Kavita:Yeah, it’s way too far-fetched to be plausible.
But even if it was untrue, this was proof that my plan was working. I was definitely the one winning the breakup right now.
I was also worried about being late for class, so I was rushing down the hallway while texting Kavita a thank-you when I walked face-first into a madras shirt.
Damn it. Devin.
“Did your cousin choose all these new clothes?” I asked instead of saying sorry for running into him. Before going to India, he’d always worn geeky T-shirts.
“What?”
I waved in the general direction of his outfit, then shook my head. “This new look is out of character for you. You said you needed to figure out who you were without me ... Is this what you discovered? You’re actually some preppy hipster?”
When he didn’t respond, I looked at him. Stood and really looked at him, as this was the first time since he’d come back from India that I’d been this close to him without my hands shaking and my heart pounding. Yeah, his clothes were new, but that face was as familiar to me as my own. I’d seen him happy. I’d seen him so focused on a gameor schoolwork that his coal-black eyes seemed to stop blinking. I’d seen him with that focus on me. He’d been my best friend. I’d loved him. And he’d loved me. But now, ever since he’d shut me out of his life without warning, all I felt was irritation. The shift in my feelings was kind of jarring.
But I still knew him. And I could see that Devin was miserable.
Why? Hana was still posting pictures of him all over her Insta, so in theory he was in a happy relationship. He was still president of the math and physics clubs. He hadn’t become the loser crying in the cafeteria. Maybe it was the pictures of me and Daniel that were getting to him? Or was it all the hilarious buzz about Daniel being an international pop star?
I was winning the breakup at this moment, but I didn’t feel all that great about it. And it wasn’t fair. Why did he get to make me feel bad because he looked miserable whenhewas the one who had started this by hooking up with Hana?
“Devin,” I said.
The annoyance I was feeling must have shown on my face because he recoiled.
“Are you going to tell me off again?” he asked.
“No.” I sighed. “We’re not supposed to talk to each other, remember?”
He stared at me for several seconds. Finally, he spoke. “Did you like the lehenga choli?”
I snorted. “I did. Your mother has impeccable taste.”
He shook his head. “Mom bought the other stuff, but I bought you the lehenga. Picked it out when I was shopping with my cousin. It reminded me of the one that you liked on Gerrard Street that time we were there with our parents. There was a yellow one that you said was your dream prom dress.”
I blinked. He remembered that? And he’d bought me a similar one?
I shook my head. “That’s so weird, Devin. We broke up. Why are you buying me clothes?”
His hand shot to the back of his neck, and he bit his lip. “You always liked bright colors. You never thought you could pull them off, but I think it would look great on you.” He shrugged. “Don’t get mad at me—it’s not a big deal. Stuff like that is cheap there.”
I didn’t say anything. And my stupid eyes started leaking again. Devin was like chemical warfare lately. Always making my eyes water.
“Again, we broke up,” I repeated. “Why did you buy me clothes?”
“I assumed we’d still be friends when I came home,” he said.
I shook my head. “It’s over.”
He nodded. “I know it’s over. You don’t have to keep saying that. I’m sorry. I bought it as a gift for a friend.”
I wiped my eyes. These tears weren’t even because I was sad this time. More like angry. But I was crying again. I fucking hated this was how my face reacted to him. I looked around quickly, hoping no one was around to see this, but since class had already started, the hallway was empty. And now I was late, too. Without saying a word, I turned and rushed to my next class.
During class, I texted Cass and Aimee for an emergency lunch meeting away from anyone else. We met behind the school, where Aimee used her ever-present makeup-removing wipes to clean my smudged eye makeup.
“I should stop wearing the stuff,” I said. “This is the second time I’ve leaked all over my face at school.”
“Which means you should stop talking to Devin Kapadia, not stop looking like a badass,” Aimee said. “Have you heard the rumor that you and Daniel are doing an ad campaign for a hot new Toronto designer?”
