Chapter Three: Rain & Rivalry

The summer holidays had come to a close, and with it, the gentle warmth of lazy afternoons at their hideout faded into memory. The new academic year had begun. Maya and Kian were now in the fifth grade. Their old classroom had been left behind, and like every year, a new one awaited them — newer desks, new seating arrangements, and new faces.

But not everything was new.

The bond they had grown over the past two years remained—firm, if not stronger. Since their third-grade meeting, their connection had become one of soft reliance and quiet understanding, only growing deeper with each day spent wandering muddy paths and sharing childhood secrets in their secret hideout near a old temple.

Maya stepped into the new classroom that morning with her usual confident stride. Her hair was neatly tied in two braids, and the soft peach of her uniform clashed gently with the sunlight spilling through the windows. She glanced around and found her name on one of the benches in the second row. Seated beside her was her best friend Ananya, as expected.

But something felt off.

She turned instinctively to the row beside hers—the one where Kian always sat. It had been his desk for a while, even before summer. Their teacher, Mrs. D’Souza, strictly followed the rules: girls with girls, boys with boys. But Kian had claimed the seat closest to Maya's desk in that diagonal placement—still close enough to pass notes, share silly sketches, or just whisper teasing remarks.

Except today, someone else was sitting there.

A boy she hadn't seen before.

He had a mop of messy, curly hair, dark eyes filled with mischief, and an easy grin that already told her he wasn’t the shy type. He glanced her way and gave a wink that nearly made her choke on her own breath.

Maya blinked.

Who was he?

She glanced toward the door again. Still no sign of Kian.

When he did arrive, a little later than usual, he paused at the door. His sharp eyes scanned the room. The moment his gaze fell on the new face —sitting beside Maya's desk, something subtle shifted in his expression. His usual blank calm cracked slightly at the edges.

He walked slowly to his usual seat, or rather—what used to be his.

The new boy was still leaning sideways, whispering something to Maya, who looked more annoyed than amused.

Kian stood quietly beside the desk.

"You're blocking the light," the new boy said casually, turning to him.

Maya’s head snapped toward Kian.

His eyes weren’t on the new boy.

They were on her.

And something about that quiet gaze made her straighten up in her seat.

Before either of them could say anything, Mrs. D’Souza entered the classroom. "Everyone, settle down. Vivaan, glad you could join us. New student, everyone, make him feel welcome."

Vivaan leaned back in his seat with the relaxed ease of someone who never worried about welcome or not. Kian, wordless, walked to the row behind Maya and took a seat without protest.

---

Recess came and went. Maya couldn’t focus on her lunch.

Vivaan had tried to talk to her the entire time. But her eyes kept drifting to the seat behind her. She hadn’t spoken to Kian all morning. He hadn’t spoken to her either. He didn’t even tease her when her pen rolled under his desk. He just picked it up, handed it to her, and returned to his tiffin box without a word.

It was unsettling.

Later that week, the weather took a turn. Monsoon arrived early that year.

Their school garden was filled with puddles and the scent of wet earth. The students weren’t allowed to go out, but Maya and Kian had their own ideas.

It was after school when they ran off toward the hidden path near the back gate. The rain had just started falling—a light drizzle at first. They were halfway to their secret place when Kian finally spoke.

"Do you like that new boy?"

Maya stopped walking. The rain tapped lightly against her umbrella.

"What?"

"Vivaan. You smiled at him a lot today."

Maya frowned. "I did not. He says weird things."

Kian looked away, lips twitching. "You laughed."

"Because it was weird. Not funny. There’s a difference."

Kian nodded slowly but didn’t speak again. Maya watched him, unsure why she felt like she needed to say more.

"You’re acting strange," she muttered. "Is this about the seat thing?"

He didn’t answer.

"You could've told me. I would've asked him to move."

"It’s not that big a deal."

"Then stop sulking like a baby."

That made him look at her. His hair was wet now, sticking to his forehead. His eyes had that distant quiet again—the kind that made Maya shift on her feet.

"I just don’t like people who think they can sit wherever they want."

Maya snorted. "You don’t own the seat, Kian."

"But I’ve always been there."

"Still not a reason."

"But you never minded before."

Maya bit her lip.

"Maybe I did. You never asked."

The silence stretched.

Rain poured a little harder.

Kian took a hesitant step closer. Maya didn’t step back. Not yet. The rain had soaked through her sleeves.

He reached out suddenly, brushing a wet leaf off her braid.

And that’s when she felt it.

Her heartbeat stuttered—just a little. She wasn’t sure what that feeling was. It wasn’t anger, or joy, or even embarrassment. It was something odd. Warm. Annoying. Unnameable.

She moved a step back and frowned.

"Didn’t your mom told you that you’re big now? You shouldn’t touch any girl like this."

Kian blinked, hand still slightly raised. "Why?"

"Because! Boys shouldn’t!"

He tilted his head, confused. "But you’re not just any girl. You’re my... my best friend. So why can’t I, hmm?"

Maya stared at him.

And somewhere inside her, something stirred—something too early to name, but impossible to ignore.

The rain fell harder.

Neither of them moved.

And neither of them forgot that moment.

He ran through rain with muddy feet,

A grin that never skipped a beat.