School Redux

Forging Bonds

The view from the top was really very beautiful. The long, arduous trek up the mountain was absolutely worth the sight.

"It's really beautiful." Dawa inhaled the fresh and cold air, feeling very content. He had to say that he had never come to this place, whether for fun or for work. It was an exquisite place.

Neeraj shrugged his shoulders, it was beautiful, but he had seen better. But it was his first time to travel with his classmates and he had to admit that it was a completely different experience.

"Ah, I'm dying from fatigue." Samir was completely soaked in sweat and his face was all red and puffed up. He was never going for a hike ever again in his life.

Despite Nischal's own physical fitness, the weight of supporting Samir's faltering steps weighed heavily upon him. He was panting and wiping his sweat on his forehead, he collapsed over Dawa.

"Nischal, there is a selfie stone here." Dawa was struggling as he steadied the body that completely let go of his own weight like a dead body and enticed him to let go of him.

Nischal's eyes lit up, and he instantly forgot about his tiredness. He jumped up suddenly and pulled Samir, who was sitting on the ground. "Come on, let's take pictures."

Samir refused to budge as Nischal dragged Samir and ended up lying on the ground with his arm still in his friend's hand. Why should he carry the weight of expectations he shouldn't have at his age ? He closed his eyes and pretended to be dead.

"Are they always like this?" Neeraj slowly leaned on Dawa and relaxed his weight. He didn't want to sit on the ground, and he was feeling way too lazy to stand up straight. He felt that he could do such actions to Dawa after all. They are very familiar now, aren't they?

"They have always been like this," Dawa confirmed with a chuckle, mirroring Neeraj's relaxed posture. He suddenly sat down on the ground, feeling a little playful.

Neeraj straightened his legs to maintain his balance, but it was too late. And he found himself plopped unceremoniously into Dawa's lap.

Neeraj was so shocked that he even forgot to get up. He couldn't recall ever being in such close proximity to anyone, not even his own mother, let alone Dawa.

Neeraj's cheeks suddenly burned bright red. His embarrassment was evident as his face and neck flushed crimson, creating a stark contrast against his normally composed demeanor.

Dawa pulled Neeraj, enclosing his arms around him. His head leaned against the red neck, and he couldn't help but laugh. How could anyone be so cute?

Dawa didn't perceive anything awry with his posture. He reasoned that girls frequently strolled hand in hand to the bathroom, so keeping a slight distance felt entirely natural. However, for Neeraj, this closeness seemed like a clear path to public death.

Neeraj took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart as he felt the chest he was leaning against vibrating with laughter.

Dawa released Neeraj, feeling him struggling to get out of his arms. He was about to playfully tease his thin-skinned companion when he was left speechless by the sight of Neeraj darting away in a flash, escaping from him with surprising speed.

Nischal gave up, he couldn't get Samir to stand up at all. It seemed like his friend had transformed into a boneless entity, defying all attempts to stand. He remembered another one who was free to take pictures with him. He turned his head to search for Dawa and found him sitting alone, lost in thoughts.

"Where's Neeraj?" he asked in a puzzled tone.

Dawa sighed, equally puzzled. "He ran away." It's not like he had done something unacceptable to run away from him. It was just a hug.

Nischal's eyes widened in astonishment as he stared at him. "What did you do?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Dawa stood up and shook off the grass clippings, rolling his eyes at Nischal's apparent overreaction. Without bothering to answer, he simply walked away, leaving Nischal still staring after him, puzzled and bewildered.

Dawa scanned the surroundings, his gaze darting in search of the elusive figure. Suddenly, a hand firmly grasped Dawa's arm, jolting him out of his thoughts. His attention snapped to the owner of the hand, his gaze locking onto the person.

"Who are you looking for?" Neeraj mumbled, his face back to normal. He controlled his expression, not showing the displeasure he felt when he thought that he had been forgotten.

"You." Dawa looked at Neeraj's calm but stiff face and felt that his heart tickled a little, as if a feather had lightly grazed it, leaving behind a sense of restlessness.

"Who did you think I was looking for?" Dawa raised an eyebrow teasingly as he reached out, gently catching Neeraj's hand.

Neeraj was silent for a moment. He was a little repulsive and maybe just a tiny bit jealous.

Dawa waited for him patiently, but he didn't get to hear Neeraj's answer. He saw his stubborn expression, refusing to answer him. "Huh?" Dawa pressed for the answer.

"For your friends." With a soft exhale, Neeraj finally spoke. He had always seen him together with his two friends, and he didn't think that he was more important than them.

As Dawa drew nearer to Neeraj's face, he couldn't help but notice the calm exterior that masked the turmoil within Neeraj's eyes. It made him realize it was bothering Neeraj a lot. He suddenly wanted to make it clear to him about what he thought. "Aren't you my friend too?"

".........."

"Dawa"

"Neeraj"

"The food is ready. Let's eat". Samir and Nischal waved at them with plates already full of food.

Dawa nodded and gently pulled Neeraj along with him.

Neeraj discreetly released a silent sigh of relief as he obediently followed Dawa. Though their hands were clasped together, he hesitated to withdraw his own, choosing instead to avert his gaze elsewhere.

After having their full, they were ready to explore. They ventured forth. Time seemed to slip away unnoticed, the day unfolding in a series of captivating moments.

From wandering through lush forests to ascending picturesque hills, and pausing to admire the tranquil beauty of ancient temples, each experience added a layer of richness to their shared adventure.

They were comfortable and much more familiar with each other at the end of the day.

Dawa borrowed the cell phone from Nischal and looked at the pictures they had taken together. This memory will definitely be remembered by him for a long time. His eyes stopped on the snapshot where all four of them were striking a comical pose and a warm smile settled on his lips.

He had always been surrounded by his friends in school, and he was quite popular among his classmates. Despite that, he always had a sense of disconnection lingering beneath the surface. It was a paradoxical feeling, where the company of others only served to highlight his solitude.

It was as if he was trapped behind a glass wall, able to see and be seen, but never truly touched by the warmth of human connection.

Maybe it was his existential crisis, or maybe he was just depressed. It was an unknown feeling. He even found it strange that he would feel something like that when everything was good in his life.

He was finally able to get rid of that state after high school, but he never had that much of a desire to make new friends. And now he is thankful for returning to this time. The once lost time felt so precious when he found it again.

He observed Nischal's enthusiastic dancing, pulling Samir along with him amidst the laughter of their classmates. Sensing their gaze, he quickly shut his eyes, feigning sleep. Dancing wasn't his forte, and he had no interest in mimicking their comedic antics.

He leaned against Neeraj, who was able to sleep peacefully in that noise, and smiled. He will definitely make them a part of his life this time.