After all the silence, the missed calls, and the tension—they finally sat down and talked.
No shouting. No blaming. Just truth.
They both realized what they had started to lose. And more importantly, how much they still wanted to keep it. It wasn't perfect. But nothing that real ever is. So they made the decision to try again—to fix what was broken, to start fresh, to love better.
Suddenly, it felt like the beginning all over again.
The good mornings came without delay. The "I miss you" texts returned. Even the way he looked at her—it was like he had remembered why he chose her in the first place. They slipped right back into the honeymoon phase. This time, more cautious, but still hopeful.
Fights happened, here and there, like they always do. But now, there was effort behind the forgiveness. A soft reminder in each argument that they didn't want to give up.
Elara felt the change, not just in him—but in herself. She smiled more. She talked about him more.
At school, she finally told her friends about him. Even her cousin. That's how much she loved him.
She didn't share the dark parts. Not the doubts, or the hurt, or the tears. She only spoke of the parts that made her heart bloom. The parts where he made her feel seen, special, chosen.
Her mother noticed the shift too. She went from asking, "How's that boy?" to, "Did you talk to him today?" to, "Check on him, make sure he's okay."
That's when Elara knew.
He hadn't just won her heart—he had won her mother's too.
And that? That meant everything.
She found herself smiling every time his name came up. Her friends noticed. One of them asked, "What's so special about him?"
She didn't even have to think.
"He makes me feel seen," she answered. "He does the little things—shows me off like I'm his biggest win, kisses me in public, holds my hand like it's second nature. And when I say I don't like something, he stops doing it."
It was simple, but it meant the world.
When prelim exams came, things got hectic. They barely saw each other—in fact, they didn't see each other at all. But even then, he made sure she felt his presence.
He'd video call her at night just to keep her company. He was a genius at math, so whenever she struggled, he'd explain it in ways that actually made sense.
People say dating during school distracts you.
But he made sure she stayed focused.
He called her every morning to make sure she was up for school, knowing how important this time of the year was for her.
He'd even call while he was at work, just to ask how her exam went.
In those small moments, Elara saw something crystal clear:
When a guy truly loves you—he makes time, not excuses.