Siya's POV
"I'm sorry, I didn't see—"
"Are you blind?"His voice was sharp. Loud enough."At least be careful when I'm around."
I froze.
What. The. Hell?
Did he seriously just say that?
I had crossed his path by mistake. A literal accident. And this—this was his reaction?For a second, I waited for the sadness to hit.
It didn't.
Instead, something else rose inside me.
Irritation. Pure, burning irritation.
How dare he talk to me like that?Who does he think he is?
And no—before anyone decides the story for me—I am not someone who runs behind a guy.Never was. Never will.
Whatever people think—thanks to my great Vani ma'am—was never my doing. That so-called "liking"? It was nothing but attraction. And whatever confusion came later happened because of that misunderstanding, not before it.
But this?This rudeness?
Unacceptable.
I don't care who you are.If you disrespect me, I'm done.
That was it.
I walked straight to the staff room.
"Ma'am," I said calmly, "can I talk to you… personally?"
Vani ma'am looked up. "Yes, Siya. I'll call you when I'm free."
I nodded.
Outside, I told Anisha, Shela, and Era everything.
"I'm going to clear this," I said. "With ma'am. And honestly—Ayyan too. I can't tolerate this."
Shela raised an eyebrow."But Siya… ma'am said that thing weeks ago. Why now?"
Before I could answer, Anisha smirked."Because now Ayyan is rude, right?"
I made a face. "Shut up. It's not like that."
They giggled.
Honestly?At that moment, they felt more dramatic than the whole class.
Then a girl came in."Siya, Vani ma'am is calling you."
I stood up, surprisingly calm.
I knew why I was going.To remove a burden.A misunderstanding that was never mine to carry.
As I walked out, something strange happened.
The whole class wasn't looking at me.They were looking at him.
At Ayyan.
For a second, I almost felt bad for him.Almost.
I glanced at him and gave a small, unreadable smile.
He looked confused. and irritated , well he deserve it!!
huhhhh.
Inside the staff room, ma'am asked me to sit.
"So, Siya. Tell me what happened."
I told her everything. Calmly. Clearly. No drama.
Then I asked the question that had been stuck in my chest.
"Ma'am… why did you think I like Ayyan?"
She looked genuinely surprised."Why would I think that?"
I took a breath."Because the whole class started thinking like that. And that kind of thing doesn't start on its own.""Because the way things changed… the way everyone reacted… it felt like it started from you."
There was a pause.
She leaned back and said,"Siya, I don't care about anyone personal life. I really don't."
What I noticed was that you were smiling a lot during lectures. I felt you were distracted."
I blinked.
Smiling… means distracting?
I smiled again, softly."But ma'am… that's how I am."
you were not at the starting !!!
She explained. A lot. About focus. About behaviour. About perception.
Some things made sense.Some things… still felt like indirect taunts.
But I let it go.
At least one thing was clear now.
She didn't think I liked him.
Next?
Him.
During lunch break, I explained everything to Anisha, Shela, and Era.
"She was acting," Shela said instantly.
"Yeah," I admitted. "But maybe she was confused."
The bell was about to ring when I finally saw him—Ayyan.
Standing with Nayan.
I wanted to talk to him alone, but fine. Nayan didn't make me uncomfortable.
I stood up.
Anisha followed."Where are you going?"
"To clear things," I said.
"Ooo," she teased. "Should I come?"
"Yeah, fine."
That was my mistake.
Because when we reached them, I couldn't even call his name properly—Anisha did.
I tried stopping her. Too late.
"What is it?" Ayyan asked.
I swallowed."Actually… I just wanted to say something."
Before I could finish, Anisha jumped in—"She wants to talk to you alone."
Oh God. No.
"No, no," I said quickly. "Nothing like that."
I looked at Ayyan.
"Ayyan," I said, steady and clear,"if you think I like you, you're wrong. I don't."
Silence.
"And today Vani ma'am called me," I continued,"and I cleared everything. She knows there's nothing between us."
I didn't stop.
"I also want you to know—I don't like you. At all."
Nayan and Ayyan exchanged a look.
They… smiled?
Was this funny?
Anisha's mouth was open.Impressed. Shocked. Proud.
Ayyan finally spoke."Okay. I understand. Thank you."
Then he added, casually—"And I never thought that. I know you don't like me."
I felt something crack.
So… all this?For nothing?
I nodded. "Good for us!
And walked away.
When I entered the class, Ayyan looked at me again.
And smiled.
A weird smile. it was like he is teasing ,
I gave him a weird smile , and then he laugh after that I ignored him, because he make me think and question myself did i do something wrong?!!