Summer vacations were supposed to refresh me.
NOT turn me into someone who forgot how to wake up at 6 AM.
I stumbled into school half asleep, hair fighting gravity, bag hanging off my shoulder like it was done with life.
Everything felt normal…
Until it didn't.
Because right there, at the end of the corridor, laughing with his friends like a walking highlight reel, was —
Kaelor.
Just like that, my heart decided to transform into a wild horse performing for a circus.
I stopped moving.
Stopped blinking.
Stopped functioning like a regular human being.
"Aristaaaa," Sana whispered, stretching my name like chewing gum, "why do you look like someone paused your soul?"
I snapped out of my trance.
"I—I was just looking at the… ceiling."
"In the corridor?" Meera raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," I lied confidently. "Very… architectural."
Sana smirked.
"Oh wow, look, even the ceiling is blushing."
"I AM NOT—"
"Sweetheart," she interrupted, "your face is redder than a chilli."
I covered my cheeks with my notebook.
"Can you both stop? Please?"
But obviously, they didn't.
Because the moment Kaelor walked past us, Sana whispered loudly (on purpose):
"BEHOLD, the walking lichi tree!"
I choked. "STOP CALLING HIM THAT!"
"It's not my fault," she shrugged. "You said your favourite fruit is lichi. We made it symbolic."
Meera added, "Also fitting, because you stare at him with the same energy you stare at lichi on the fruit stall."
"I DO NOT," I protested.
They both stared at me.
"…okay fine maybe a tiny bit," I muttered.
---
The Legend of the Secret Code Name
The code name "Lichi" became official from that day onward.
Whenever Kaelor walked by, my friends went full CIA agents:
"Target Lichi has entered the building."
"Lichi is approaching corridor C."
"Arista, do NOT make eye contact. I repeat, do NOT— oh she's staring already. God save us."
I wanted to disappear into thin air.
But honestly?
The teasing felt warm.
Annoying, embarrassing, but warm.
Like a private joke that made Kaelor feel closer even though nothing happened between us.
---
Dandiya Night Chaos
Weeks later, our school hosted a Dandiya Night.
I dressed up nicely, excited to have fun with my friends.
And I did have fun.
For exactly five minutes.
Because the moment dandiya sticks started clacking, my eyes betrayed me and began searching for Kaelor like some built-in GPS.
And then… there he was.
Wearing maroon kurta, smiling like the protagonist of a school romance novel (the disrespect), talking to—
Maya.
My smile dipped a little.
Okay maybe a lot.
He was leaning in, laughing, talking, flipping his hair—
Honestly at that point I thought the universe was personally teasing me.
Something in my chest stung.
Like a tiny arrow shot right at my heart, labelled: LOL, feelings.
Sana nudged me gently.
"Hey… you good?"
"Yep," I lied, "just admiring the… um… lights."
Meera gave me the "sure, Jan" look.
Later that night, Sana whispered,
"Don't worry too much. He apparently flirts with every girl he sees. Even Meera."
Meera nodded. "Yeah, he complimented my file cover. FILE COVER. Who compliments a file cover?!"
I sighed.
So Kaelor was a flirt machine.
That somehow made it worse.
Or better?
I had no idea.
---
Exams vs. Emotions
As if my emotional confusion wasn't enough, half-yearly exams arrived like a tsunami.
I buried myself in books, trying to block out everything — including Kaelor, lichi jokes, and my friends' dramatic teasing.
Sana complained, "Arista! Why are you ignoring us?"
"I'm not," I said, staring at my maths book like it betrayed me.
"I just… need to focus."
"Is this because of Kaelor?" Meera asked softly.
"No," I said. "…okay maybe 1%. Or 2%. Fine, maybe like 10%."
They laughed.
But I sighed.
Because even when I tried to forget, his name popped into my head randomly like a notification.
Kaelor seen talking to Maya.
Kaelor walking past your class.
Kaelor wearing a new hoodie.
Basically, my brain became a Kaelor Updates App.
Yet I pushed everything aside, took a deep breath, and told myself:
"Arista, stop being dramatic. Crushes come and go. Marks are forever."
…well, until report cards come.
But still.
And just like that, I entered my "exam lockdown mode," ignoring distractions, jokes, and yes — even the walking lichi tree named Kaelor.
But little did I know…
This was just the beginning.