"Hey." He greeted me.

"Hi... uhm.. I actually wanted to speak to you about something." I told him.

"Oh, okay. Come in." He said, making room for me to enter the suite.

"So, what's it about?" He asked, sitting on the bed.

"Kamlesh, uh.. told me-"

He interrupted.

"Oh, you don't need to worry about it, I won't let anyone else know."

"Okay, but I need to tell you the truth, Shubman." I stated.

"Meher, listen to me." He started.

"I know you and Kamlesh are dating, and it's okay, you don't need to worry about anything."

What is wrong with this boy?

"Okay, but can you please listen to me?" I asked him, getting irritated.

"Yeah, tell me."

"So, the thing about me and Kamlesh dating-"

"Meher, I told you, I will not tell it to any-"

"I like you, Shubman!" I exclaimed, loud enough.

He remained silent for a few seconds, before saying, "You what?"

"Yes, I like you, not Kamlesh!" I stated clearly.

Shubman sighed, keeping his forehead against his palms.

"I can't believe you! You're playing with Kamlesh!" He said.

"What- no, Shub-"

"No, no, you listen to me. Meher, what you are doing is totally wrong! He's my bestfriend." He stated, shaking his head.

"Shubman, you've got it all wrong-"

"Woah, what? I've got it all wrong? You're the one playing with me and my bestfriend, and I've got it wrong?" He said, looking baffled.

"You know what, Meher! I cannot believe I actually like someone like you. You-"

"Okay, you shut up!" I shouted.

"Kamlesh and I are not dating, Shubman! You've got it all wrong. Kamlesh and I are only good friends. It's you whom I like, you dumbfuck." I said, slowly and clearly.

"What?"

Shubman looked shocked.

"But- But, you guys beha-"

I cut him off this time.

"We were not behaving like a couple for god's sake!" I stated.

"I had hurt my back. You remember the time you saved me from the ball and we ended up on the ground? Well, there was a metal spike on the ground, and I landed on top of it causing it to enter my back. Only he knew it because he had come to my room that day. I didn't want anyone else to know about it. And, the sole reason why he always kept his hand on my back was because he didn't want anything else to increase the injury. Look here's the mark." I added, lifting my tshirt a bit to show him the mark.

"Oh my god, Meher. This-" He said, touching the mark. As long as I wanted his hand to stay on my back, I also had to let him know the truth, and hence I interrupted him.

"No, listen!" I said, turning around and holding him by his shoulders.

"The other day when you came to my room and saw Kamlesh shirtless, nothing happened, Shubman!" I told him.

"What're you saying?" He asked.

"Sidiksha was also present in the room. The three of us were just messing around. I threw water all over Kamlesh and that's why he took off his tshirt. Speaking about my tshirt, Kamlesh and I have the same tshirt, and we happened to have worn it on the same day." I told him.

"And, and! I was wearing shorts too! But the tshirt was just too big for the shorts to be seen."

"Stupid tshirt." I mumbled under my breath.

Shubman chuckled and I just looked at him.

"What?" I spat.

"You're cute." He smiled.

"Shut up. You were mean to me for no damn reason." I said, rolling my eyes and sitting on the bed.

"I'm sorry." He apologised, before kneeling down infront of me.

"Yeah right, ignore me, be rude to me, say all the mean stuff, and then say sorry. Nice."

"Meher, I... I was jealous." He admitted, looking at me.

"Well, you got to stop assuming." I stated.

"I know, it's my fault. Any of this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't assumed. God, what a dumbfuck I am." He facepalmed himself.

"But, I am sorry, Meher." He apologised.

"It's just.... one thing led to another. But me being rude to you isn't justified in any way, and I'll do anything to make it up to you, I promise." He added.

"It was you who wrote on the notepad." I stated, smiling a little.

"Yeah." He smiled, showing off his dimples.

"Ugh, stop smiling, those dimples are distracting me." I chuckled.

Shubman shook his head, while chuckling, before saying, "But on a serious note, you do mean a lot to me. And I'll do anything to make it up to you."

"I really like you, Meher." He stated.

"I like you too." I smiled.

"I'm just glad all the misunderstandings are cleared out." He sighed.

"Yeah, but, you know, Shubman, you should've atleast asked me or Kamlesh about it."

"Trust me, Meher, I did think of it, but I didn't want to seem so nosy. I'm not someone who wants to know what's happening in someone else's life. Hence, I didn't ask you guys."

I nodded my head, looking down at my lap.

"Meher." Shubman whispered, keeping his fingers under my chin.

He made me look at him, before looking into my eyes and smiling.

"I know you're upset, but I really am sorry."

The boy genuinely looked sorry.

"Meher, I was jealous, but it was because... you make me happy. You know, you're this adult who's really mature, but is also a kid from the inside, who gets happy easily, and I wanted to be the guy who makes you happy too. I didn't want to see you with someone else. I wanted to be with you." He said, looking completely genuine.

"You know, when Chandler tells Monica, that she makes him happier than he ever thought he could be, that reminds me of us, Meher. I know it's too early to say that, but you do make me happy." He said, looking into my eyes.

"And I just didn't want anyone else to experience that, or you know, just take you away from me." He admitted.

"Uh, well, if you're talking about Monica, I'd just like to tell you that unlike her I've never had a boyfriend before, and you would be my first one, that is only if you ask me." I said, looking anywhere, but him.

Shubman made me look at him, before asking, "I don't know if we're taking it too fast, but we can slow down whenever you want it, until then, can I be your first boyfriend?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at him.

"I guess, you can." I smiled.

The boy showed his dimples before keeping his palms on my cheeks and leaning his forehead against mine.

"This feels like an ." I whispered, looking into his eyes.

He chuckled, before looking at my lips and back into my eyes, as if asking for permission.

I nodded at him, and he leaned in causing me to close my eyes.

But someone interrupted us.

"Meher!"

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