My phone rang and seeing it cabir I picked it up right away walking down to the living room
"Cabir is he okay, nothing happened right, he is fine, no more bruises or anything right, cabir can you speak up dude, cabirrr"
"Nandini baba sun toh lo" it was manik
"Manik you are okay right" I asked
"Im fine, he was sleeping so nothing happened, I'm just heading to college"
"Ill see you there" I said cutting the call without waiting for his reply or anything
"Navya lets go" I said and we both headed out
Once we got to college I spotted cabir and we walked to him
"Hey you look gorgeous" cabir said kissing Navya's head
"Hello yo'll do this later and let my eyes be virgin. Where is Manik?"
"I don't know" he siad but there was a smirk
"Cabir"
"Manik" he yelled and I heard a groan
"Can you shut up man, im trying to finish this" I heard Manik's voice
"Don't tell me he is in the locker room" cabir chuckled and I knew he was
He knows he isn't allowed in there in the morning, maybe that's why cabir was standing a couple meters away. I marched to the locker room and there he was sitting there
"What the heck is with you and being in this room" I asked walking up to him
"I have a headache, lower your tone please" he said
"I will smack your arm, you forget your phone at home, then you run out do you know how worried I was" I said and he pulled me beside him
"Shushhh" he siad putting his head on my shoulder
"Manik"
"Nandini just shut up" he said and I sighed
He closed his eyes and held onto my arm putting most of his weight on me
"Everything will fall into place" I said and he nodded
"When im with you, it feels different"
"Different how" I asked hoping he doesn't call me his sister cause how embarrassing would the be
"Umm I used to feel what I feel with you with someone in the past"
"Girlfriend" I asked not being able to stop myself
"God no, I don't do girlfriends"
"Don't tell me you are gay, I mean im all for sex positive and sexuality but I like you dude like not in a brother way or a friend way, shit I wasn't supposed to say that. No okay fuckkkk, shiitt opps sorry I gotta go" I said and he pulled me back
"I don't appreciate you swearing in front of me"
"Sorry, ill try not to"
"Apart from that, im not gay and I feel the same way for you but im not rushing into things with you, I seem to fuck up everything nice that comes my way and you are beyond nice so"
"So point made, you like me"
"Not gonna deny or accept that" he said
"Cowboy we can both play this game" I said kissing his cheek
"Don't" he said
"Don't what"
"You are distracting me"
"Well continue doing what you are doing ill sit here and look pretty" he chuckled hearing me
"You do that" he said and that's exactly what I did
I sat there beside him while he finished some of his math work, he looks so handsome and nerdy when he is focusing.
"I have English, ill see you later" I said and he nodded
"Don't run"
"I won't" I said and kissed his cheek
I walked to my class and the next few hours were boring until we got to the chemistry lab which is always fun since Manik is my lap partner.
Alia, who im assuming is one of manik's friend was sitting beside him, as if on que, he lifted his head meeting my eyes.
I walked over to him and alia gave me a weird look but I just smiled at her.
"How was English" he asked
'Boring, Shakespeare is kicking my ass"
"Ya calculus was shit as well" he said and alia looked shocked
"Is she your sister" she asked and Manik coughed a little
"No she isn't, im an only child"
"Hi alia"
"Hi" she said
"Alia this is Nandini, Nandini this is alia" Manik said and I smiled
"Bye Manik" she said kissing his cheek and I was taken back
"Bye" he mummbled
she walked away and i sat beside Manik opening my notebooks for today's experiment, I didn't wanna look hurt because I was and I didn't know why. He isn't my boyfriend, he is just my friend I guess. I shouldn't be offended.
"You okay" he asked
"Yuppers" I said and he nodded
The whole lab was blah I was just following the instructions and everything while Manik was focused as well. I felt like I hadn't known him, he felt cold again.
Once the lab was done we were walking to his car, when I stopped him holding his hand
"Is everything okay" I asked
"Ya why"
"Umm you seem distant"
"What do you mean" he asked
"Never mind" I said
"What"
"Nothing, umm the bio project okay so I have ideas ill text them to you okay"
"Ya, sounds good come sit ill drop you"
"No thanks"
"Nandini"
"Im good Manik, I just have someplace I gotta be"
"Where" he asked
"Just somewhere, ill text you later" I said walking away from him
I walked back into college for a bit to grab a couple books I had been wanting then I headed to the graveyard. I missed my parents extra lot today because I was lost, I needed a lot of answers and I sure as hell wasn't gonna get them from myself
I sat down beside their grave and put the flowers I got for them in the middle. I put my bag down and criss cross my legs
"I miss you guys. I have been liking this a lot. Im glad I came back here but upset it wasn't with you two. I know you are watching me from above but I seriously can't do this without you guys. Mumma I need your advice, I feel like im losing myself ma. I feel lost like I don't know what to do. I ummm I thought I liked Manik, I know I like him but he plays this hot and cold game and as much as I love those hot games, the cold ones are brutal. I don't know if im getting myself into a hole or if this is something that will last long" I sad caressing both their graves
'Open this letter when you are confused about love' I remembered my mother's words before she passed away
"Shitt, sorry language I know. I remember you telling me about the letter. Thank you ma, thank you papa. I miss you both a lot, I hope you are watching your little girl grow up. I have to get home now but I will come back" I said smiling
I kissed their graves and got home. I was making some noodles when I thought about Manik. I grabbed my phone and texted him
'Are you home' I asked
'Ya, why' he replied right away
'Just wondering'
'Don't tell me you are gonna go all girlfreind on me, because honestly we aren't dating' he replied and I felt my heart stung a little
I put my phone down and grabbed a piece of watermelon I had put in the fridge a couple days ago after cutting it up. It was cold making me feel nice. My phone rang and I saw it was Manik so I didn't pick it up but It rang again
"Hello" I answered
"Why didn't you reply" he asked
"To what"
"To what I said"
"Well I got your point so I didn't"
"Nandini you are pissing me off"
"Im not trying to, I just"
"Just what huh, I told you I like you that doesn't mean ki tum merai sar api chad dar ghumogi. You aren't my girlfreind and nor do I want you to be so quit acting like one" he blurt out
"I understand, I will send you the project I have done so far and beyond that I will keep my interaction with you at a minimum"
"Fucks sake nandini" he yelled and I cut the call becasue I had enough
I was not gonna let my liking get in the way of my self respect. I care for him, I really do but I wasn't gonna be this temporary thing in his life that he comes to for comfort and leaves when he is okay.