Chương 11: The Hideaway

Adam skillfully slipped away from his bustling classmates, seeking solitude.

His destination: a secluded spot on the school grounds, just beyond the left gate and a short distance from the basketball court.

It was a hidden refuge he'd found years ago, where the quiet helped him gather his thoughts away from the prying eyes of peers.

Settling down, Adam reached into his pocket and pulled out his earbuds, eager to finally escape into the music he'd been craving since class began.

Just as he placed them in his ears, a familiar voice echoed softly, only audible to him.

"Lord Adam, welcome," Pratham greeted warmly.

Adam smiled to himself, finding comfort in his virtual companion's tone. "You're the first one I'm having lunch with," he responded, a hint of playfulness in his voice.

Pratham's tone turned formal. "It is my honor, my lord, that you deem me worthy of such company."

Adam chuckled lightly, relishing the private banter. But then, Pratham's voice dropped to a more serious note. "My lord, your friends seem to be suspicious."

A frown creased Adam's brow. "Suspicious of what?" he asked, suddenly alert.

"Not of your conversations with Ani, thankfully," Pratham assured him. "But they seem to believe...that you might be suffering from some sort of mental strain."

"What?" Adam's voice held a note of disbelief.

"Your friends have been closely observing you," Pratham continued calmly. "From what I've gathered, they believe that your inability to talk to Ani is causing you significant distress."

Adam laughed softly, shaking his head. He thought of the explanation he'd soon have to give. "I'll clarify things when I get back to class," he murmured.

"But isn't Leo with his girlfriend right now?" Adam asked, hoping his friends had indeed left him to his solitude.

"Not today, my lord. Leo is currently in the cafeteria, observing Ani. He seems intent on watching her while eating with Eric and cole," Pratham replied.

Adam sighed, slightly exasperated yet amused by their concern. "Always one step ahead," he thought, finishing his lunch in silence.

After lunch, Adam decided to return to class early, leaving his secluded spot.

Once back in the classroom, he found it empty, with most of the students still out enjoying their lunch in the open.

A mischievous thought crossed his mind, and he wandered over to Ani's desk, curious to see if anything on her desk might reveal something new about her.

"Can I help you with something, Adam?"

Startled, Adam spun around to find Ani standing right behind him, her arms crossed as she watched him curiously.

"I, uh… no, not really," Adam stammered, his nerves flaring up. Even though he had recently found some courage around Ani, her sudden appearance still made him uneasy.

But Ani only smiled softly. "It's fine. I know you were just curious about my desk," she replied.

A wave of panic rose within him, fearing she might discover his crush on her. Trying to keep his composure, Adam scrambled for words. "I, um… I was just looking for a book."

Ani laughed at his response. "Of course. Here," she said, bending down to reach for a book in the lower part of her desk. She retrieved a well-worn volume and handed it to him, its title reading Who Is the Culprit?

Adam was too stunned to hide his surprise. "You… thought I'd come here to find this?" he asked, baffled by how well she seemed to understand his intentions.

Ani gave him an understanding smile. "I just had a feeling you'd show up, so I came here to wait." Adam's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected thoughtfulness in her words.

She tilted her head, studying him with a hint of amusement. "You know, I've noticed you never eat lunch in the cafeteria or with your friends. Where do you disappear to?"

The question caught Adam off guard. He had never imagined Ani paying enough attention to notice his absence from the cafeteria.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, he shrugged. "Honestly, I just find it… too much to eat around people. It's easier to be alone."

Ani chuckled, a warm, genuine laugh that made Adam feel oddly at ease. "I used to be the same way, believe it or not. But my friends helped me get over it. Now, I enjoy eating with them."

Curious and wanting to know more about her, Adam leaned in, genuinely interested. "How did you manage that?"

The sudden movement brought him close to her face, and they both paused, momentarily taken aback.

Realizing how close he was, Adam pulled back awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck in apology. "Sorry about that."

Ani averted her gaze, a faint blush rising on her cheeks as she smiled slightly. "No problem."

In the silence that followed, Adam found himself watching her with a renewed sense of admiration.

He had never realized how resilient she was. "She really is amazing," he thought to himself, marveling at her strength. He quickly shifted the topic, wanting to ease the tension.

"Hey, I saw you talking to the teacher earlier. What was that about?"

Ani face softened as she explained, "She asked me to stay after school to help with some class representative tasks. So, looks like I'll be here a bit longer today."

Their conversation was interrupted as Leo entered the classroom, casting a suspicious glance between them.

Adam's heart sank slightly, not wanting his friends to jump to conclusions. Ani seemed to understand his silent plea for secrecy and turned away, pretending as if she hadn't just been in conversation with him.

"I'll see you later," she said to Adam, heading toward the door. Leo watched her exit before turning his gaze back to Adam, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"What's going on here, Adam?" Leo asked, crossing his arms. "You've been avoiding us, and now I find you here, all alone in an empty classroom with Ani?"

Adam raised his hands defensively. "Calm down, Leo. Let's go sit, and I'll explain everything," he said, leading him to his desk.

Once they were settled, Leo demanded, "Tell me everything, and don't leave anything out."

Adam smiled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright." He recounted their initial meeting on the train, how he and Ani had exchanged a few words, and how their conversations had naturally continued in class. However, he made sure to downplay it, hoping Leo wouldn't push further.

But Leo wasn't fully convinced. "So, that's it?" he asked, a skeptical look in his eyes. "Tell me, do you still… you know, have a thing for her?"

Adam looked away, feeling the weight of the question. After a moment, he nodded. "Yeah… I do."

Leo let out a triumphant laugh, throwing an arm around Adam's shoulder. "I never thought you'd actually make it this far on your own! Honestly, we all thought we'd need to push you just to get a word out of you around her."

Adam rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at his lips. "Just don't tell anyone, alright?"

Leo's playful smile faltered. "Why not? This is big news!"

Adam's tone turned serious. "If you tell anyone, especially at school, rumors will start. I… I don't want that for either of us."

Leo considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, fine. I'll keep it between us. But you owe me."

Adam chuckled, grateful. "Thanks. Just… don't tell Susan, either, okay?"

With a smirk, Leo pretended to zip his lips, signaling his silence on the matter.

Soon, other students began filtering back into the room, and classes resumed.

Adam kept stealing glances at Ani, feeling both nervous and hopeful. For the first time, he began to wonder if he could genuinely change—to become a little less reserved, a bit more like her. He wanted to try.

As class continued, a quiet resolve built within him: maybe, just maybe, he could be different, and with a faint smile, he decided it was worth a try.

To be connected ...