-7-

Maayi didn't get a reply from the other end of the phone, but somehow she could feel the exact rush of the emotions that only certain someone could make her feel.

"Rayam?" She asked doubtfully.

"Hello, Maayi."

Maayi was surprised by his call and was confused at the same time on the fact that how he found her number which she never gave him before.

"How are you? How do you feel now? Are you alright? Did you go to the hospital for the check-up?" He asked a bunch of questions in a single breath.

"Yeah I went to the hospital and it does hurt a little, but I am fine now. Thank you for asking me. But I have a doubt?"

"What doubt?"

"How did you get my number? I never thought that you will be calling me." Maayi said still unable to believe the truth that Rayam called her.

"We are desk mates and today I was alone which made me realize that I missed you more than I expected." He replied.

Maayi couldn't believe her ears, but still mustered her courage to speak without stutter, so that; he will not know how he is affecting her.

"Oh, you missed me. I will come to college tomorrow so don't worry." She said she is okay when talking to him so that he won't find out how nervous she is right now.

"OK. I will be waiting for you my one and only desk mate." He said playfully.

This reply made Maayi relax a bit.

"OK" She replied and hung up.

When Maayi San was getting ready to go to college the next day, her mother came and asked her to not go to college for a few days and take a rest. But she said that she won't want to miss the classes. But the real reason was that somehow she felt like the day will be very interesting if she goes to college.

Her friends were waiting for her at their usual meeting place. The three of them went to college and Maayi was lightly limping on her way to the college. They reached college and the first person they saw was Rayam. He saw them as well. He smiled looking at Maayi and said to her.

"Hi"

She replied to him with a heart-warming smile as well. They both went to their class while their friends staring at them with a surprised look on their faces.

His friends came to him and asked him to accompany them. He followed and as they got out of the class they asked him so many questions.

"What happened to you? What is wrong with you, you were never like this? You have never shown any interest in any girls before, but why is it different when it comes to Maayi San? You are constantly talking to her, sitting next to her, and you even gave her that stud back? What is going on, Rayam?"

"It's nothing. It feels different when it comes to her. She is not like other girls, she is different. Maayi San is very silent, and she has a calm personality. She won't wear makeup such as the other girls. In general, she is a very good girl." Rayam said.

"EH!!! Very good girl!!! Who are you? Where is the real Rayam?" Tan responded.

"Why do you have a soft corner for her?" Another one asked.

"I don't know. I am going back to the class. Are you coming or not?" Rayam deliberately avoided the question.

He went back to the classroom and sat beside her. His friends also came back. They saw Rayam sitting beside Maayi with a very happy look.

"Look Tan, yesterday Rayam was very gloomy. He didn't even come to the class. But today he became an entirely different person. He looks very happy." One of them said.

Tan looked at Rayam, and he couldn't trust his eyes anymore. Rayam never ever had a smile like that on his face. Tan could really see the changes befall Rayam on these few days after he ran into Maayi.

Erina, one of Sana's friends heard what Rayam's friends were saying and looked at Rayam to confirm if it is true or not. Seeing him smiling she went straight away to Sana and told her about what she heard. Hearing that Sana looked at Rayam and saw him smiling. She has never seen him smile like that before and knowing that she is not the reason for his smile made her even more jealous of Maayi.

The boring lecture started after the teacher came and it went on for a few hours. When it was time for lunch break Naho came and asked Suthomi and Yaami to go to the music club for a meeting.

"Maayi, we both have a meeting in the music club now, so we can't have lunch together. You go first and have lunch." Suthomi said and both Suthomi and Yaami went out.

Maayi walked towards the canteen alone, while Rayam and Tan walking behind her at a distance. Tan was talking but Rayam was not listening to him, but he was completely concentrated on Maayi. She entered the canteen and bought her lunch then went straight to the table where she and her friends always sit. Sana and her friends were sitting in front of Maayi's table. Rayam and Tan bought their lunch. Tan looked around to find a seat then Rayam said looking over to Maayi.

"Tan let's sit with Maayi"

Tan agreed with a teasing smile. Rayam ignored it as usual.

Sana saw them walking towards her table she thought they were going to sit with her, so she made some space for them to sit. However, both of them walked past her and sat with Maayi.

Maayi wasn't expecting him to sit with her but it didn't surprise her as always. She has already been used to Rayam's this kind of behavior now. Still, she felt some kind of happiness too.

"Maayi, where is Suthomi and Yaami? Last time it was you who was missing and now it is them." Tan started the conversation because of the awkward silence between them.

"They went to music club for a meeting."

"Oh OK great."

Tan said to Maayi then looked at Rayam then whispered.

"Right Rayam?"

"SHUT UP"

He looked at Tan and said. Tan instantly obeyed him. The three of them had the rest of their lunch in silence.

When Rayam and Tan walked past Sana, she became surprised and checked where they were going. Seeing them sitting with Maayi made her lose her appetite. She stood from her seat and went out of the canteen.

The last class of the day was the second last hour and after an hour of class, they can go home. Before the last hour started, Maayi San went to the teachers' room. When she came back she saw Rayam standing a few meters from their classroom.

Why is he standing there alone? It is not a break time too? She thought to herself and walked towards him.

"Are you not going to attend the last hour class? The teacher will arrive soon." She said to him.

"No, I am not going to attend it, and not only me but you also not going to attend it." He said and grabbed her hand, then started to run as far as from their classroom.