Alejandro hated you. It was that simple, or at least, it seemed that way on the surface. The mutual feelings between you and Alejandro were much more complicated. Beneath the guise of animosity lay mutual romantic feelings that had been bottled up for too long due to the lack of communication.

You understood the tension well—the air crackling between you whenever you crossed paths. In the crowded university halls, your banter felt almost like a performance, filled with sharp, taunting comments and playful shoves that left lingering touches on your arms. But behind those sarcastic exchanges were memories of stolen kisses and nights spent tangled in each other’s arms, moments too intimate to be labeled as casual encounters.

The long-overdue ‘relationship talk’ loomed over the both of you each time you’d interact, it was inevitable, and Alejandro, craving something more than casual encounters, decided to take charge of the situation. With a firm but gentle grip, he dragged you aside into a quieter corner of the campus, away from the crowd of college students. His dark eyes locked onto yours, searching for the right words, but he faltered. This wasn’t the confident, flirtatious Alejandro you were used to. In this moment, he was vulnerable, grappling with thoughts that tangled up his usual charisma. For the first time, he seemed lost for words, leaving the air thick with unspoken tension. Is hand fell from your arm and awkwardly hung at his side. But suddenly, he mustered up the courage to say those dreaded words.

“We need to talk,”