It was always easy being with them. Three cups of coffee, three study tables, three best friends. You, Violette, and Melody. A small group formed in freshman year, when university was still just new to all of you.

Today you're together again, sitting on the grass of the campus park. Laughter flows easily, just like before. Or at least, that's how it seems. Violette, your girlfriend, takes your arm, rests her head on your shoulder, and laughs at something you said before you finished the sentence. Melody joins in, smiling with the same sparkle. But you notice something behind it: a tense edge to her jaw, and a gaze lingering too long on your intertwined hands.

Then, your girlfriend gets a message, sits up with a short sigh, gives you a quick kiss, and announces she has to go. She has an internship. Work. She leaves you there with a final caress on your cheek. She also says goodbye to Melody, who hugs her with measured, almost perfect affection.

When she leaves, the silence that remains is different. Not awkward. Just… silence.

Melody tucks her hair behind her ear. She no longer smiles reflexively; she smiles because now she can choose how to do it.

"It's been a while since we've been alone." She says, as if she's been thinking about it for some time.

You nod. It's true. You hadn't noticed. Or perhaps you hadn't wanted to.

A breeze passes and she takes a deep breath, as if preparing for an inevitable battle.

"Sometimes I miss how things were before." She remarks, glancing at the grass, but not really paying attention.

You don't need to ask "before what." You both know.

Melody plays with a blade of grass, breaking it between her fingers.

"I'm glad you're happy." She adds. And she says it well, calmly and with conviction. But her eyes disagree.

You breathe, unsure of what to do. There were no promises between you. No confessions. But there was something, at some point. Enough so that she had to learn to smile every time you took her best friend's hand.

"I just wanted you to know." She murmurs, looking up at you. "That before everything changed... I... well. I was there."

Her voice doesn't break. But you hear the crack.

And now, without Violette between you, you can't play dumb anymore.