The Chocolate Boy

Chapter 7 - MI: Mission Impression - The Announcement

Nutrition. The subject I hated the most.

On the first day, when I got to the class after Economics, the Chemistry people were already there. By the time I had entered, all the other students had picked their partners for practicals and the only one left was You-Know-Who.

"Why do I always end up with you?" I had snapped quite angrily at him. It was the time when his mere presence used to annoy me.

"Because we were meant to be together. And yeah, I do love the way you lift your eyebrow."

"Gay much?"

He had had that ROFL moment the reason for which I had only realized once he had come out to me last week.

I still wonder how I could remain oblivious to the fact which the whole class had known by then.

That's one of the major drawbacks of being socially awkward I guess.

And from that day, I had been immensely grateful to Ishan for all the practical classes. Don't you guys breathe a word of that to him!

But I'm damn sure if I'd been left on my own, none of the dishes that the teacher gave us to make, would have been edible. And the fact that we were the only ones to get 5 out of 5 stars in all the practicals made us a subject of jealousy among all the girls.

Believe me when I say that we were the only boys to take up Nutrition instead of Physics.

"Tuhin," Ishan said in a whisper.

"Hm?"

"Pay attention!" he gestured at the teacher.

"Hm. Do I look like I care to know about Carbohydrates and Proteins and what not?" Though I said that, I turned at the teacher after receiving a glare from my new found 'friend'.

"Now coming to your project for the Half Yearlies-"

"Nice timing," I grinned to myself.

"-You know you have 20 marks there and I've been thinking of giving you something interesting to do. Ishan, why don't you and Tuhin come and sit in the front? The counter is empty."

Ishan looked at me for confirmation. Our counter beside the window had been a strategic location for my claustrophobia. Though this room was spacious enough, Ishan did not want to take a chance.

I nodded after taking a look at my watch. Only 15 more minutes were left. I could surely manage that.

But what has a project got to do with me and Ishan being at the front of the class? Freaking weird!

As we moved up, the teacher, Mrs. Ghosh, gushed in a low voice, "I never thought I'd get the chance to teach boys in my lifetime. Nobody takes Nutrition, except the girls. This year is so special for me!"

Being the teacher's pet, Ishan flashed her a brilliant smile while I huffed a sigh and the girls around us started laughing.

So much attention. I can't take this.

My heartbeat rate built up. Maybe shifting my place was a wrong decision.

"Okay, so class, coming back to what I was saying. Now the interesting part is young ladies, you have to prepare something to impress the two guys here. And you, my dear young men, have to impress the girls here with just one preparation."

How weirder could this class get? What's with impressing girls and boys?

She dramatically waved her hands.

"Just one preparation and they have to be impressed. Take this as a challenge. Who knows, maybe the way to your love-of-your-life's heart is through his or her stomach?" she said with a wink. "I can't wait to see my students bonding over cooking!"

So much for an interesting project. Such a lovesick teacher! Someone hit her hard and make her see some sense!

I couldn't help but notice the girls become a tad bit more hopeful.

"Looks like your fanclub is ready to impress you," I chuckled.

"I'll just give them all the highest marks. It's already a disappointment for them that they couldn't get a piece of this!" he gestured at himself and winked.

"You're so full of yourself!" I nudged him lightly. "Maybe they are planning to turn you straight. Or bi at the most."

"Huh! I've got no time for girls. Not interested at all!" he said with his nose scrunched up while I looked at him with my eyebrow lifted and a half-amused smirk on my face. This expression was common with me. Probably second in place after my signature deadpan.

But now, I could hear the girls gossiping amongst themselves. Looking at the expression on Ishan's face, I knew that he was also listening to them.

"-but Ishan is You-Know-What."

"Yeah, can we like, you know, turn him back?"

"If not him, then Tuhin's the only one left."

"He is so rude and mean! I can't believe we have to cook to impress him!"

"But you've got to admit, he's got the looks."

"And muscles too, you should've looked at his biceps when he stretches."

"How did you notice all that about him?"

"I've been watching him since the first day at school. Whenever he lifts his arms, the sleeves are pulled back a little. I saw him in his cricket practices too. He has this I'm-a-bad-boy-don't-mess-with-me aura about him which I absolutely love -"

And I shut out their conversation forcefully.

Ishan was giggling at my horrified expression. Who knew that the girls were secretly watching me all the time? That's actually so creepy!

"Got a fan club yourself, I see. You didn't even bother to let me know?"

"Shut up! I'm scarred for my whole life!"

"Hey! Look at that bunch, definitely checking you out."

I turned and at once a group of girls ducked their heads behind the counters and a furious giggle was heard.

"Now now students, I know you all are excited, given all the flushed faces and blabbering mouths, but remember the deadline. You have to bring your preparations on next Friday. You're getting a week in between, discuss with your partners, meet up in any one of your houses, cook it, bring it to school, and for garnishing and presentation, you'll be given 15 minutes in the class. Okay? Is everything clear? And yeah, don't forget to bring your own plate, spoon, and fork. Boys, whatever dish you are preparing, make it a decent amount. You'll have at least 10 hungry mouths waiting for you."

I frowned. Didn't she realize how wrong she sounded? Stupid teacher!

***

"So what did you suddenly do in the Nutrition period today that all my girlfriends have started gushing on you?"

"Why? Haven't your 'girlfriends' told you?" I said, making quotes in the air while trying to solve a Statistics problem.

"Something about impressing you. I don't understand. One moment, they hate you for your awesome hospitality and gentlemanly attitude, and the very next moment they are fawning over you and bombarding me with questions like what you like to eat, what's your favorite color, and the questions got even more personal!" she stared at the ceiling.

"Like?"

"You wouldn't want to hear those. The most PG one was whether you have a girlfriend or ever had one."

"Freaks."

"That was my reaction too. So what happened today?"

I told her about the Nutri project and soon enough, she was holding on to her stomach while laughing her head off.

"What are you two planning to do?"

"Not a damn bit of idea. I'd better leave it all on Ishan."

"I wonder if he'd even let you lay a hand on the dish. The way you mess up every time in the practicals!"

I looked at her in disbelief!

"Who told you that?"

Please, I didn't want to deal with any more stalkers.

"Ishan, of course. Who else are you partners with?"

Right, Ishan.

Taylor Swift had to interrupt our brother-sister moment.

"Got a long list of ex-lovers,

They'll tell you I'm insane..."

My sister pulled out her cell from her jeans pocket. Nobody else in our house had such an incredible taste in music as hers. Note the sarcasm, fellas.

"I've got a blank space, baby

And I'll write your name."

"My God! Just pick it up! She's driving me insane!"

"This is worth watching. Look, who called," she said with an amused expression flashing the phone screen before my eyes.

Ishan.

"Crap!"

"Receive it. I know it's yours."

"He would've called in my phone."

"I doubt if you even remember your number let alone give him that," she rolled her eyes and received the call.

Well, she had a point there. I never remembered my number.

Tuhina thrust the phone towards me and giggled.

"I told you."

I made a face at her and took the phone.

"Hello?"

"FRIENDS EXCHANGE NUMBERS, YOU FOOL! HOW WOULD I HAVE CONTACTED YOU IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SISTER WHO HAS A f*******: ACCOUNT AND REMEMBERS TO EXCHANGE NUMBERS?"

I had to hold the phone at an arm's length.

"You never asked for it."

"I didn't, huh? That's true, I forgot."

Tuhina rolled on my bed, roaring with laughter.

Yep, he was so loud that even she could hear him from my bed. Just imagine my state.

"I swear, Ishan, if you shout once more like that, I'll cut off your vocal chord."

"Gee, no thanks. I don't want my sweet, attractive voice to disappear just like that."

"Then you might as well stop talking rubbish and come straight to the point."

"LISTEN, MR ATTITUDE, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ORDER ME, OKAY? I'M NOT SOMEONE FOR YOU TO ORDER AROUND!"

"Ishan, this is the last time I'm warning you."

"Yeah, okay, fine," he cleared his throat. "Come over to my house for discussing the Nutri project tomorrow. Don't bring a knife, please. I still want my vocal chord intact. Oh wait, there are knives in my house too. What if you just decide to attack me with one? I have to hide them from your sight. Are you coming tomorrow? Are you free?"

S.O. A.N.N.O.Y.I.N.G.

"Yeah. Saturday, right? I have practice in the morning. At 11 maybe?"

"Perrrrfect."

"Stop that."

"What?"

"Stop annoying me."

"Okay, just end the call," he chuckled.

"Right. Hey, your address?"

"I'll pick you up."

"You know my house?"

"Yup."

"How?"

"We're going to meet tomorrow, Tuhin. I'll tell you the details then, maybe?"

"Oh, whatever. Right, yeah bye."

I tapped the end button before he could say anything else. As I turned to give the phone back to Tuhina, I saw her looking at me with a mischievous smile.

"What?"

"Nothing," she shook her head and took the phone from my hand.

She laid down on my bed again, staring up at the ceiling.

"You two are such a.....thing. It's cute!"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm straight, Tuhina."

"Whom are you convincing?"

"WHAT?"

Tuhina sat up in a flash and hurriedly got up to leave, her eyes widening in horror.

"Nothing. Study....just study. I'll...I'll just...be on my way," and she left my room.

Girls! Pfft, I'd never understood them.