Story
THE GIRL I NEVER TOLD
Chapter 1 — A True Love Story
A manga-style retelling of Ragul's school memories, his silent feelings, and the unexpected
reunion that happened years later.
The Beginning
It all began when I was studying in the 11th standard.
There was a girl in my class whom I had known since the 9th standard. She had always
been someone familiar to me, but I had never thought of her in a romantic way.
She was also close to one of my female childhood friends, and she often sat near my
childhood friend in class.
But somewhere during my 11th-standard days, something inside me began to change.
I started developing feelings for her.
I never told her. I never confessed. I simply kept those feelings quietly inside my heart.
The Proposals
During that time, she started receiving proposals from boys from other departments and
even from some boys in our own class.
Every time I heard that someone had proposed to her, I would silently pray:
A Secret Prayer
“Please... don't accept anyone's proposal.”
I didn't have the courage to tell her how I felt. So instead, I kept loving her silently.
The Days Before Everything Changed
Then, in the middle of 11th standard, something unexpected happened.
COVID-19 began.
School suddenly stopped. Everything changed.
And I realized something I had never understood before.
I missed her. A lot.
Studying Together During COVID
During the lockdown, my female childhood friend and I used to study together at her
house. Since I didn't have a mobile phone and she didn't have a laptop, we shared our
devices to complete homework, prepare for class tests, and continue our studies.
My childhood friend would often call the girl. They would talk for a long time.
I would sit nearby, quietly listening to their conversations.
I didn't say much. I was just happy to hear her voice.
The First Conversation
Then, one day, something happened that I had never expected.
My female childhood friend suddenly handed her mobile phone to me.
The Moment I Froze
“Talk to her.”
That one sentence was enough to make me freeze.
My heart started beating faster.
I had barely spoken to any girl during my school days. Other than my female childhood
friend, I wasn't comfortable talking to girls at all.
And now... I was suddenly holding the phone.
She was on the other side.
My hands felt different. My heartbeat became louder. It was a feeling I had never
experienced before.
She asked me:
“What are you doing?”
I somehow managed to answer her.
“Nothing... just studying.”
That was basically our conversation. A few simple questions. A few simple answers.
Then I immediately gave the phone back to my childhood friend.
It was such a small conversation. But for me... I would remember it for a very long time.
Two Years Without Her
Eventually, COVID passed.
We finished school.
We joined different colleges.
And just like that... our paths separated.
For nearly two years, I didn't see her. I didn't talk to her. I didn't even know what was
happening in her life.
But somewhere inside me, those feelings had never completely disappeared.
The Unexpected Opportunity
Then one day, something unexpected happened.
My college professor announced an opportunity to participate in an Abroad Expo program
being held at another college.
And when I heard the name of the college... I realized it was her college.
My heart immediately started racing.
Without thinking twice, I gathered my friends and gave our names to the professor.
He arranged the necessary OD permission for us.
We were going.
To her college.
The Search
When we arrived at the college, I couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
“Will I see her?”
My friends and I were walking around the campus when suddenly... I saw a bus.
And then she appeared.
She was getting onto the bus with one of her friends.
My heart jumped.
After nearly two years... there she was.
I immediately started following her, trying to get closer.
I tried to call her.
I tried to reach her.
But there were so many people around us.
The crowd moved between us.
And then... she disappeared.
Just like that.
Gone.
Finding Her Number
I searched everywhere I could.
Then I remembered our old school group.
I found her phone number there.
My hands trembled slightly as I dialed her number.
No answer.
I tried again.
Still nothing.
After the first-half break, I decided to call one more time.
This time... she answered.
The Call
“Hello?”
My heart started racing again.
I gathered all my courage.
“Hi... I'm Ragul. We were classmates.”
She recognized me.
Then she asked:
“How are you?”
We talked for a moment.
Then, finally, I asked the question I had been waiting years to ask.
“Can we meet?”
But she told me that she was participating in a Women's Day competition that day.
“I'll meet you later, after lunch.”
So I waited.
The Balcony
After lunch, my friends started getting ready to leave.
But I still hadn't seen her.
I became frustrated. I argued with my friends because I didn't want to leave without seeing
her.
Finally, I decided to make one last call.
I called her.
She answered.
I asked again:
“Can we meet?”
She explained that the judges were coming to select the winner of the competition, so she
couldn't leave immediately.
Then she said:
“I'll come to the third-floor balcony. You can see me from there.”
I agreed.
I waited on the ground floor.
Then... I looked up.
And there she was.
Standing on the third-floor balcony.
After almost two years... I finally saw her again.
I stood there on the ground floor, looking up at her.
She stood on the balcony above me.
Neither of us knew what this moment would become.
But for me... it felt like the beginning of something I had been waiting for without even
knowing it.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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