One of the boys leaned in and whispered something in Preet's ear.
His expression shifted instantly.
Without even looking at me, he walked away with them.
"Preet?" I called out. "Where are you going? What happened?"
No answer.
Not even a glance back.
I stood there—confused, anxious, and now… alone.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
I quickly headed toward the senior block, my heart racing.
Maybe Armaan was there? Maybe he knew something?
But no.
He wasn't anywhere.
I searched every corridor, every classroom, my mind spiraling.
And Preet?
He had disappeared.
Just like that.
Left me standing there in the middle of school… like I didn't matter.
My chest felt tight.
My vision started to blur.
I turned a corner—and that's when I saw them.
Those two boys. Whispering. Laughing.
And one of them said, just loud enough for me to hear:
"Armaan usse break up karega… Preet ki wajah se."
That sentence shattered me.
I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't think.
Everything inside me collapsed.
I ran.
Straight into the empty corridor near the class.
And I broke down right there, in the middle of it all.
Tears, sobs, shaking hands.
My anxiety took over completely.
And just when I thought I was losing control—
I felt arms wrap around me from behind.
It was Armaan.
He pulled me into a hug.
But I pushed him away, crying harder.
"Don't touch me! TUM BHI BREAK UP KAR LOGE NA! JAOO!"
He held my face gently, eyes filled with panic.
"Nahi baba, I love you… I swear. Kuch nahi hoga."
He hugged me tighter, refusing to let go.
His voice was calm, soft.
"Main yahi hoon. Main nahi jaa raha."
I collapsed in his arms again—crying, trembling.
And between sobs, I told him everything.
Everything that happened. Every word. Every fear.
He listened.
Without interrupting.
Just holding me like I was the most fragile thing in the world.