Chapter 2
The Seat No One Takes
The silence didn't last long.
It never does in a classroom.
The moment the teacher turned back to the board, the whispers began—soft at first, then spreading like something contagious.
Bela could feel it.
Eyes.
Too many of them.
On her.
On him.
On the empty space that was never supposed to be filled.
---
"Did she seriously sit there?" someone whispered from behind.
"She's new, she doesn't know…"
"No one sits with him."
"Let's see how long she lasts."
A quiet chuckle followed.
---
Bela didn't turn around.
Didn't react.
She simply opened her notebook, her fingers steady despite the noise around her.
But beside her—
Nothing.
No movement.
No reaction.
No acknowledgment.
Vihaan sat exactly the same way, leaning back slightly, gaze fixed somewhere beyond the classroom window, as if none of this concerned him.
As if she didn't exist.
---
The teacher's voice filled the room again, explaining something written across the board.
Equations.
Formulas.
Things Bela would normally focus on.
But today—
Her attention drifted.
Not to the whispers.
Not to the lesson.
But to the silence beside her.
---
It was strange.
The entire class was loud, alive, restless.
And yet…
The space next to her felt like a completely different world.
Still.
Cold.
Untouchable.
---
She glanced at him.
Just once.
---
His jaw was slightly clenched. Eyes distant. There was something in his expression—something heavy—but controlled.
Like he had learned how to lock everything inside.
---
Bela looked away quickly.
Not out of fear.
But because it felt like she had seen something she wasn't supposed to.
---
The bell rang.
Loud.
Sharp.
Breaking whatever invisible tension had settled in the room.
---
Students immediately got up, voices rising, chairs scraping against the floor.
But Bela stayed seated for a moment.
Collecting herself.
Breathing.
---
"Hey."
The voice came suddenly.
Close.
Too close.
---
She turned.
A girl stood beside her desk, arms crossed, expression sharp and unimpressed.
Perfect hair. Perfect posture. The kind of confidence that didn't ask for attention—it demanded it.
---
"You're new, right?" the girl said.
Bela nodded slightly. "Yeah."
The girl's eyes flickered briefly toward Vihaan… then back to her.
"You should change your seat."
---
Bela blinked.
"Why?"
---
A small laugh escaped the girl, but there was no humor in it.
"Because that seat isn't for people like you."
---
People like you.
Bela didn't ask what that meant.
---
"I'm fine here," she replied calmly.
---
The girl's expression hardened.
"You won't be."
---
A pause.
Then—
"Just so you know," she added, leaning slightly closer, "he doesn't like people around him."
---
Bela glanced at Vihaan.
He hadn't moved.
Hadn't reacted.
Hadn't even looked at them.
---
"Then he can tell me that himself," Bela said quietly.
---
For a second—
Something flickered across the girl's face.
Surprise?
Annoyance?
Maybe both.
---
"Suit yourself," she said, straightening up. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
---
She walked away.
But not before throwing one last glance at Bela.
One that didn't feel friendly at all.
---
"Who was that?" Bela asked softly, mostly to herself.
---
"She thinks she owns the class."
---
Bela turned again.
A boy stood a few steps away, hands casually in his pockets, watching the scene like it was something familiar.
---
"I'm Samar," he added.
---
"Bela."
---
He nodded toward Vihaan. "And that… is the worst seat in the school."
---
Bela almost smiled.
"Doesn't look that bad."
---
Samar let out a small breath, somewhere between amusement and disbelief.
"Yeah… that's what everyone thinks at first."
---
"Why? What's wrong with him?"
---
Samar didn't answer immediately.
His eyes shifted briefly toward Vihaan.
Then back to her.
---
"Nothing," he said finally.
"Or maybe… too many things."
---
Before Bela could ask more, Samar stepped back slightly.
"You'll figure it out," he added.
"And when you do… you'll probably leave that seat."
---
He walked away.
Leaving her with more questions than answers.
---
The classroom slowly emptied.
Students leaving in groups, voices fading into the corridor.
---
Bela packed her things quietly.
For a moment, she considered standing up.
Moving.
Choosing a different seat for the next class.
---
It would be easier.
---
But then—
A small thought crossed her mind.
---
If everyone leaves… doesn't that mean he's always alone?
---
She glanced at him again.
Still the same.
Still distant.
Still untouched by everything around him.
---
Bela stood up.
Slung her bag over her shoulder.
Paused.
---
"…Is it really that bad?" she asked.
---
It wasn't loud.
Barely above a whisper.
But in the empty classroom…
It was enough.
---
For the first time—
Vihaan reacted.
---
His eyes shifted.
Slowly.
Landing on her.
---
There it was again.
That look.
Cold. Sharp. Unreadable.
---
For a second, neither of them spoke.
---
Then—
"Yeah."
---
Just one word.
Low. Flat.
Final.
---
Bela held his gaze for a moment longer.
Then nodded slightly.
---
"Okay."
---
And walked out.
---
Behind her—
The classroom fell silent again.
---
But something had changed.
Just slightly.
Almost unnoticeable.
---
For the first time in a long time…
Vihaan didn't feel alone.