Chapter 2 of 5
One step CLOSER
761 words
The morning passed quickly, and soon the lunch bell rang. Students poured out of their classrooms, laughing and chatting as they made their way to the canteen. After collecting their food, they gathered at the open seating area beside the canteen, where everyone usually sat with their friends.
Parv, Rohan, and Aryan found an empty table near the canteen. Rohan and Aryan sat side by side, while Parv took the seat opposite them. From where he was sitting, he had a clear view of Miv's table, just a few tables away.
As they began eating, Parv's eyes kept wandering toward Miv. While everyone around him laughed and chatted, Miv remained quiet, speaking only occasionally. His serious expression never seemed to change.
Rohan noticed Parv staring and chuckled. "You've been looking at him ever since we got here."
Parv smiled sheepishly but didn't deny it. His curiosity about Miv only seemed to grow.
Parv couldn't stop glancing at Miv.
After a few minutes, he finally looked at Rohan.
"Does Miv always stay this quiet?"
Rohan nodded as he took a bite of his lunch.
"Yeah. That's just how he is."
"He barely talks to anyone," Aryan added. "Even with us, he only speaks when it's necessary."
Parv frowned slightly.
"But... why? He looks like he's carrying the weight of the whole world."
Rohan and Aryan exchanged a quick glance.
"We don't really know," Rohan said after a brief pause. "He's always been like this."
"He keeps everything to himself," Aryan continued. "No one knows what he's thinking. He doesn't let people get close."
Parv turned his gaze back to Miv.
At that moment, Miv quietly finished his meal, stood up, and walked away without saying much to anyone.
Parv watched him until he disappeared from sight.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Rohan and Aryan quietly looked at Parv.
Then, they looked at each other.
Neither of them said a word.
Their expressions said it all.
"How is this ever going to work?"
They knew the truth about Miv—his walls were too high, and no one had ever been able to break them.
Yet, Parv had no idea what he was walking into.
The rest of the school day passed by quickly.
Before anyone realized it, the final bell echoed through the hallways, signaling the end of the day.
Students eagerly packed their bags and hurried out of their classrooms, filling the school grounds with cheerful chatter.
Parv slung his backpack over his shoulder and waved goodbye to Rohan and Aryan.
"See you tomorrow!"
"See you!" they replied.
Since his house was only a short walk from school, Parv began walking home, enjoying the cool evening breeze.
Meanwhile, Miv made his way to the school bus with his friends.
A few moments later, one by one, the buses pulled out of the school campus, carrying the students home.
As for Parv, he simply continued walking along the road, completely unaware of which bus Miv had boarded.
The day had come to an end...
But for Parv, it felt like something had just begun.
The next morning, the school was once again filled with the voices of students arriving for another day.
As Parv walked through the school gate, his eyes instinctively searched for Miv.
It didn't take long before he spotted him walking alone toward the school building.
A smile spread across Parv's face.
"Good morning, Miv!" he called out cheerfully.
Miv briefly glanced at him but didn't say a word. He simply continued walking.
Parv quickly caught up with him.
"Hey... why didn't you reply?"
Silence.
Parv smiled awkwardly and continued walking beside him.
"Are you always this quiet?"
Still no answer.
"Where are you from?"
...
"Do you usually have lunch with your friends? Maybe we could have lunch together today?"
Miv finally stopped walking.
He slowly turned to face Parv.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at him with a cold, unreadable expression.
Not a single word escaped his lips.
Then, without another glance, he turned around and walked away.
Parv stood there, watching him disappear down the hallway.
He let out a small sigh before smiling to himself.
"You're really hard to understand, aren't you?" he murmured.
Most people would have given up after being ignored again and again.
But Parv wasn't most people.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"One day... I'll know the real you, Miv."
With that quiet promise to himself, Parv continued toward his classroom.
Little did he know... some hearts weren't easy to reach.
— End of Chapter 2 —