Arc 1; Chapter 9: Under the Campfire,My Message to the Moon Part 1

Rohit approached the campfire with an angry scowl etched across his face, his thoughts still racing from his earlier confrontation with the president. The conversation was replayed in his mind—every harsh word, every unanswered question. He had stormed out of the president's office, frustrated and filled with a sense of betrayal. As he neared the fire, his gaze fell upon Ayaan and Isha, sitting comfortably by the flames, their easy camaraderie serving as a stark reminder of how different their paths seemed from his own. The contrast between the warmth of the fire and the coldness in his heart only intensified his anger.

Dev, ever the one to stir the pot, couldn't resist poking fun at the sour expression on Rohit's face. "What's the matter, Rohit? Did you lose a bet or just your temper?" he teased with a grin. The words hung in the air like a challenge, but Rohit, visibly seething, refused to engage. His fists clenched, but he held himself back, taking a deep breath before turning to Isha.

With an impatient flick of his hand, Rohit gestured to Isha, signaling for her to follow him away from the campfire. "I need to speak with you, alone," he said, his voice low and laced with frustration. Despite the teasing from Dev and the tension hanging in the air, Rohit’s tone left no room for argument, and Isha hesitated only briefly before standing up, ready to face whatever was weighing on his mind.

As Rohit turned away from the group to walk towards Isha, Dev couldn't help himself. With a mischievous grin, he called out, "Rohit, looks like you're jealous of Ayaan and Isha sitting together. What's the matter? Can’t stand the sight of them getting along?" His words were sharp, laced with a playful yet biting tone. Rohit, still seething from the earlier confrontation with the president, ignored him completely. His focus remained solely on Isha.

A few colleagues gathered around, whispering among themselves. "Did you know? Rohit and Isha arrived at the training grounds at the same time, about nine months ago. Guess they've known each other for a while," one of them murmured. The implication was clear, and the whispers began to build a sense of curiosity among the group. But none of it seemed to bother Rohit as he continued his march towards Isha, determined to speak with her alone.

Before Ayaan could speak up and intervene, Isha, with a mischievous smile, held up a hand, signaling for him to remain silent. With a confident, almost bossy tone, she turned toward Dev, teasing him. "Oh, Dev, you must be jealous, too. You’ve been single for so long, haven’t you?" She winked playfully, her voice laced with teasing. "And maybe you and Ayaan have some dark little secret relationship, huh?" At that, both Ayaan and Dev froze, glaring at each other. Neither of them responded immediately, but the words hit a nerve. Dev, rolling his eyes, snapped, "We are straight ,alright?" Ayaan, equally irritated, added, "Yeah, definitely not. Let’s make that clear."

Isha grinned at their discomfort but didn't let up, her teasing continuing as she gave Rohit a knowing glance. "Alright, alright, I'm coming," she said, her tone carrying an air of authority and amusement as she waved off the teasing and followed Rohit away from the campfire.

Ayaan's eyes followed Isha as she walked toward Rohit. He couldn't help but notice the determined look on her face, a stark contrast to the playful teasing she had just shared with Dev. There was something about her that made it clear she wasn’t going to let Rohit’s anger go unnoticed. Ayaan, however, was too caught up in the unease of the situation to say anything, watching with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Isha stood in front of Rohit, her posture commanding as she spoke with a bossy tone. "Why does my dear troublemaker always feel the need to stir up more trouble?" she asked, her words dripping with a playful yet authoritative air. But there was a sharp edge in her voice, one that suggested she wasn’t amused by his mood or his outbursts.

Rohit shot her a scowl, his anger not cooling in the slightest. "Why you want to get involved in Project M?" he snapped, his voice laced with frustration and impatience. The tension between them was thick, and his question hung in the air like a challenge.

Isha raised an eyebrow at Rohit’s sudden shift in tone. Her lips curled into a slight smirk as she responded with a nonchalant shrug. “Why do you think I want to get involved in Project M?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe it’s because I’m capable, unlike some people who are busy making trouble instead of focusing on the bigger picture.” Her words were sharp, the challenge in her tone unmistakable. She wasn’t just responding to his question—she was calling him out, making it clear that she wasn’t intimidated by his anger.

Rohit's anger seemed to fade as he stood there, his face softening into a sad frown. His voice, once full of frustration, now carried a trace of vulnerability. "Please tell me ,Why?" he asked quietly, the question hanging heavily in the air, his eyes searching Isha’s face for an answer.

Isha noticed the change in his demeanor, and for the first time, the teasing facade she had worn faded. Her smile softened into something more genuine, filled with a quiet concern. She stepped closer, her eyes searching his face, seeing the vulnerability he was trying to hide.

With a slight, almost melancholic smile, she answered, her voice calm but laden with meaning. "Just like you," she said, her words carrying weight, "I, too, am searching for answers. If Project M can provide the answers to our scars, then that's where I need to be." There was a vulnerability in her tone as well, a hint of something unspoken between them—something both raw and real.

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