there's no 'her"

I freeze.

That voice-

It doesn’t belong in my head.

Slowly, I turn.

And for a second, everything feels… misplaced.

Until I see him properly.

Rehan. My best friend since childhood.

Some even joke and call us 'childhood sweethearts.'

He’s standing there like nothing is wrong, looking at me like I’ve just overthought the entire universe again.

He raises a brow slightly.

“Hello? One of who?”

I blink.

once. twice. thrice.

"I'm right here sweetheart!" he flicks my forehead as he announced.

"ouch-stop doing that man!"i winced to which he just giggled?

No matter how annoying Rehan gets…

his presence has a way of pulling me out of my own head.

Even if only for a moment..

"where were you last night by the way?" Rehan asks with a grin as he puts his hand aroundd my shoulder which i just shrugged off.

"at home-"

"don't lie man!" he retaliates."aunty has been calling me since last night asking about your ass"

Of course she did.

Brown parents always have this belief that their precious child will end up kidnapped, killed, or robbed all at once if they don’t pick up a call for more than half an hour.

"stayed over at a friend’s" i answered.

"a girl?" he smirked instantly.

I glare at him.

I’m convinced he’s a spy hired by my mother.

His eyes widened in a serious expression

"then who? A man?"

My breath hitched at his question. Just for a second. but enough to catch his attention.

“What? No,” I say, a little too fast. “Don’t be ridiculous.”To which he just laughed.

"calm down dude! I was just playing"he said as he hugged my shoulder again,slinging across it, pressing all his weight on my left shoulder.

"comeon let's go! we're already late sweetheart"He adds playfully.

The college gates come into view a few minutes later.

Familiar.Crowded as always.

Students rushing in, some laughing, some half-asleep, some already complaining about assignments they haven’t even started.

Normal. Everything looks normal.

I step inside with Rehan still talking beside me, his voice blending into the noise around us.

But something feels… off.

Like I don’t quite belong in this moment.

Like part of me is still stuck somewhere else.

A strange room. A strange bed. A memory.

that won’t come back properly.

I exhale slowly, trying to shake it off..except it doesn't leave.

"sweetheart, you're zoning out again.."rehan nudges me. "don't call me that" i muttered.He grins like that was exactly the reaction he wanted. stupid.

We push open the classroom door a second later.

The room is already half full.

Students scattered across benches,some whispering, some glued to their phones, some pretending to care about whatever notes are open in front of them.

Familiar. Routine. Safe.

"Why do I feel like you're wearing the same shirt from yesterday?" Rehan asked with a frown on his forehead, where one of his curls rest perfectly.

My fingers tighten slightly around the edge of the desk.

Of course he noticed. He always does.

“I just forgot to change it,” I said quickly, tugging at the sleeve of the hoodie.

Rehan hummed, leaning his chin against his palm as he looked at me with obvious amusement.

“Sure you did.”

“I did.”

“Right.” His lips twitched. “So whose place were you at?”

I frowned. “What?”

He just laughed. fuck .fuck. fuck.

For a second I thought he knew.

Rehan leaned back in his chair with a grin. “What? You disappear for one night and come back wearing yesterday’s clothes. I’m just saying it sounds suspicious.”

The tightness in my chest loosened slightly.

Right.

He was joking.

Of course he was.

Still, something about his expression felt... off.

Like the smile reached his mouth but not fully his eyes.

“Or,” he continued casually, spinning a pen between his fingers, “should I be offended you didn’t introduce me to her?”

“There is no her.”

"Interesting response."

“Oh my god.”

He laughed again, softer this time.

And then the hallway exploded into noise.

People crowding near the railing.

Girls fixing their hair for absolutely no reason.

Guys pretending not to care while very obviously caring.

"The new professor’s here"

"No, idiot, that’s not him'

"I'm telling you, he’s hot"

I didn't pay much attention to it until I saw a familiar face outside the little window of our homeroom...this is bad!-

My stomach twisted violently as the man from last night stepped into view properly, walking beside one of the senior professors like he belonged here.

The room around me suddenly felt too loud.

Too small.

My fingers slipped from the edge of the desk.

Beside me, Rehan frowned immediately. “Ishaan?”

But I couldn’t answer.

Because the stranger turned his head slightly

And looked directly at me.

Like he recognized me too.

"hey-"

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