Chapter 36 - Ch 35

🌿 After School — The Girls' Spot

The ground behind the school was quieter today.

Bags dropped, ties loosened, everyone finally relaxing.

Meera sat down first, stretching her legs."I swear, if one more teacher says 'revise this,' I'm leaving."

Kitty dropped beside her. "You say that every day and still come back."

"Because I have no choice."

"Exactly."

Anya sat a little apart, leaning against the wall, scrolling through something—but clearly listening.

Etasha, meanwhile, was aggressively pulling grass out of the ground.

Meera noticed.

"…Okay, what's wrong with you?"

Etasha didn't look up. "Nothing."

Kitty immediately leaned forward. "That 'nothing' looks violent."

"It's grass," Etasha said flatly. "It'll grow back."

Meera smirked. "Did Kaiser say something?"

Etasha froze for half a second.

Kitty gasped. "Ohhh, it's about Kaiser."

Etasha looked up, annoyed. "Can you not?"

Anya finally spoke, calm as ever. "You're reacting, so it clearly is about him."

Etasha rolled her eyes. "He's just annoying."

😏 Kaiser & Etasha — The Real Dynamic

Meera leaned back on her hands. "He's been annoying you since forever."

"Exactly," Etasha said. "Since childhood. Nothing new."

Kitty grinned. "Yeah, but you still like him."

Etasha gave her a look. "Be quiet."

"That's not a denial," Meera pointed out.

Etasha sighed. "…It's not like that."

Anya glanced at her. "Then what is it?"

Etasha hesitated—

then said it bluntly, like always.

"I liked him. For a long time. Whatever. It doesn't matter."

The group went quiet for a second.

That wasn't something she usually said out loud.

Kitty softened slightly. "Okay… but he's not that bad."

Etasha scoffed. "He literally makes fun of me for fun."

"That's… kind of his personality," Meera said.

"Exactly," Etasha replied. "And according to him, I'm still 'childish.'"

Anya frowned slightly. "That's not fair."

"It's fine," Etasha said quickly. "I'm used to it."

But this time—

it didn't sound like she fully meant it.

🐒 Etasha — Changed, But Still Her

Meera nudged her lightly. "You've changed a lot though."

Etasha shrugged. "Yeah, well. People grow up."

Kitty nodded. "You're way less… aggressive now."

"I'm still aggressive," Etasha corrected. "Just controlled."

Anya almost smiled. "That's true."

Meera grinned. "You're still scary sometimes."

"Good," Etasha said. "Keeps people in line."

💕 Kitty — Aryan Mode

Kitty suddenly sat up straighter, checking her phone.

Meera noticed immediately. "Oh no."

"What?" Kitty asked innocently.

"You're smiling."

"I am not."

"You are," Anya said without even looking up.

Etasha glanced once. "Definitely are."

Kitty tried to hide it. Failed.

"…He texted," she admitted.

Meera smirked. "Aryan?"

"Yes."

"Of course," Etasha muttered.

"What did he say?" Meera asked.

"Just asked if I reached home," Kitty said.

Etasha blinked. "That's it?"

"That's not 'just,'" Kitty defended. "That's caring."

Anya nodded slightly. "It is."

Meera smiled. "Okay, fair. That's actually nice."

Kitty looked proud. "Exactly."

🏫 Gossip vs Reality

Meera leaned back again. "So what's happening in school? Anything interesting?"

Kitty immediately lit up. "Yes—"

Anya cut in calmly. "Most of it is exaggerated."

Kitty looked offended. "Excuse me, I provide information."

"You provide drama," Anya corrected.

"Same thing."

"Not really."

Etasha shrugged. "Half of it is pointless anyway."

Meera laughed. "You guys are no fun."

"I'm practical," Anya said.

"I'm honest," Etasha added.

"And I'm entertaining," Kitty finished.

Meera looked at all three of them.

"…And I'm stuck with all of you."

🌿 Ending Beat

For a moment, no one said anything.

Just comfortable silence.

Wind passing lightly.

Random voices from far away.

Etasha tossed the last piece of grass aside.

"Anyway," she said, back to her usual tone, "I don't care about him."

Meera glanced at her.

Didn't argue.

Just smiled a little.

Because she knew—

Etasha cared.

Just not in a way she'd admit easily.

Kitty started talking again.

Anya listened quietly.

Etasha added blunt comments in between.

And Meera—

just sat there, watching it all,

feeling like this—

this chaos, this honesty, this mix of personalities—

was exactly where she belonged.🏠 Evening — Harsh's Place

The door opened—

and before Harsh could even say anything, Meera walked in like she owned the place.

"You took so long," she said.

"I opened the door in five seconds."

"Felt longer."

"That's a you problem."

She ignored him, already looking around. "What are we doing?"

"I thought you had a plan."

"I did."

"And?"

"I forgot."

He sighed. "Of course you did."

🍳 Kitchen — The "Cooking" Begins

Meera stood in the kitchen, staring at the ingredients like they personally offended her.

"What are we making?" she asked.

"You said you wanted to cook."

"I said we will cook," she corrected. "You're included."

"I regret agreeing to this."

"Too late."

She picked up a tomato.

"…Now what?"

Harsh looked at her. "You've never done this before, have you?"

"I have."

"When?"

"…In theory."

He almost smiled.

"Give it to me," he said, taking the knife.

Meera crossed her arms. "Wow. You don't trust me."

"I trust you to make a mess."

"That's rude."

"That's accurate."

A few minutes later—

Meera insisted on helping.

Which mostly meant:

Cutting things unevenly Almost dropping a bowl And arguing the entire time

"You're doing it wrong," Harsh said.

"There is no 'wrong' way."

"There is."

"You're just controlling."

"You're chaotic."

"Same thing."

"No, it's not."

She accidentally spilled a little flour.

They both paused.

Then looked at each other.

"…Don't," Harsh warned.

Too late.

Meera flicked a tiny bit of flour at him.

Silence.

"…Meera."

She grinned. "Yes?"

He reached for the flour—

She ran.

😂 Chaos Mode Activated

"Don't you dare—" she laughed, trying to escape.

He caught her wrist lightly, pulling her back.

A small cloud of flour ended up on her sleeve.

"Harsh!"

"You started it."

"That was a small one!"

"This is proportional response."

"That is not proportional!"

They both stopped after a second.

Breathing slightly faster.

Standing close.

Too close.

The moment shifted.

Just a little.

Meera looked at him, trying not to smile.

"You're annoying."

"You said that already."

"And I'll say it again."

"Go ahead."

She didn't.

Instead—

she just stayed there for a second longer.

🍽️ Finally Eating

Somehow—

they managed to finish cooking.

The result?

"…This doesn't look great," Meera admitted.

"It's edible," Harsh said.

"That's not reassuring."

They sat down anyway.

Meera took a bite.

Paused.

"…Okay, it's actually not bad."

"I told you."

"Don't get overconfident."

"Too late."

They ate slowly, talking in between.

Random things.

School.

Friends.

Nothing serious.

Just… easy.

🎬 After — Quiet, Soft Moments

Later, they moved to the couch.

Meera leaned back, clearly comfortable.

"I'm tired," she said.

"You didn't do anything."

"I did a lot."

"You made a mess."

"I added personality."

She shifted slightly—

then rested her head on his shoulder.

No hesitation.

Just natural.

Harsh didn't move.

Didn't comment.

Just stayed there.

After a few seconds—

"You're warm," she said.

"…Okay?"

"Just saying."

A small silence settled.

Not awkward.

Just calm.

Meera looked up at him.

"You know," she said softly, "today was nice."

He nodded slightly. "Yeah."

"No drama," she added.

"Rare."

"Very rare."

She smiled a little—

then closed her eyes again.

🌿 Ending Beat

The room was quiet.

Lights soft.

Half-finished plates on the table.

A little mess in the kitchen.

And in the middle of all that—

they sat there,

close,

comfortable,

not needing to say much.

Because sometimes—

it wasn't the big moments that mattered.

It was this—

small, messy, simple time together—

that meant the most.