College Love

Chapter 1: College crushes..

Rocky's Energetic world 

The clock was ticking. Students surged into the college gates, and the watchman checked his watch—only a few minutes left before the bell. Far down the road, our hero, Rocky, sprinted towards the bus stop, his shoelaces untied, shirt buttons askew. He was our main protagonist, an 18-year-old bursting with energy, though a little short-tempered.

Rocky was, predictably, late for college. "Oh no, I'm really late!" he muttered, breathlessly. "If I'm late, they'll keep me outside the gate, and I'll miss classes too. Haha, those are just a ranker's worries, though. My only real tension is missing Ramya at the bus stop."

He finally arrived, panting. "I'm here, I'm here, I'm finally here! There she is, my crush. Anyone would fall for her. I've been trying to get here on time for the past two days, just for her. But my biggest problem? I play PUBG all night. Hehe."

A slow-motion introduction for Ramya. She began to turn, her movement fluid. Wooooo...

Just as she completed her turn, WHOOSH! The bus suddenly arrived and pulled away, carrying her with it.

"Man," Rocky groaned, "I ran all that way, and I can't even get a glimpse of her?"

Vicky appeared from behind him, looking exasperated. "Come on, we're getting late. I've already waited for you, and now we're really late." THUMP THUMP THUMP! They dashed for the next bus.

On the crowded bus, Rocky continued his lament. "She just left!"

"What?! You've only seen her for two days," Vicky scoffed. "How can you like her already?"

"That's just how it is, man, can't explain it," Rocky shrugged. "What's college life without girls and love?" Duh?!

The bus became even more packed. A rather large uncle standing next to Rocky shifted, turning his backside towards him. When the bus hit a speed breaker, THUMP! it jumped, BOING! and Rocky's face made unfortunate contact with the uncle's rear. SPLAT! PU-YEW! OOOF!

Rocky recoiled from the foul smell, and Vicky gagged too. But then, a distinct laugh rang out. HA HA HA!

"Who's that?" Rocky muttered, trying to peek around the uncle. Mutter Mutter Mutter! Rustle...

It was Sara, revealed as she laughed. "Hey, it's my second crush, Sara. She looks great with glasses. I want to see her without them, but she's cute with glasses too. She doesn't talk to many people. It'll take time to win her over, but it's worth it."

"Hey, hey, come on! She's leaving!" Rocky urged, nudging Vicky. "Uncle, move your ass, dude!"

Rocky tried to follow her, but by the time he reached the college gate, Sara had already passed through, and the watchman blocked his path.

"Hey, hey, she's leaving! Open the gate, dude!" Rocky pleaded, rattling the bars. Jiggle...

The watchman shushed him sternly. SHHHH! "Silence."

"WAAAH! Why, God, why? Why me...?" Rocky wailed dramatically. Wah hah hah!

Class and Crushes

Vicky was already settled on the second bench inside. Rocky, still overacting his sadness, flopped into a back seat. Even when Vicky called him forward, he didn't budge.

"Why are you sitting back there?" Vicky asked.

"I'm not in the mood to sit in the front," Rocky grumbled. "What does it matter where I sit? As long as I listen to the class."

During break time, they wandered around their section of classes.

"If you want to get to know her so much, you could just go inside her class, right?" Vicky suggested.

"It's tough, man. I don't know anyone in that class. I have to get to know someone slowly," Rocky replied.

In the principal's office on the other side of the college, the Principal was beaming as he listened to the college's advertisements on TV. The voice proudly announced: "1! 1! 1! 2! 2! 2! 3! 3! 3! All ranks are from Chayya Chayya College!" The principal loved it.

At that moment, Ramesh, the math teacher, walked in. He wasn't particularly good at math, but he excelled at grabbing the principal's attention. He’d arrived with a new strategy to promote their college: "There's a new museum or aquarium opening. Many people will come there, and I have a friend working there. We can go and showcase our college's talent!"

"Oh, that's a great plan! I love you, teacher!" the principal gushed, delighted.

The Aquarium Excursion

It was evening. Classes were over, but Rocky had been held back. He rushed downstairs, but Ramya and Sara had already left. Dejected, he saw Anjali approach from behind. She was Rocky's school friend, and they were very close. Rocky, Vicky, and Anjali had all attended the same school and were practically inseparable.

"Oh, it's you," Rocky mumbled, his voice dull.

"Who are you looking for? A girl?" Anjali teased.

"Yeah, I missed her," Rocky admitted.

"How could you not miss her?" Vicky chimed in, joining them. "They're in the topper's class, and they leave much earlier than us."

"Okay, let's go," Rocky sighed, accepting his fate.

"Which college are you joining?" Vicky asked Anjali, as they walked.

"I haven't decided yet," she replied.

"Oh, okay," Vicky said. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, we have an excursion tomorrow. At least come on time tomorrow; you'll have a chance to go with them."

"Oh, right!" Rocky exclaimed, a glimmer of hope returning.

The next day:

"You're late again?" Vicky deadpanned.

"Haha, I was late trying for chicken dinner in PUBG last night," Rocky chuckled sheepishly. "Anyway, where are they?"

"They've already left," Vicky stated.

"Noooooo!" Rocky roared, his shout echoing loudly.

They eventually reached the Aquarium.

The Teacher and Guide announced, "Everyone is not allowed to explore freely, so everyone should explore in groups."

"Oh, man...!" came the collective groan of sad, helpless students.

Rocky, however, saw an opportunity and slipped away without anyone noticing. "Cover me," he whispered to Vicky. "I need to look for her."

"Oh no, no, no! Don't leave me here!" Vicky pleaded. But Rocky was already THUMP THUMP THUMPING! away. Vicky's face, along with everyone else's, slumped in dejection as the teacher droned on about some obscure art piece.

Leaving Vicky behind, Rocky went on his solo quest for Ramya and Sara. He searched and searched, but it was no use. Neither of them was found. Rocky eventually found himself in a quiet, cool section of the aquarium, alone.

"I wonder what Vicky is doing," he mused.

Cut to Vicky: Hmph! The teacher was still going on about something utterly boring. Vicky's face was a mask of extreme boredom, mirroring all the other students around him.

Rocky stood near the mini whale tank. A whale made a sound. Whoooosh... The gentle hum made him feel a little calmer, a little happier. At that exact moment, Ramya's hand gently took his. Rocky hadn't noticed her approach, but she didn't let go. A wave of happiness washed over him. But then, the teacher and classmates appeared, Vicky among them. Ramya glanced back at them. Rocky realized in a flash that everyone would misunderstand, and he immediately pulled his hand away. SNAP!

He began to ramble, desperately trying to explain. "We were just looking at the fishes, nothing else! I don't know what happened suddenly! She was holding my hand, and I didn't know what to do, and then..."

Slap... POW!

Ramya slapped Rocky, her face flushed with anger. She'd clearly had enough. "Who do you think you are? A model, a big shot? You are an idiot! Nothing but a big, big idiot! Now go away!"

Rocky fell silent, a visible red mark quickly forming on his face. He walked away dully, then, in a sudden, comical turn, he darted back, hit Ramya on the head with his knuckles, and WHOOSH! ran off.

Rocky walked with a defeated slump. He spotted Anjali, and without a word, he rushed to her, hugging her tightly and bursting into tears. SOB SOB SOB! "My life is ruined! SNIF SNIF!"

Vicky arrived, looking a little worried, having searched for Rocky during lunch break. Anjali was now feeding Rocky like a small child, as he continued to cry dramatically.

"I was worried about where he was and how he was doing," Vicky observed. "But Anjali's here, so he's fine."

"Stop crying and eat," Anjali scolded gently. "The girl did this, now just sit and eat."

"Oh, my favorite!" Vicky exclaimed, delighted by the food. "You are the best, Anjali!"

"Yes, you are," Rocky sniffled, still crying. Then, oddly, he burst into laughter, "HA HA HA!" before dissolving back into tears. SOB SOB SOB! Sniff...

The Day After

The next morning, Rocky was noticeably subdued. He walked slowly, his usual boisterous energy gone. "I don't know how to face Ramya this time," he thought. "I should just give up hope on her."

Lost in thought, he reached the bus stop. Ramya was already there, waiting for the bus. Rocky went and stood next to her. Thinking differently this time, he asked, "Are you waiting for me?"

Ramya turned towards Rocky, beautifully, in slow motion. Wooooo... She turned and smiled sweetly. Hop! She then jumped, hit him on the head with her knuckles—knock!—and boarded the bus, leaving him. Whoosh!

Rocky was still in shock, Ugh! because she had hit him so fast. He had a big bump on his head. Ouch!

Cut to: Rocky reached college, still wincing from the bump. THUMP THUMP THUMP! Ouch... Ouch... Ouch...

Rocky was furious at Ramya. "Where is she?" he seethed. "This time I'll hit her so hard she'll get a big bump! Where is she? Where are you?"

He stormed towards Ramya's class door. But suddenly, someone embraced him from behind. Squeeze! He turned his head to see Sara. Rocky didn't understand anything and didn't know how to react, but a warmth spread through him.

After the hug, Sara stood shyly in front of him. "Sorry," she mumbled, fidgeting with her fingers. Tap Tap Tap! "They gave me a dare, so I hugged you."

Flashback: "Next, whoever comes through that gate, you have to hug them."

"And there's one more thing," Sara added, hesitating.

Flashback: "And kiss."

Sara leaned in and kissed Rocky. Muah! Rocky was enveloped in a new intoxication. He went around shaking the hands of those who'd given the dare, a goofy grin plastered on his face. He walked to class like he was floating. His whole body tingled. Tingle... Tingle...

Ramya watched the whole scene from her class. Clench... She felt a little pang of sadness seeing Rocky and Sara kiss.

But on the other hand, Rocky was overjoyed. He slithered happily to his place, his entire body buzzing with a newfound giddiness. Tingle... Tingle...

Anjali looked at him. "Hey? Are you okay, dude?"

"Hey," Rocky replied, barely noticing her, then his eyes widened. "Hey...! Sparkle... Sparkle... Sparkle... Finally, you're here?" He immediately hugged Anjali, his happiness now doubled. Snuggle... Snuggle... Snuggle...

"We three friends can enjoy together again!" he declared happily. Snuggle... Snuggle... Snuggle...

New Classes, Old Problems

Cut to: Exams were here. Hmph!

"Oh no...!" Rocky cried with a sad voice.

Cut to: After exams, came the class divisions. Hmph!

"Oh wow...! Damn my life," Rocky muttered, sinking into his seat with an even more saddened voice. Hmph!

Anjali had been promoted to a higher class, while his male friend, Vicky, was demoted to a lower class.

"Wow, happiness didn't even last a few days!" Rocky lamented. "And on top of that, I'm on the first bench, close to the teacher! Wow, God really hates me." Hmph!

The teacher hadn't arrived yet, and neither had most of the students. Rocky, having arrived early, felt like an idiot.

After some time, Sara arrived. She was late today, rushing in a hurry. Puff... Puff... Puff... But when she entered the class, she saw many people already there. Mutter... Mutter... Mutter... She felt shy and embarrassed. Um... She walked quickly to her place with her head down. Tap Tap Tap! Settle.

She didn't know that Rocky was sitting next to her. After sitting down, she looked to her side, and Rocky was there. "Haaaaaaah..."

Sara: "Oh, I'm so relieved. It's you."

Rocky kept shaking and jumping in his seat. Jiggle Jiggle Jiggle!

Rocky's internal monologue: "It seems like we're a match. She's saying okay to us!"

(Note: Usually, introverted people are a little comfortable with people they know, so she said that to Rocky. But Rocky, caught up in his fantasy, completely misunderstood.)

Even then, Rocky didn't care about any of that. Rocky just wanted to win over Sara.

Rocky: "Hey, from now on, we're benchmates. Okay...!"

Sara: "O-kay...!" she replied, a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Rocky: "Now we're benchmates. Then soulmates. Then we'll be together..........."

SLAM! A bag slammed down between both of them.

Rocky was abruptly interrupted by that action. ? ?

It was Ramya. She looked angry and flustered at Rocky. Tch!

Rocky couldn't understand any of this. ? ?

Ramya sat in the middle with a THUD! Plunk! She was clearly sitting there to divide Rocky and Sara, and to interrupt them. And she was absolutely pissed at Rocky.

Rocky was shocked, like Tom from the cartoons, wondering what was happening.

Ramya: "My place is here too."

Rocky: "She still seems angry. Ha, still angry?"

Ramya looked slowly, blinking her eyes. She reached behind Rocky's head, pulling him closer as if to kiss. Mmm... Sara also watched curiously from the side.

Sara: "What's going on?"

As Ramya slowly came closer for the kiss, Rocky also expected the same. He leaned forward for the kiss, muttering, "Mmmmm..."

Suddenly, BONK! Rocky's head hit the bench with a loud thud. That was it. Uh!

Sara was shocked.

Sssss... Smoke seemed to waft from Rocky's head. Rocky was still lying unconscious on the bench, like Tom.

Rocky (with a very sad and pitiful voice): "Why did you hit me? What's wrong with you?" Whoa!

Sara's internal monologue: "Rocky can't even speak properly." (She looked at Rocky, feeling very sorry for him.)

Now she looked at Ramya and thought: Is she a monster? (She was scared of Ramya.)

The camera zoomed in on Ramya's face. Ramya smiled shyly, pleased that she was sitting with Rocky now. Heh heh heh!

The End. Story to be continued in the next episode.