Saturday morning came softly.
The sky was clear, the birds louder than usual, and the scent of dew still clung to the air. For most people, it was just another weekend.
But for Zayne, it was different.
He hadn't slept well.
All night, he kept replaying the moment Liana fell into his lap. Her soft apology. Her wide, stunned eyes. The feeling of her body pressed against his for just a split second.
He knew she didn't think anything of it.
But for him, it shook his entire soul.
His heart was full—too full.
And it was starting to feel impossible to hold it all in.
He paced around his room, barefoot, phone in hand. His chest tightened as he opened their chat. He scrolled through their old messages—laughs, memes, study questions, quiet check-ins.
She had become more than a friend.
More than a classmate.
More than just a girl he liked.
She had become… the calm in his storm.
He took a deep breath, then began typing.
His fingers trembled slightly, but he didn't stop.
Zayne [10:03 AM]
Has anyone ever told you that you're beautiful?
You drive them crazy.
You make them stare at you longer than they should.
You make their hearts beat faster than they should.
You make them think about you longer than they should.
Because if no one has ever told you that before…
Then I'm telling you now.
He stared at the screen.
He almost deleted it.
But instead…
He hit send.
And waited.
Each second stretched like an hour.
Then his phone buzzed.
Liana [10:07 AM]
Zayne… are you joking?
He closed his eyes.
This was it.
Time to stop hiding. Time to say what he'd carried for too long.
He typed slowly, carefully, but with the full weight of his heart.
Zayne [10:09 AM]
Do I look like I'm joking?
I'm serious, Liana.
I really love you.
And I've been holding it in because I didn't want to lose what we already have.
But I can't lie to myself anymore.
Silence.
No reply.
He watched the typing bubble appear… then disappear.
Then appear again… then stop.
His heart raced like thunder.
And finally—after what felt like a lifetime—her reply came.
Liana [10:21 AM]
Zayne…
I care about you too. You're special. You've become one of the most important people in my life.
But I'm not ready for this. Not now.
I want to finish my school. My university.
I don't want to get distracted or hurt or fall too deep when I know I'm not ready.
If you can wait…
If you really love me…
Wait until I'm 22. Or till I'm done.
That's 2,562 days.
If you can wait, then… maybe you're the one.
Zayne's heart shattered and healed in the same breath.
He sat down on his bed, overwhelmed.
She didn't say yes.
She didn't say no.
But she gave him hope.
And somehow, that was enough.
Zayne [10:28 AM]
Then let's make the days count.
Every single one of them.
Even if I have to wait 2,562 days.
You're worth it.
He set the phone down and stared out the window.
The sun was brighter now.
Birds still sang.
And deep in his heart, a quiet voice whispered:
This isn't the end. This is the beginning… of something real.
And so it began.
Day 1 of 2,562.
The countdown to a love that would wait—no matter how long it took.