24 – The Rumor — Scene 1 – Another Festival Day Tuesday morning.
The festival was only four days away.
The four walked toward school together.
Dhruv wore his usual uniform.
Even with the fresh haircut, his habits hadn’t changed.
His tie was slightly loose.
His shirt sleeves were rolled unevenly.
His blazer rested over one shoulder.
Deep looked disappointed.
“You got a handsome haircut…” “…and somehow still look like you got dressed in thirty seconds.” Dhruv shrugged.
“I did.” Alya laughed.
“At least he’s honest.” Mitsuri smiled quietly.
“…It still suits you.” Dhruv looked at her.
“…Thanks.” She immediately looked ahead again.
— Scene 2 – Decorating the Auditorium The auditorium was buzzing with activity.
Students climbed ladders.
Teachers checked sound systems.
Colorful ribbons stretched across the ceiling.
Dhruv carried wooden boards toward the stage.
Mitsuri was arranging paper flowers with the Literature Club.
Kabir held up one of the decorations.
“This one?” “A little higher.” “Like this?” “Perfect!” Dhruv happened to look toward them.
For a second…
The old uncomfortable feeling returned.
He stopped walking.
Then…
He remembered Urvi’s words.
“Do you trust her?” “…Yeah.” He quietly smiled to himself.
“Then stop being stupid.” He continued walking.
Deep, who had been watching from the stage, smiled proudly.
“…Good.” — Scene 3 – The Student Council President A tall third-year girl approached the Cricket Club desk.
She wore the student council badge on her blazer.
Her name was Riya Mehta, the Student Council President.
“Excuse me.” “Are you Dhruv?” He nodded.
“Yes.” “We need two volunteers to help shift equipment after school.” “I can help.” “Thank you.” She smiled politely and left.
Nothing unusual.
Except…
Several nearby girls noticed.
One whispered, “Even the president knows him.” Another giggled.
“He really has become popular.” Mitsuri heard them.
She didn’t say anything.
But…
She glanced toward Dhruv.
Just once.
— Scene 4 – Lunch Break Deep dramatically sat down.
“I have breaking news.” Alya sighed.
“…Here we go.” Deep pointed around the cafeteria.
“Half the school thinks you two are dating.” Dhruv nearly dropped his spoon.
“What?” Mitsuri blinked.
“…What?” Deep nodded seriously.
“I’ve heard it from three different classes.” Alya calmly added, “It’s mostly because you’re always together.” “And because people keep seeing those…
moments.” Dhruv rubbed his forehead.
“This is getting ridiculous.” Mitsuri quietly took another bite of her lunch.
“…Is it really that obvious?” No one answered.
— Scene 5 – K-Drama Moment After school…
A sudden summer rain began pouring.
Students gathered near the school entrance.
“I forgot my umbrella…” Mitsuri looked outside.
“So did I,” Dhruv replied.
Deep opened his own umbrella.
“Well…” “I only have room for Alya.” “Obviously.” He and Alya walked off together.
Mitsuri laughed.
“We’ve been abandoned.” Dhruv looked around.
Then noticed the security guard.
“Sir…” “Can we borrow one?” The guard smiled and handed over a large black umbrella.
“Bring it back tomorrow.” “Thank you.” The two stepped into the rain.
The umbrella was large…
But not that large.
As they walked…
Their shoulders brushed lightly once.
Then again.
Neither moved away.
The rain fell steadily around them.
Mitsuri smiled.
“…I like rainy days.” Dhruv looked at the road ahead.
“Why?” “They make everything quieter.” He nodded.
“…Yeah.” “They do.” For several minutes…
Neither spoke.
Yet…
The silence felt strangely comfortable.
— Scene 6 – Seen Together As they passed a small tea stall…
The owner smiled.
“You two came after school again?” Dhruv looked confused.
“We’ve never been here together.” The man laughed.
“Oh…” “My mistake.” “I thought you were a couple.” Both of them froze.
“…” “…” The tea seller scratched his head.
“Sorry!” “My daughter and her husband also walked like that before they got married.” Mitsuri’s face immediately turned bright red.
Dhruv coughed awkwardly.
“…We’re just friends.” They continued walking.
Neither spoke for almost five whole minutes.
— Scene 7 – Sunrise Residency The rain had slowed to a drizzle.
The four met again near the society gate.
Deep immediately noticed.
“So…” “How romantic was the umbrella?” Dhruv looked exhausted.
“…Please stop.” Mitsuri hid her face behind her umbrella.
Alya smiled.
“I’m guessing someone mistook them for a couple again.” Deep snapped his fingers.
“I KNEW IT.” Dhruv sighed.
“Is the whole city conducting a social experiment?” — Scene 8 – Two Different Hearts That night…
Dhruv lay in bed.
The umbrella.
The rain.
The quiet walk.
For some reason…
He couldn’t stop thinking about it.
He smiled to himself.
“…If that rumor spreads again tomorrow…” “…I don’t think I’d mind.” He immediately sat up.
“…Wait.” “…What?” — Across the society…
Mitsuri sat with her journal open.
She held her pen above the page for almost a minute.
Then she finally wrote: > Today, someone thought we were a married couple.
It was so embarrassing…
But…
Why didn’t I hate hearing it?
She stared at the sentence.
Her cheeks slowly turned pink.
She closed the journal.
Pressed it gently against her chest.
And whispered into the quiet room…
“…This is getting dangerous.”