Romance College Confessions: with Priya and others

[rajesh93]

Scene 5 – Opportunities to Spend Time Together

 


I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t plan it. But somehow, life had a funny way of pushing me closer to Priya, even when I wasn’t ready.
 
It all started with my father. As much as I hated to admit it, I was struggling with a lot of my subjects, coding in particular. It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying. I was. I spent hours reading, scribbling notes, and running through problems. But no matter how hard I tried, it just never clicked like it did for Priya.
 
One evening, after a particularly frustrating study session, my dad, sitting across from me at the dinner table, gave me that look, the one that meant he was about to say something that would leave me no choice but to listen.
 
“Rahul,” he started, his voice calm but firm, “why don’t you ask Priya for help? She’s good with these things. Maybe she can explain it in a way you’ll understand.”
 
My heart sank. Ask Priya for help? Sure, we were friends, but this felt different. Asking for help meant admitting I was out of my depth. It felt like exposing my vulnerability to her, the last person I’d want to show any weakness to. She was smart, confident, effortlessly brilliant. How could I ask her for help?
 
But my father’s tone made it clear that arguing wasn’t an option. “Just do it,” he said. And that was that.
 
The next day, after much hesitation, I found myself walking toward Priya after class. She was standing with some friends, laughing, her face glowing with that effortless charm she always carried. She was in red dress as that was a Friday, no uniform.  I stood there for a moment, unsure of how to approach her without sounding ridiculous. I couldn’t let her see how nervous I was.




 
I took a deep breath and walked up to her, my voice coming out less confident than I intended.
 

I called “Hey, Priya…”  She looked towards me. That is it, I lost everything I rehashed to talk to her after seeing her face.  
 






“What?”  She asked me, bringing me back to the earth.



 
“Uh, you know, about the assignment… My dad suggested I ask you for help. If you don’t mind, of course.”
 
She turned toward me, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment. For a second, I was lost. Priya was like this living, breathing example of grace. She was wearing a simple light blue top with jeans, but somehow, the way she wore it made everything look effortlessly chic. The way her hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft waves, the delicate curve of her neck, the subtle flush of her cheeks, it was like she had this aura about her, drawing everyone’s attention without even trying.
 
“Of course! No problem, Rahul,” she said, her voice soft, the edges of her lips curving into that friendly smile that seemed to melt any of my hesitation. “I’m happy to help.”

 
I smiled awkwardly, trying to hide how much my heart was racing. She was so naturally beautiful, so easy in her own skin, it made me feel like I was the one who needed to prove something. As she led me to a quiet spot, I couldn’t help but notice how her every movement seemed calculated, graceful. Even the way her eyes flickered as she spoke, it was all so deliberate and yet effortless. I was watching her with the kind of intensity I didn’t even realize was happening.





 
She sat down beside me and started explaining the problem, patiently walking me through each step. I tried to focus on what she was saying, but if I’m being honest, I wasn’t really listening. I was watching her lips, how they parted slightly when she explained something, the way her teeth peeked out as she smiled.





Each time she spoke, it felt like the world around me slowed down, and all I could hear was her voice, calm and steady, like a melody I never wanted to stop hearing.
 










It was frustrating. I wanted to focus, to actually understand what she was saying, but my thoughts kept drifting. The way her fingers moved as she pointed to the equations, the way her eyes met mine with such quiet confidence, everything about her made my chest tighten.




 
I caught myself staring more than I should have, especially when she asked, “Got it so far?”
 


I quickly snapped out of it, clearing my throat. “Uh, yeah, yeah, I think I got it now.”
 
She smiled, her eyes lighting up with a quiet pride. “Good, you’re getting it! It’s not that hard once you break it down.”
 



But all I could think about was how she made everything seem so simple. And how, every time she spoke, I found myself completely mesmerized by the way her lips moved. It felt like everything else was fading into the background, and all I wanted to do was listen, to hear more of her voice.
 
“Thanks, Priya,” I said, the words slipping out before I could even stop them. “I really appreciate it.”
 
She smiled again, that smile that always made my stomach flip. “No problem, Rahul. It’s fun to help out. You’re going to do fine.”
 


And just like that, I was back in reality, her presence still lingering in the air, the warmth of her smile and the rhythm of her voice still echoing in my ears. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she had no idea how much her presence affected me. She probably thought of me as just another friend. But I couldn’t stop the feelings that were building inside me, even if I tried to ignore them.
 
As we finished up, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the time she had given me. She had helped me with the assignment, yes, but it felt like something else too, like I had just gotten a glimpse of the world she lived in, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. But one thing was for sure: I was never going to forget the way she made me feel, and how, in that moment, I had become more aware of every little detail about her.


I could never forget the way she looked at me while leaving in the bus while I was on my bike