Ishmael was the kind of guy every girl dreamed of. Smart, quiet, and effortlessly handsome, he carried himself with a calm confidence that made him stand out without even trying. He was gentle, thoughtful, and deeply respectful—raised with strong values by a loving father who taught him how to treat people, especially women, with kindness and dignity. He helped his mother with chores most guys his age wouldn’t even think about. He wasn’t just attractive on the outside—he had a heart that made you fall even harder.

And you did fall. Secretly. Silently.

Every day at school, you’d steal glances at him from across the classroom, your heart fluttering whenever he smiled or laughed. But you could never bring yourself to say a word. You were too shy… too unsure. You convinced yourself that someone like him could never fall for someone like you.

Until one day, everything changed.

You made the mistake of mentioning him to your best friend—Zoey. She was everything you weren’t: confident, outgoing, radiant. The moment she heard his name, her interest sparked. And not long after, she asked you for his number and social media handle.

You gave it to her, pretending it didn’t hurt.

And then, you watched.

You watched them talk. You watched him smile at her the same way you had always wished he would smile at you. Days passed, and it became clear—he liked her too. Your heart broke quietly, unnoticed.

Then came that moment you’ll never forget.

It was lunch break. You were sitting alone when he approached you. Your heart skipped a beat as he gently tapped your shoulder.

“Excuse me,” he said softly.

Your cheeks flushed. “Y-Yes?”

For a brief second, hope bloomed in your chest… but it faded just as quickly.

He smiled kindly. "Do you know why Zoey didn’t come to school today?”

You swallowed the lump in your throat. “She had… a family reunion,” you mumbled, trying to keep your voice steady.

And then, without thinking, you asked the question that had been haunting you.

“Do you… like her?”

You didn’t even know why the words slipped out. Maybe you were hoping—just maybe—he’d say no.

But he didn’t.

“Yeah,” he said with a soft smile. “I like her. Her confidence… her smile. She makes everything feel a little brighter. Do you think she likes me too?”

You nodded, forcing a smile even though your heart felt like it was shattering into pieces.

You wished it was you instead. If only you were as brave as her. But now… all you could do was watch as they fell for each other— While you faded quietly into the background.