The Journey Back & Unraveling Emotions
The next morning, as the group prepared to leave, Shristi's uncle approached Wick, curiosity evident in his eyes.
"I've heard about the fight," he said, crossing his arms. "How did you manage to take down all those men?"
Before Wick could respond, Shristi stepped forward, answering with pride in her voice. "Wick is a professional martial artist. One of the best in our college, actually."
Anuj's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, what? You never mentioned that!"
Shristi smirked. "Yeah, and remember when you were mocking him, challenging him to a fight? Turns out, the joke was actually on you."
Anuj scowled, but Wick simply chuckled, shaking his head. "It's nothing special."
Ignoring his modesty, Shristi turned toward his bike, swinging her leg over it with ease. Wick settled in front, and with a rev of the engine, they sped off, leaving the others behind.
---
The Journey Back
The open road stretched before them, the wind rushing past as they rode side by side with Nick. The journey was filled with lighthearted moments—Shristi playfully tapping Wick's shoulder to make him lose focus, Wick retaliating by swerving slightly to startle her, and Nick shaking his head at their antics.
At one point, they stopped for a short break at a roadside tea stall. As they sipped their drinks, Shristi looked around, enjoying the peaceful moment.
"I almost forgot how much I love road trips," she mused.
Wick glanced at her. "Yeah? Then we should do this more often."
Shristi smiled, but before she could reply, Nick cut in. "Yeah, but next time, let's make sure we don't have college responsibilities waiting for us."
After another few hours of riding, they finally reached their destination—the hostel. Wick pulled up in front of the girls' hostel and brought the bike to a smooth stop.
Shristi hopped off, stretching her legs. "That was fun."
Wick nodded. "Get some rest. We've got a lot to do tomorrow."
She lingered for a moment, watching as he and Nick rode off towards their flat. A strange warmth settled in her chest—something she couldn't quite place.
---
A Confession Among Friends
Later that night, in the girls' dormitory, the atmosphere was relaxed. Bhumi was out, leaving Annu, Shristi, Kritika, and Varsha alone in the room. They sat together, chatting idly, when Shristi suddenly spoke up.
"I think... I might be getting attracted to Wick."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then, Annu practically jumped from her seat, eyes wide with excitement. "Are you serious?! I mean, finally!"
Kritika grinned, nudging her. "Took you long enough."
But Varsha's expression was more measured, her voice cautious. "Too late, I guess."
Shristi frowned. "What do you mean?"
Varsha sighed. "Wick's feelings for you might have changed. He sees you as a friend now."
Annu's excitement dimmed slightly. "Wait… what? Why would you say that?"
Varsha hesitated before continuing. "Nick was worried about this too. Ever since Wick fell for Shristi, he's been calmer, more stable. But if his feelings changed… it might change him again."
Annu bit her lip. "That's… not good."
Shristi felt her heart sink. The glow that had lit up her face just moments ago slowly faded. Had she really missed her chance?
She forced a smile, pushing the thought aside. "It's fine. We're just friends, anyway."
But deep down, doubt lingered.
---
The Tournament Approaches
Despite her personal turmoil, training with Wick continued. He remained as serious as ever, pushing her to improve with every session. The looming sense of danger still surrounded them, and with only three weeks left until the League Competition, everyone was focused.
Excitement buzzed through the college as the principal made an important announcement.
"The old hostel, which has been out of use for a while, has now been fully renovated. Since we are hosting the tournament this year, the teams from other colleges will be staying there."
Within just a few days, the once-abandoned hostel began to fill up with students from rival colleges.
New faces. New competitors. New threats.
The atmosphere around the campus shifted. The League Competition was no longer just a tournament.
It was a battlefield waiting to unfold.
To be continued...