:Yeah.. Bye. Good night.

One last time, she typed—

Elora: Do you think people can mean something to us even before we meet them?

The typing cursor blinked.

Marcus was offline now.

Elora locked her phone.