Riya had started noticing something strange about herself.
Every morning she found herself looking toward the classroom door, waiting to see Lakshith walk in.
Even when he annoyed her, even when he teased her, she somehow wanted to see him every day.
She didn't know what to call that feeling.
Back in 2017, words like "crush" weren't something children around her talked about.
It was just a quiet feeling
she couldn't explain.
Riya was so happy that the children's day was approaching...
Children's Day had always been her favorite celebration at school.
The day usually began with dance dramas and performances in the auditorium.
After that, students were free to roam around the campus, visit stalls, buy snacks, play games, and enjoy the day without classes.
Riya had been excited about it for weeks.
But the night before the celebration, things went terribly wrong.
She suddenly developed a fever and severe food poisoning.
From the evening itself she had been vomiting repeatedly.
Her parents told her not to
go to school the next day.
For a moment,
Riya considered staying home.
But her excitement refused to fade.
The next morning, she forced herself out of bed.
Her parents convinced her not to go as she was already exhausted but her excitement to enjoy children's day and see lakshith surpassed everything
Even before she could brush her teeth, she ran to the sink again and threw up.
Her body felt weak and exhausted.
Still, she slowly changed into the not too bright but little dark orange frock she had received for Diwali.
The dress had delicate golden embroidery that shimmered
softly in the light.
By the time she reached school at 9:00 a.m., the programs had already started.
She quietly slipped into her class section and sat down with the others.
Her eyes immediately searched the crowd.
Lakshith.
But he wasn't there.
Riya felt an unexpected wave of disappointment.
Maybe he didn't come today, she thought sadly.
After the performances ended, all students returned to their classrooms for attendance.
Riya sat in her usual seat, explaining to one of her friends how sick she had been.
"I had fever and food poisoning," she said quietly.
"I kept vomiting since yesterday."
Just as she finished speaking, the classroom door opened.
Lakshith walked in.
For a moment, both of them froze.
He was wearing a same coloured orange shirt.
The exact same color as Riya's dress.
The class noticed immediately.
"Ooooh!" several
students teased loudly.
"Look! They're wearing the same color!"
Riya's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.
Lakshith raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You copied my shirt."
Riya glared at him. "Excuse me? You copied my dress!"
Their argument made
the entire class laugh.
After attendance, students rushed out to explore the stalls.
Riya and her friends walked around the campus, buying snacks and small items from the colorful stalls.
Despite her fever, she tried to enjoy the moment.
By lunchtime everyone returned to the classroom.
Lakshith wasn't there.
Riya opened her lunchbox and tried to eat, but after two small bites her stomach twisted painfully.
She quickly covered her mouth and ran toward the restroom.
After vomiting again, she washed her face and slowly walked back to the classroom.
When she entered, she noticed Lakshith sitting at his desk.
She quietly took her seat.
For a moment, she looked down at her orange dress… then glanced at his orange shirt.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Inside, she felt strangely happy.
Lakshith noticed she looked weak.
Trying to lighten the mood, he began teasing her again.
"You look like you're about to faint," he joked.
One of Riya's friends misunderstood his teasing and became angry.
"I'm going to complain to the teacher!" she said.
Riya quickly stopped her.
"It's fine," she said softly.
After a while, senior students organized a few games for everyone in the playground.
The class joined the activities, laughing and playing until the final bell rang.
At 3:45 p.m., the celebration ended.
That evening, as Riya returned home and lay on her bed, her mind felt unusually restless.
Why had she been so happy when she saw him?
Why had she come to school even when she was sick?
Why did his teasing not bother her anymore?
As the only child in her family, Riya had always been more mature than most children her age.
She understood the difference between liking someone and disliking them.
But this feeling… was something new.
Staring at the ceiling, she whispered quietly to herself.
"What should I do now…?"