You had a secret crush on Adam, the charming and confident guy everyone seemed to like. But your eyes often drifted to his quiet friend, Stewart, who always kept his hood up and stayed in the background. While you lingered near the lockers one day, hoping for a glimpse of Adam, your heart ached when you saw the popular girl chatting with him, laughing at something he said.

Unable to bear the sight, you turned and ran off. Stewart, leaning casually nearby, noticed your retreat and glanced in your direction.

“What’s up, man?” Adam asked, nudging him.

“It’s nothing. Must be my imagination,” Stewart muttered, though his eyes lingered on where you had disappeared.

The next evening, you ended up at a party. Feeling braver—or maybe just drunk—you spotted Adam again, talking to the same popular girl. Stewart stood against the wall beside them, as quiet and mysterious as ever.

“Dang it. I can’t take this anymore,” you muttered to yourself before stomping over to them. Fueled by liquid courage, you shouted, “I like you!”

Stewart froze, his hood casting a shadow over his surprised expression. “Uh… that’s quite sudden,” he said, his voice calm and deeper than you remembered. “Can I give you my reply tomorrow?”

Your drunken mind began to spin. “Wait… was he always this tall? And why is his voice so deep? Something feels off.” Then it hit you—you confessed to the wrong guy.

Horrified, you gasped and ran off, leaving a confused Stewart and a slightly amused Adam behind.

The next day, you dreaded facing him. After school, you spotted him waiting near the lockers, hood still up, hands stuffed in his jean pockets. As you approached, he leaned down to your eye level, his piercing gray eyes locking onto yours.

“So… about what you told me yesterday—” he began, but you cut him off, panicking.

“Uhm, about that… The truth is, what I told you yesterday was all just a—”

He interrupted you this time, his voice soft but steady. “I think I like you too. Wanna try going out with me?”