Chapter : 1

"I don't want to feel that way again."

"But... but I love you. Please—"

"No. She left me, and you'll leave me too."

"Can't you just give it a try? Just once?"

"Sorry. I don't believe in love anymore. And society won't support us anyway."

"Fine. As you wish. I can't force you to love me, can I?"

"Exactly. You can't. Now please leave. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Yeah... let's just forget this ever happened. See you next week." sigh

You know what? I'm used to being rejected. It feels like nobody likes me. I spend six months falling for someone, only to get turned down every single time. How does one person get rejected by both guys and girls? Am I really that unlovable? Or am I just not good-looking enough? I don't know anymore.

Maybe I should stop loving altogether. Or maybe I should just stop saying how I feel. Because I don't want to get hurt again. I'd rather daydream about someone than confess and hear another no. It's become a pattern — I get rejected no matter what I do. I shouldn't let it make me this angry. I should move on. Why am I even thinking about this? I have to— oh, it's raining?

She stood there, lost in thought, as tears rolled down her cheeks unnoticed. The rain tried to wash away her sadness, but it couldn't keep up with every step she took. She knew she was going to be late, but her legs wouldn't move. She just stood there, absent-minded, her head spinning with one question: What went wrong?

♡♡ 🌹 ♡♡

"Mom, I'm back."

Abhira's mom peeked out from the kitchen and saw her daughter drenched.

"Honey, didn't you take an umbrella? It's winter and you're soaked. Do you have any sense? Go take a shower."

"Yes, Mom."

Abhira went to the bathroom, but she couldn't get Manuri out of her mind. She turned on the shower and let the water run down her face.

"I just want this year to end as quickly as possible," she whispered to herself.

A moment after she stepped out, she sneezed.

"And there it is," her mom said, annoyed. "You're going to catch a fever today, just watch."

Abhira shrugged. "I know, Mom."

She pulled her things out of her bag, which was luckily waterproof. While cleaning it, she found a note — the proposal letter she'd given Manuri. Now it just looked stupid. Love really does make people stupid.

"Screw it. I don't care anymore," she muttered, and tossed it out the window. Watching the rain tear it apart gave her a weird sense of satisfaction.

Just like her mom predicted, she got a high fever. Five days passed with her stuck in bed. Her dad had taken her phone for “getting a fever on purpose,” but honestly, she didn't mind. Lying in bed and reading books that smelled like romance wasn't that bad.

When she finally finished the book, she checked the date. She'd been rotting in bed for a while.

"Ah, it's already December 31st. I should call Tinni."

"Hello? Honey, are you still sick?"

"No, I think I'm fine now. Just finished the book Mom gave me for my birthday. I was so busy rotting and reading sappy romance that I forgot I'm still single."

"Wait, you and Manuri didn't work out? I thought she said yes."

"No, sadly," Abhira said, annoyed.

"It's fine. She's not even that good-looking, don't you think?"

"Hmm."

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Hmm."

"Hoony, stop being so nonchalant."

"Hmm."

The next fifty minutes were Tinni playing therapist. She said everything you’re supposed to say after a friend’s breakup — from “she doesn't deserve you” to “God saved you before it was too late.” She tried it all.

"Okay, bye. I'm off to work my ass off at the restaurant."

"Wait, they didn't give you the day off today?"

"Nope. They're not that sweet."

"Poor Tinni."

♡♡ 🌹 ♡♡

This isn't okay. Why isn't Dad back yet? Okay, okay, I shouldn't stress. We still have 15 minutes.

"Here's your grapes," Abhira's father said, handing them to her.

"There are twelve, right?"

"More than twelve."

"Oh, great."

After washing them and putting them on a plate, Abhira crawled under the dining table and texted Tinni.

"Ready?"