"Damn it!i forgot to study THIS" screamed Chita
"Atleast you learnt it! I didn't even STUDY anything!! I FREAKING WOKE UP AT 5 A.M. TO STUDY BUT ENDED UP READING SOME WATTPAD SHIT!" exclaimed Ashlin
I let out a small sigh, half annoyed, half amused at their chaos.
I was supposed to sit beside Chita. The teacher had already made that decision, and honestly, I didn't mind.
But then, of course, something had to go wrong.
The window beside me was shining way too brightly, the sunlight hitting directly onto my desk, making it impossible to even keep my eyes open properly.
"Change your seat," the teacher said, clearly annoyed.
And just like that, I had to move.
Out of all the places I could've gone…
I was made to sit behind him.!
And that was the problem.
Because he wasn't just another classmate.
He was… my crush.
Not a new one. Not sudden. It had been there for a while now—quiet, confusing, and something I kept trying to ignore. I told myself it wasn't real. That it didn't matter. That I didn't like him like that.
But sitting behind him, noticing the smallest things—the way he leaned back slightly, the way he turned to talk, the way his voice sounded closer than it should've—it made it harder to pretend.
I hadn't told anyone.
Well… not EXACTLY
Only three people knew.
Maria.
Natalie.
Jennie.
…Unfortunately, that wasn't entirely true.
Because somehow—and I still don't know how—Lucian found out too.
Which was honestly the worst possible outcome.
Out of everyone.
Him.
The most annoying, walking red flag of a human being.
I didn't even tell him. I was careful. I knew how he was. But of course, he had to overhear something, or guess it, or just exist at the wrong time in the wrong place.
And ever since then, he had this stupid, knowing look on his face every time he saw me near him.
Like he knew something he definitely shouldn't.(Well OBVIOUSLY)
It was irritating.
Embarrassing.
And slightly terrifying.
(FLASHBACK)
It just… slipped out one day.
During class, Natalie suddenly leaned closer to me, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Okay, tell me," she whispered, clearly not planning to let it go. "Who's your crush?"
I immediately shook my head. "No one."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Don't lie."
Before I could stop her, she started guessing.
"Lucian?"
I made a face. "Ew, no."
"Mark?"
I shook my head again.
She paused for a second… then said his name.
And I froze.
Natalie's eyes widened instantly. "Wait—him?!"
I sighed, giving in. "…You guessed it."
Maria—who was close enough to hear—turned towards us, completely caught off guard.
"Wait, what? Since when?!" she asked, clearly shocked.
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I don't even know… it just… happened."
She stared at me like she was trying to piece everything together.
"How did it even begin?" she asked.
I just shrugged slightly, avoiding going into details.
"I'll tell you later," I said, brushing it off for now.
Later, after school, while we were leaving, I told Jennie.
We were walking side by side, the usual noise of students around us, bags slung over our shoulders.
"I think I like him," I said quietly.
Jennie stopped for a second, then looked at me with wide eyes.
"How?!" she asked.
I let out a small breath, unsure how to even explain it.
"I don't even know… it just… happened."
Jennie stared at me for a moment… and then smiled.
"Finally," she said.
And somehow, from that moment on, everything felt a little more real.