It started with a whisper.
Then a look.
Then a note passed behind textbooks.
By lunch break, the entire class seemed to be glancing in their direction.
Karthik felt like he was being dissected under a microscope. Every time he scratched his head, looked up, or breathed, someone smirked.
"Why is everyone looking at me like I've committed a crime?" he hissed to Ananya as they walked to the canteen.
Ananya popped a piece of murukku into her mouth and shrugged. "Maybe because you did."
"What?"
"You stole my heart, Karthik." She batted her eyelashes dramatically.
"I will run away. I swear."
She laughed.
A sharp whistle cut through the noise as Shruthi slid into the seat across from them, eyes gleaming with drama.
"So... when were you two going to tell us?"
Karthik paled. "Tell you what?"
Vikram dropped his lunch tray beside her. "Don't play dumb, da. You think we didn't notice?"
"Notice what?" Ananya asked innocently, licking masala off her fingers.
"The way he looks at you like you're a walking poem."
Karthik choked on his water. "I do not!"
"You do," Ananya said with a smile.
"Traitor," he whispered.
Shruthi leaned in. "So? Are you two… you know… dating?"
The table went quiet.
Karthik opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked at Ananya.
She smiled. "Not yet."
Vikram blinked. "Huh?"
"He confessed," she said, nodding toward Karthik. "I accepted. We're... figuring it out."
Shruthi grinned. "Slow-burn romance. I'm living for this."
Karthik sank lower in his seat. "Can't we just be normal for one day?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Ananya teased, nudging his arm with hers.
---
Later, during computer lab, Karthik caught Ananya watching him instead of the screen.
"What?" he whispered.
She smiled and typed quickly.
A second later, a message popped up on his screen:
> "Don't worry. Let them talk. I like being yours in secret, even if everyone knows."
Karthik stared at the words for a long moment.
Then, for the first time that day, he smiled.
---
End of Chapter 33