Chapter Twelve

After seeing Reanna off at the airport along with Tania and Samarth, Aditya decided to take another stop before returning back to his house. The sun was about the set and the sky was coloured with different shades ranging from purple to orange. However he knew he couldn't end another day without talking to Raina. 

She had taken to ignoring him during classes. Aadhya had stuck to her same story. But he didn't believe it. 

Standing outside her doorstep, he took a deep breath before ringing the bell twice. It chimed and he anticipated to see her smiling face opening the door. 

The door opened slightly and she peeped through the little gap. Aditya passed her a wide grin and she opened the door completely, but with a irritated expression on her face. 

She was dressed in PJs and a loose tshirt. Her hair was uncombed and her face was natural, not a tinge of makeup. Without the contour, her nose looked huge and the sight made him giggle a little. Aditya was sure he was one of the very few people who had seen this side of her. In high school, she was a fair competition to Reanna when the matter of dress-up and makeup emerged. She looked beautiful wearing make-up, no doubt, but he knew she looked far better without it. 

"What's the playboy doing on my door step? Tired of snogging Niharika's gross lips?" She asked with a scoff and crossed arms. 

"This isn't about Niharika, Ri-ri."

She rolled her eyes at him but he knew deep inside, she loved it everytime anyone called her that. 

"This is about us. I want to talk to you." Aditya tried with a small smile. 

Raina nostrils flared, highlighting the features of her bulbous nose, "There's no us. And I don't want to talk to you." She leaned against the doorframe, chewing on her bottom lips. Her behavior denied her words. He knew if she didn't really want to talk to him, she would've shut the door on his face. 

"Fine. You don't have to reply but just listen to what I have to say. I'm here to apologise." He sighed and continued, "Like always, I have no idea what my mistake is but you're upset with me and it's mandatory that no matter whose fault it is, only I will be the one to apologise to you."

Raina lips twitched, wanting to smile but she bit it back. "I don't want your apology." She snapped at him. 

He still widened his smile, "I'm okay with that too. But I got something for you," He brought his hands in front and they held a food packet, the words 'Belgian Waffle' written across it. "Don't want this either?" He asked with a smirk. 

Raina's eyes widened and her arms slowly uncrossed, instinctively. She stuttered, "Y-you got it for me?" 

"No. For you and me. What did you expect? That I'd look at your face while you ate this?" He stepped forward. 

"I forgive you but only temporarily." She said and grinned widely, opening the door wider and letting him inside. 

"Well done, Adi!" Aditya whispered to himself and punched the air with his fist. 

"You said something?" Raina asked as her hands pulled away the packet from his hand. She couldn't keep the grin off her face. 

Aditya laughed, "Nothing at all. Bon appétit! " He said and closed the door behind them. 

_____________________

"Is he sick?" Shrey asked, tossing away another empty box into the storage room. 

"Who?" Mayra asked, perplexed. 

"Mr. Grey eyes." 

Mayra shrugged. "What do I know?" 

"There's definitely something wrong with him. He's helping us clean this mess!" 

Mayra decided to not reply and instead helped him carry another heavy box back to the room. 

Shrey said after a few moments of working in silence, "I'm going to ask him." 

"Why?" Mayra grabbed him arm. "Why the sudden curiosity?" 

Shrey sighed, "I found out today he's the football team captain. It's better to befriend him, right?" 

Mayra felt disappointed at his words and gave away her grip on the box. Unable to see it coming, Shrey's feet got crushed under the weight of the box and he whimpered. 

"You are a chameleon, Shrey Sharma!" Mayra was furious, no doubt. "Just yesterday you called him a douche and now suddenly you want to be his friend. Unbelievable!" Mayra shook her head in dismay. 

"I didn't know he was the captain yesterday. I do now, however." Shrey said, grinning and received a rather harsh smack on his head. 

"Why are you so bothered anyway?" He asked her. 

Mayra stayed silent for a few seconds since she herself had no answer for that question. Why was Shrey's desire to befriend Samarth infuriating her? 

Pressing her lips into a thin line, she continued, "He's a jerk, right? You deserve better friends. Like me." She said with a smug face. 

Their bittersweet conversation was interrupted by a certain grey-eyed, curly haired guy wearing a hoodie, "Hey, Mayra?"

Exactly how many of these did he own? 

She turned around abruptly on her heels and asked with her rudest tone possible, "What do you want?"

Samarth's face was calm and it only fuelled her irritation, "Pass me that list, please? I need to put these in the correct order." He said, signalling over to a pile of neatly arranged books. 

She did as he asked but with slight hesitation. 

Two hours passed by as they weaved themselves into the work. The sky outside had turned crimson red. It was time to stop. 

"I think we should keep the rest for next week. Two more days and I think we'll be done!" Mayra announced in an exhilarating tone. 

"Good. I hope you remember you have to be there for the football practice with me on Monday."

"I'll be there." She assured him.

"Grab the keys from that table. I really cannot believe Mrs. Dixit trusts us enough to lock the place by ourselves." Shrey remarked with a raised eyebrow. 

Mayra shook her head and corrected him, "She's careless enough to leave the responsibility to us. If anything goes wrong, we'll be expelled." 

"And that's worse than dying, right Hermione?" 

Both of them laughed. 

"Wait! I think Samarth is still in here. I didn't see him leave." Mayra pointed out. 

"Fine, you bring him out. He's really invested today." Shrey giggled, "I'll go and keep these boxes in the store room." 

Mayra honestly didn't wish to see his face at that point but she didn't wish to lock him in either. So, she went inside again and searched for him.