Chapter 2 Queen Game

School ke bathroom ka mirror blurry tha, lekin Britna ka reflection crystal clear. Usne apne lips par thoda sa red tint lagaya—sirf beech mein, jaise sirf kisi ko signal dena ho.

Door khula. Wahi ladki—wo roti hui—andar aayi. Aankhen laal, par ab usmein utna dard nahi tha jitna confusion tha.

“Tumne mujhe usse confront karne bola,” usne kaha. “Main gayi thi.”

Britna aankhon mein aankhon daal kar dekhti hai. “Aur?” pehle to ye batao ye itna roti kyu ho tum tumhara koi mar gaya hai kya?

"nahi toh bas mujhe rona aa raha hai" ghabrate huye Aur “Usne kaha... ki main hi clingy thi. Uske paas time nahi tha mere liye...”

Britna ne slow clap kiya. “Classic.” Wahh.

Ladki ke haath ka mobile hil gaya. “Tumne bola tha tum help karogi...”

Britna uske kareeb aayi, bilkul calm voice mein boli:

“Pata hai... agar koi cheat karta hai na... toh woh uska first time kabhi nahi hota.”

Ladki ne aankhen failaayi.

Britna ka tone thoda aur neeche gira, jaise koi sach dard ban ke chubh raha ho:

“Woh ladka… Joonhwan. Teen mahine pehle usne Yoon-ah ko ‘serious’ bola tha. Phir uske peechhe Dohee thi, jise usne tutor banaya. Aur ab tum.”

Ladki ke pair thoda kaanp gaye. “Woh toh... sab normal dikhte the...” aur kya tumne unn sabki help nahi ki thi?

Britna ki muskaan sharp ho gayi. “Normal sirf mask hota hai.” Aur kamino ko madat ki zarurat nahi maze ki zarurat hoti hai samjhi. Aur ye mat samjho ke mai tumhari koi madat kar rahi hun"

Usne apne phone mein ek file khola—screenshots, blurry photos, ek image jisme ek ladki mirror selfie le rahi thi aur uske piche Joonhwan tha—shirtless.

“Proof chahiye tha toh ye le lo,” Britna ne casually bola.

Ladki ka chehra pehle pale hua, fir rage mein laal.

“Tum... ye sab kaise janti ho?”

Britna ne mirror ki taraf dekha, phir uski aankhon mein—lekin jaise wo us ladki ko nahi, uske andar chhupe revenge ko dekh rahi ho.

“Main logo ki weakness samajhti hoon,” usne kaha. “Aur tumhari... woh pyaar tha.”

Silence. Bas tap se girta paani aur ladki ke heavy breaths.

“Tum kya chahti ho?” ladki ne poocha.

Britna uske kaan ke paas jhuki.

“Ek message,” usne whisper kiya. “Aisi message jo uske future girlfriend ko bhi dare.”

Usne ek red lipstick nikali—small travel size.

“Ye uski t-shirt par lagao. Collar ke neeche. Sirf ek mark. Then walk away.”

Ladki shook her head—nervous, but tempted. “Aur uske baad?”

Britna ne smirk kiya.

“Uska photo, lipstick ke mark ke saath... mujhe bhej dena. I’ll handle the rest.”

Ladki ne lipstick li. Haath thoda kaap raha tha.

Britna ne mirror mein apne reflection ko dekha, phir us ladki ko.

“Har revenge pretty nahi hota,” usne kaha. “Par lipstick toh hamesha hoti hai.”

—

Agli subah school ke notice board pe ek anonymous photo chipka mila—Joonhwan ki collar pe ek red mark tha.

Ussi din se Joonhwan ne cafeteria ana chhod diya.

Log keh rahe the uske against koi complain gaya hai.

Aur ek rumour...

Kisi ne dekha tha uske locker mein ek photo chipki hui—jisme uska chehra cross mark se kata tha, aur neeche likha tha:

"GAME OVER."

[To Be Continued…]

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