He loved me first

"the hello that changed everything"

"Some love stories start with a look. theirs started with a word."

It was a night like any other. The streets were half-asleep, streetlights flickering like they couldn’t decide if they wanted to stay on or quit. Crickets sang. The wind whispered secrets. And two girls walked under the stars like the world belonged to them.

Then it happened. They turned the corner by the old bookstore. And a boy walked past.

Hoodie up. Head down. Earbuds in. Not interested. Not smiling. Just walking.

Aarav.

He didn’t believe in love. Didn’t trust girls. He didn’t even trust fate. He was just out for air, alone, like always.

And then…

“Hello?”

She said it. Soft. Sweet. Just that—hello—to someone else, not even to him. A casual thing. A harmless word.

But to Aarav?

It destroyed him.

“That’s the one,” he thought. “That’s her.”

They sat on the edge of the curb, sharing a packet of chips, talking some random sh*t

From across the street, Aarav watched. Not creepy. Not planned. He just… couldn’t walk away.

Aarav’s POV

“I didn’t see her face. I didn’t need to. That voice? It wrecked me.

I didn’t believe in love. But in that second…

I believed in her.

And that was worse.”

Then came the shift.

Rehaan. A walking problem.

He was already arguing with Nyra, loud and petty, like always. “I said it wasn’t about you!” he barked. “And I said stop pretending like you care about anyone but your mirror,” Nyra shot back.

Zara sighed, stepping between them. Calm. Cool. graceful.

“Okay, enough. You’re both being dramatic.” Nyra folded her arms. “I’m not talking to him anymore.” Rehaan scoffed. “Whatever, man. She’s crazy.” “Rehaan,” Zara said, gentle but firm, “you need to stop picking fights just because you’re bored. And Nyra, please don’t let him mess with your mood.”

The tone of her voice? Soft as honey, strong as steel.

Rehaan muttered something under his breath and walked away.

Nyra shook her head, clearly still pissed. “I’m going home before I punch someone.” “Call me when you reach,” Zara said softly. “Don’t let any dumbass ruin your vibe,” Nyra added, squeezing Zara’s hand before storming off.

And then there was silence.

“If only she knew that one ‘hello’ would change everything… would she still have said it?”