The school ground was buzzing with preparations for the upcoming track event.
Sejal and her friends were standing under the blazing sun, practicing again and again.
The heat grew unbearable, and suddenly—everything around Sejal spun.
She collapsed onto the ground.
From a distance, Ken saw everything.
He ran straight toward her, scooped her up into his arms, and rushed to the school's medical room.
The doctor examined her and said gently,
"She's alright. Just weakness from too much sun exposure. Nothing serious."
Ken was genuinely worried that day.
And in the middle of that concern, the day of the race finally arrived.
Ken came first in the boys' race.
Sejal came third in the girls' race.
Everyone praised her, but her heart felt heavy. She wasn't happy.
When Ken came to console her, Sejal suddenly snapped at him.
—
With just a month left before the final exams, one day in class the teacher pointed at Sejal and said harshly:
— "If you don't get better marks this time, don't bother coming back to this school."
Sejal sat there quietly, crushed.
Just then, Ken stood up from his seat and said,
— "Sir, don't worry. I'll tutor Sejal. I promise to bring her into the Top 10 this time."
The teacher chuckled sarcastically.
— "Sejal? She doesn't even like studying. You think you can get her into the Top 10?"
Ken, full of confidence, replied,
— "Yes. I can."
—
From that day on, Ken and Sejal began studying together—
In the library, at cafes, at Ken's home, even Sejal's house sometimes.
Slowly, a deep friendship began to bloom between them.
One evening, while studying at Ken's house, Sejal fell asleep.
Ken silently stared at her—
Those almond-shaped eyes, her soft skin like milk and rose, her lips parted with a faint breath…
He whispered in his mind,
"How beautiful she is… I don't even know when I started looking at her this way."
Just then, Sejal woke up.
Startled, Ken quickly said,
— "It's getting late. I'll drop you home."
Sejal said,
— "No, I'll call my brother. He'll come pick me up."
Ken hesitated.
— "Actually… I wanted to talk to you about something regarding our studies. Let me drop you."
Sejal couldn't refuse this time.
—
Final exams arrived.
Ken topped the school.
And for the first time ever, Sejal made it into the Top 5.
—
With the school on break, one day Ken and Sejal went out together.
At a street corner, they suddenly saw—
Dean, walking with a girl beside him.
Sejal froze.
The denim jacket. The tall figure. That familiar gaze…
She ran ahead and stood in front of him.
— "You… you're here? And who's this girl beside you?"
Dean smiled casually.
— "Oh hey! You're the girl from the playground, right?"
Sejal squinted at him.
— "Who is this girl?"
The girl stepped forward with a polite smile.
— "Hi! I'm Suzy, Dean's girlfriend."
Sejal's heart stopped for a moment.
So the boy's name is Dean…
Before she could say anything, Ken walked up from behind.
— "Where were you? I was looking for you."
Then looking at Dean, he asked Sejal,
— "Do you know him?"
Sejal bit her lip and said,
— "Yes. I like him."
Dean stared at her silently.
Suzy looked at Sejal in surprise—then gave a quiet smile.
Ken… stood frozen. He couldn't say a word.
Suzy gently said,
— "There's a café right over there. Why don't we sit and talk?"
All four of them went to the café.
Both Dean and Ken kept stealing glances at Sejal.
Sejal grew uncomfortable.
— "I'll be right back. I need to use the washroom," she said.
Suzy stood up.
— "I'll come with you."
—
In the washroom, Sejal turned to her and asked,
— "How long have you and Dean been together?"
Suzy smiled and replied,
— "We grew up together. We study at the same university."
Sejal lowered her voice.
— "I love Dean… deeply."
Suzy looked at her calmly.
— "But you're much younger than him."
Sejal whispered,
— "Love doesn't have an age…
If only Dean understood me—even a little."
Suzy paused.
Then said softly,
— "Alright. I'll talk to Dean about this."
—
Back at the table, Dean and Ken sat in silence.
Suddenly, Ken spoke.
— "I like Sejal.
I know she's young… but I'd do anything for her."
Dean looked down and said quietly,
— "Yes, she's still very young.
She probably said she liked me without fully understanding what it means…"
Soon, Suzy and Sejal returned.
The four sat in silence for a while.
—
The next term began.
Sejal started a new grade.
Dean began his new semester.
Time kept moving forward.
One evening, as Sejal was finishing her tuition…
Ken came to visit her house.
(To be continued…)