Chapter 2: The Boy Who Watches From Afar

The next morning felt unusually heavy.

Yusra woke up with the same conversation running in her mind like a broken recording.

“Tumhara patience level check kar raha tha.”

“He’s quite sharp.”

“Yes I know.”

She sat on her bed, staring at her phone.

No new message.

No notification.

No Irfan.

And strangely… that silence bothered her more than his teasing.

School corridors were filled with noise and chatter.

Students were laughing, running, complaining about homework, discussing exams — everything felt normal.

Except Yusra.

She walked quietly toward her classroom, adjusting her dupatta slightly, trying to ignore the strange feeling in her chest.

As she entered the class, she noticed Irfan sitting on the last bench.

Talking to Arham.

Laughing.

As if nothing had happened.

As if last night’s conversation meant nothing.

Her steps slowed down.

For a second, she looked at him.

Irfan noticed.

Their eyes met.

And then he smiled.

A calm, teasing smile.

The same smile that always made her confused.

Yusra immediately looked away and went to her seat.

“Pagal hai bilkul,” she muttered under her breath.

Arham leaned toward Irfan and whispered,

“Bhai, dekh rahi thi tujhe.”

Irfan smirked slightly.

“Chup reh.”

Arham grinned.

“Kal kya bakchodi kar raha tha tu uske saath?”

Irfan shrugged casually.

“Bas aise hi.”

“Tu usko pasand karta hai na?”

Irfan stayed silent.

His eyes slowly moved toward Yusra, who was opening her history notebook.

Her hair fell softly on her face as she tucked it behind her ear and started writing.

He looked away quickly.

“Pata nahi,” he said quietly.

Arham chuckled.

“Jhooth bol raha hai tu.”

During the history period, Yusra tried to focus on the lesson.

But her mind kept drifting.

Why did Irfan say he already knows she likes someone?

Who told him?

Was he guessing?

Or…

Was he observing her all this time?

Her phone vibrated inside her bag.

She hesitated for a moment.

Then slowly opened it.

Irfan:

History ka last question bheja kya

Yusra rolled her eyes.

Yusra:

Nahi

Irfan:

Kyu

Yusra:

Dimag nahi hai

Irfan:

Jhoot

Yusra:

Sach

Irfan:

Tumhara dimag sirf attitude me kaam karta hai

Yusra pressed her lips together to hide her smile.

Yusra:

Shut up

Irfan:

Okay

Two seconds later…

Irfan:

Gussa ho kya

Yusra:

Nahi

Irfan:

Jhoot

Yusra:

Tumhe kya

Irfan:

Bas puch raha tha

Yusra:

Kyu

There was a pause.

A long one.

Then his reply came.

Irfan:

Because I don't like when you are angry

Her heart skipped.

She stared at the message.

Read it again.

And again.

She quickly locked her phone.

No.

This was not normal.

This boy was not normal.

After school, Yusra was walking toward the gate when someone called her name.

“Yusra.”

She turned.

Irfan was standing there.

Hands in pockets.

Calm.

Confident.

And looking directly at her.

For the first time… they were face to face after that conversation.

“History ka question bhej diya?” he asked casually.

Yusra crossed her arms.

“Nahi.”

“Accha.”

Silence.

Awkward silence.

Wind blew softly between them.

Students were passing around, but it felt like time had slowed down.

Then Irfan spoke again.

“Kal gussa ho gayi thi?”

Yusra looked at him.

“Tum ajeeb ajeeb baatein kar rahe the.”

He nodded slowly.

“Haan.”

“Why?”

He looked at her quietly.

For a few seconds, he didn’t say anything.

Then he smiled slightly.

“Tumhari patience level check kar raha tha.”

Yusra frowned.

“Har cheez mazak hoti hai tumhare liye?”

He shook his head.

“Nahi.”

“Then?”

Irfan looked straight into her eyes.

And said softly,

“Har cheez mazak nahi hoti… Yusra.”

Her heartbeat got louder.

For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

Arham suddenly appeared from behind.

“Oye Irfan, chal na!”

The moment broke.

Irfan stepped back.

“History bhej dena.”

Then he walked away.

Leaving Yusra standing there.

Confused.

Restless.

And strangely… smiling.

That night, her phone buzzed again.

Irfan:

Tumne kaha tha tum kisi ko pasand karti ho

Her fingers froze.

Yusra:

Haan

Irfan:

Kon hai

Her heart started beating fast.

Yusra:

Tumhe kyu jaana hai

There was a pause.

Then came the reply.

Irfan:

Because I want to know if I still have a chance

Yusra’s breath stopped.

Her eyes widened.

Her hands trembled slightly.

Yusra:

What

But Irfan had already gone offline.

And for the first time in her life…

Yusra realized something.

The stranger who was testing her patience…

Was slowly becoming the reason behind her heartbeat.

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