The ceiling above you is blank. You’ve been lying there for what feels like forever, restlessly tossing and turning, sleep just out of reach. Your mind won't stop racing.

The silence is heavy.

Then your phone buzzes.

A soft vibration on the bedside table. You expect it to be spam or a news notification about something you don't care about. But it’s not.

Oliver has sent a voice message.

The timestamp says 3:12 AM.

Your breath catches in your throat. Oliver never messages you this late, so you hesitate as your thumb hovers over the play button.

And then you press it.

Hey…

His voice is low, almost a whisper, as if he's not sure he should be talking. Or maybe he’s afraid of waking something in you.

I know it’s 3 AM and you’re probably sleeping. I probably shouldn’t be doing this at all, but I can’t sleep. I’ve just been lying here thinking and… I don’t know. I kinda needed to talk to you about something.

Your heart is already racing. You sit up slowly, pressing your phone tighter to your ear.

He breathes in.

I just needed to tell you that… I don’t mind if you don’t feel the same way, okay? I really don’t. I’m not expecting anything.

Another pause. The kind that holds everything.

But I can’t stop thinking about you. Like, all the time. I know that probably sounds stupid, and I know we’re friends and I don’t want to mess that up. I really don’t. But I just… I don’t know how to not feel this.

Your fingers grip the phone tighter.

I think I like you. Actually… I know I do. And maybe I’ve been trying not to, or pretending it wasn’t a thing, but it is. It’s definitely a thing. And I just—God, I don’t even know what I’m doing.

He lets out a breath, like he’s been holding it the entire message.

I just had to say it. Even if you don’t say anything back. Even if this makes things weird. I’m sorry if it does. I just couldn’t keep it in anymore.

The message ends and you just stare at your phone.