Chapter 21

The walk from the parking area to the literature block wasn’t long.

But for Eraya, it felt stretched.

Every step felt louder than it should.

Every passing group felt like they were noticing more than they actually were.

Shivani was still talking beside her, something about a professor’s handwriting looking like “ancient cursed scripts”, but Eraya wasn’t fully listening.

She was aware.

Of space.

Of eyes.

Of herself in that space.

And of the fact that she wasn’t wearing her hoodie.

Her fingers twitched once at her sides,

like they were searching for something familiar to hold onto.

Shivani noticed.

She didn’t say anything immediately.

But she slowed her pace just enough so they walked in sync.

Not ahead.

Not pulling.

Just… beside.

When they reached the classroom door, Shivani pushed it open casually.

And the moment they stepped inside,
the room shifted.

Not gradually.

Instantly.

Conversations dropped mid-sentence.

Heads turned in a ripple, like someone had sent a silent signal across the room.

Because it wasn’t just Eraya walking in.

It was Eraya walking in with Shivani.

Together.

That was new.

That was enough to make people look twice.

Eraya felt it hit her all at once.

The silence.

The attention.

The weight of being seen.

Her instinct kicked in immediately, her step faltered, her body pulling back half a pace without permission.

This is wrong.

This doesn’t belong here.

But before she could retreat further,

Shivani’s hand found hers.

Firm.

Warm.

Certain.

Not tight enough to hurt.

Just enough to stop her from stepping back.

Shivani didn’t even look at her when she did it.

She just said quietly, under her breath,

“…keep walking.”

Eraya swallowed.

Her fingers tightened slightly around Shivani’s without thinking.

And she walked.

The silence didn’t break.

It stretched.

Until,

heels clicked against the floor.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Ananya.

The cheerleader of the basketball team.

She stepped forward like she had been waiting for this moment.

Her eyes flicked from Shivani to Eraya, scanning, measuring.

Then her lips curved, not into a smile, but something sharper.

“…is that Eraya?”

The tone wasn’t curiosity.

It was performance.

Eraya felt her chest tighten instantly.

Her fingers loosened instinctively, her body pulling back a fraction again.

But Shivani didn’t let go.

Instead, she stepped slightly forward, just enough to place herself half a step in front of Eraya without making it obvious.

Her grip tightened-not harsh, just grounding.

A quiet I’m here.

“…say her name properly,” Shivani replied, voice calm but edged.

Ananya raised a brow.

“…what, did I pronounce it wrong?”

Shivani tilted her head slightly.

“No. You just said it like it doesn’t belong in your mouth.”

A few students shifted in their seats.

The tension wasn’t loud.

But it was there.

Ananya let out a small laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“…interesting. Since when did you become her spokesperson?”

Shivani didn’t hesitate.

“…since she became my best friend.”

A beat.

Then she added, a little more casually,

“…actually, she’s part of the trio now. We upgraded. It’s a squad.”

That got a few murmurs.

Because everyone knew The “Trio.”

Zivah. Anamika. Shivani.

Untouchable in their own way.

And now,

Eraya?

Ananya’s expression flickered.

Not amused now.

“…a squad?” she repeated.

“With her?”

The word her landed wrong.

Again.

Eraya felt it this time like something sinking slowly into her chest.

Heavy.

Familiar.

Zivah deserves better.

The thought hadn’t even fully formed yet-but it was already there, waiting.

Shivani noticed the shift beside her.

The subtle quiet.

The way Eraya’s fingers had gone still.

And something in Shivani’s expression changed.

Not louder.

But sharper.

“…yeah. With her.”

Ananya crossed her arms.

“…you’re serious?”

Shivani shrugged lightly.

“Dead serious. Problem?”

Ananya stepped a little closer now, her voice lowering just enough to sound like she wasn’t trying to start something, when she clearly was.

“…I just didn’t think Zivah would lower her standards like that.”

There it was.

Direct.

Unapologetic.

Eraya’s breath hitched.

Not visibly.

But inside,

something dropped.

Lower her standards.

Her grip on Shivani’s hand loosened slightly.

Her mind didn’t argue.

Didn’t defend.

It just… accepted it.

Because somewhere deep down,

it already believed it.

Shivani’s jaw tightened.

Just slightly.

But enough.

“…you should be careful,” she said slowly.

Ananya tilted her head.

“…about?”

Shivani smiled.

Not friendly.

“…about speaking on things you don’t understand.”

Ananya scoffed.

“Oh please. Everyone knows-“

“No,” Shivani cut in, her voice still calm but firmer now,

“everyone assumes. That’s different.”

The room was completely silent now.

Watching.

Listening.

Shivani took a step forward-not aggressive, but enough to close the distance just a little.

“…and if you’re going to throw opinions around, at least make them intelligent.”

Ananya’s expression hardened.

“…you’ve changed.”

Shivani shrugged.

“…I improved.”

A pause.

Then, quieter-but sharper,

“…maybe you should try it.”

A few people actually reacted to that.

A suppressed laugh somewhere in the back.

Ananya’s lips pressed into a thin line.

For a moment, it looked like she might say something more.

Push further.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she rolled her eyes, turned sharply, and walked back toward her group.

“…whatever.”

The tension didn’t disappear immediately.

It lingered.

Like the aftershock of something that hadn’t fully settled yet.

Shivani exhaled slowly.

Then looked at Eraya.

“…come on.”

She didn’t ask if she was okay.

Didn’t force a reaction.

She just led her toward the back seats.

Because sometimes-

that’s what helping looks like.

Not digging into the wound.

Just… moving forward.

They sat down.

Eraya’s hand slipped out of Shivani’s naturally this time.

But the warmth stayed.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Shivani leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms slightly.

Then glanced sideways.

Eraya was staring at the desk.

Too still again.

Her fingers lightly tracing the edge.

Not really seeing it.

Shivani clicked her tongue softly.

“…don’t.”

Eraya blinked.

“…don’t what?”

Shivani tilted her head.

“…don’t start thinking.”

Eraya gave a faint, almost tired smile.

“…I already did.”

Shivani sighed.

“…yeah, I figured.”

She leaned a little closer, lowering her voice.

“…listen to me properly.”

Eraya didn’t look up.

But she listened.

“…Ananya is like that,” Shivani continued.

“She thrives on attention. If there’s no drama, she creates it.”

A pause.

“…and today, you were the easiest target.”

That wasn’t comforting.

But it was honest.

Eraya’s fingers stilled.

“…what she said…”

Her voice was quiet.

“…it’s not completely wrong.”

Shivani’s head snapped toward her.

“…no. Don’t do that.”

Eraya finally looked at her.

“…what?”

Shivani’s expression softened-but her tone didn’t.

“…don’t take someone else’s ignorance and turn it into your truth.”

The words landed heavier than they sounded.

Eraya held her gaze.

“…it’s not ignorance if it’s visible.”

Shivani frowned slightly.

“…what is?”

Eraya hesitated.

Then, she said quietly.

“…the difference.”

Her voice dropped further.

“…between me and… you. And Zivah.”

There it was.

Not dramatic.

Not loud.

But real.

Shivani leaned back slightly, studying her.

Then said, quietly-

“…you think we don’t see differences?”

Eraya didn’t answer.

Shivani continued.

“…we do. We just don’t use them as weapons.”

A pause.

“…that’s the difference.”

Eraya looked down again.

The words didn’t erase what she felt.

But they… interrupted it.

Just enough.

Shivani leaned her elbow on the desk, resting her chin in her palm.

“…and for the record…”

Eraya glanced at her.

“…if Zivah wanted ‘better,’ she would have chosen it.”

A small pause.

“…she chose you.”

That made something shift again.

Not fully.

But deeper.

The class slowly started returning to its usual noise.

Chairs moving.

People talking again.

The moment passed for everyone else.

But for Eraya,

it stayed.

Lingering.

Quiet.

Unsettled.

Even as she nodded.

Even as she tried to focus,

Ananya’s words still echoed somewhere in the back of her mind.

Soft.

Persistent.

Zivah deserves better.

And no matter how much Shivani tried to pull her out of it,

that thought didn’t leave.

Not yet.
The bell rang, but the sound didn’t really end the class.

It just… released it.

Chairs scraped.

Voices rose again.

The weight of that earlier moment, Ananya,

the silence, the words-dissolved for everyone else like it had never mattered.

But for Eraya,

it stayed.

Not loud.

Not sharp.

Just… sitting somewhere inside her chest, quiet and heavy.

Shivani noticed the way she took a second longer to stand.

The way her fingers brushed the desk once before leaving it.

The way her gaze didn’t quite lift fully.

So she didn’t rush her.

Didn’t drag her into her usual chatter immediately.

Instead, she slung her bag over her shoulder and said lightly,

“…come on, if we walk slow enough, maybe lunch will magically extend.”

Eraya gave a faint smile.

“…that’s not how time works.”

Shivani shrugged.

“…I refuse to accept that.”

It wasn’t a big conversation.

But it was enough to keep things moving.

The walk to the cafeteria felt different now.

Less overwhelming.

But not fully easy either.

Eraya stayed a little closer to Shivani than before, not clinging, not dependent, just… aware.

Grounded by proximity.

And Shivani didn’t comment on it.

She just let it be.

Zivah and Anamika were already there.

Sitting at their usual table.

Anamika leaning back casually, mid-sentence about something,

while Zivah listened with that half-attentive, half-amused expression she always had when Anamika was speaking too much.

But the moment Zivah saw Eraya,

her focus shifted.

Completely.

It wasn’t obvious.

She didn’t call out.

Didn’t wave.

She just… stood slightly.

Reached for the chair beside her.

And pulled it out.

Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Like it had always been there waiting.

Eraya paused for just a fraction of a second before sitting.

And even that pause,

Zivah noticed.

Because she noticed everything about Eraya.

“…how was it?”

Zivah asked, her voice calm, almost casual, but her eyes were searching.

Not invasive.

Just… attentive.

Shivani dropped into her seat immediately.

“Oh my god, Zi, don’t even start. Today was a full-blown social experiment. I think half the class forgot how to behave like normal human beings.”

Anamika smirked.

“…Shivi that sounds like your class every day.”

Shivani pointed at her.

“No, today had extra stupidity. There was drama. There was tension. There was me almost committing verbal violence.”

Zivah raised a brow.

“…almost?”

Shivani grinned.

“I showed restraint. Growth.”

Zivah exhaled softly, almost smiling.

But her gaze shifted again.

Back to Eraya.

She hadn’t spoken.

Not once.

Her posture was composed.

Her expression neutral.

But there was something in her eyes,

a faint dullness.

Like something had brushed against her and stayed.

Zivah didn’t ask again.

Not here.

Not like this.

Instead, she just… noted it.

Quietly.

I’ll ask Shivi later.

Without breaking the flow of the conversation,

Zivah reached for her bag and pulled out the lunch containers.

Her movements were precise.

Careful.

Almost… intentional in their quietness.

She opened one, then the other.

And without making it a big thing,
she shifted a portion neatly onto Eraya’s plate.

Arranged it slightly.

Adjusted it.

Then said softly,

“…eat.”

Eraya looked at the plate.

Then at her.

“…I will.”

Zivah didn’t look convinced.

So she added, a little quieter,

“…properly. Not just two bites and done.”

There was no accusation in her tone.

Just… expectation.

Eraya hesitated.

Then nodded.

“…okay.”

And this time,

she meant it.

Across the table, Shivani was still mid-rant.

“…and then she had the audacity to smile like she said something intelligent-“

Anamika interrupted.

“…you’re still talking about that one sentence?”

Shivani turned to her.

“That one sentence was a crime.”

Zivah leaned back slightly.

“…what did you do?”

Anamika smirked.

“She corrected the professor’s interpretation.”

Zivah blinked.

“…you corrected a professor.”

Shivani crossed her arms.

“I improved the lecture.”

Anamika laughed.

“You nearly got thrown out.”

“That’s exaggeration,” Shivani said.

“You stood up,” Anamika replied.

“I was emotionally invested.”

Eraya let out a small breath of laughter.

It came softer this time.

Less sudden.

But real.

Zivah caught it.

And for a second,

she allowed herself to relax.

Just a little.

Then, shifting the conversation,

Zivah looked at Anamika.

“…and what about you? How was your very professional agriculture class?”

Anamika groaned immediately.

“Don’t.”

Zivah leaned forward slightly, interest flickering.

“No, actually everyone should hear that.”

Shivani perked up.

“Oh, I definitely want to hear this.”

Anamika sighed dramatically.

“…it was fine.”

Zivah tilted her head.

“…you’re lying.”

Anamika gave her a look.

“…I confidently identified a plant.”

Zivah waited.

“…and?”

Anamika closed her eyes briefly.

“…I called it ‘grass with attitude.'”

There was a pause.

Then Shivani burst out laughing.

“No way.”

Zivah pressed her lips together, trying-and failing, not to smile.

“…that’s not entirely wrong.”

Anamika pointed at her.

“You’re supposed to support me.”

Zivah shrugged lightly.

“I am. Emotionally.”

Shivani leaned forward.

“You’ve embarrassed yourself academically.”

Anamika glared.

“I hate both of you.”

Eraya laughed again.

A little louder this time.

Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

The tightness in her chest-

just a bit,

loosened.

For a moment, Ananya’s voice faded.

The words blurred.

Because here,

at this table,

no one was measuring her.

No one was questioning her place.

Zivah noticed the shift.

Not dramatic.

Not complete.

But present.

And she didn’t interrupt it.

Didn’t draw attention to it.

She just reached forward slightly,
and adjusted Eraya’s plate again.

“…finish this too.”

Eraya looked at her.

“…you’re serious about this.”

Zivah nodded.

“…very.”

There was something almost playful under it.

But also firm.

Eraya didn’t argue.

She just took another bite.

The conversation kept flowing.

Shivani still talking.

Anamika still reacting.

Zivah occasionally adding something dry.

And Eraya,

for once-

not disappearing into herself.

Not fully.

But enough to feel present.

And somewhere between laughter, teasing, and quiet gestures,

the weight inside her didn’t vanish.

But it softened.

Just enough-

for her to breathe through it.
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