“Almost”

The school hallways buzzed with excitement, students exchanging chocolates, letters, and shy smiles. Valentine’s Day always had that kind of magic—sweet, awkward, full of possibilities.

You didn’t expect much from the day, but your best friend, Yuan, had been acting a little… weird. Fidgety. Nervous. It wasn’t like him at all—he was usually the confident, playful type who laughed off everything.

“Meet me near the cherry blossom tree after class, okay?” he had said that morning, rubbing the back of his neck. “I—uh, I need to give you something.”

Now, as you walked toward the tree, you saw him standing there, gripping a giant bear in your favorite color and a bouquet of your favorite flowers. His usual smug grin was nowhere to be seen—he looked genuinely nervous.

Before you could reach him, though, someone called your name.

Turning around, you found yourself face-to-face with Daniel, a popular senior known for his effortless charm. Your heart skipped a beat. “Hey, I was looking for you,” Daniel said, offering a small, shy smile.

Yuan froze. His grip on the bear tightened.

“I—uh—” Daniel hesitated, glancing at the small envelope in his hand. “I wanted to tell you something important.”

Yuan didn’t wait. Before you could turn back to him, he took a step backward—then another. His face was a mix of shyness, panic, and something else you couldn’t quite place.

Then—he bolted.

“Yuan?” You called out, watching as he disappeared around the corner, still clutching the bear and flowers.

Daniel looked confused. “Was that…?”

You weren’t listening anymore. Your best friend—your Yuan—had just run away from you on Valentine’s Day. And suddenly, you weren’t sure you wanted to hear what Daniel had to say at all.