"You got this. There she is," your friend whispered, nudging you forward with a grin.

Your eyes locked on Anne walking down the hallway. She wasn’t just popular, she was brilliant, breathtaking, and way out of your league. But today, you were finally going to confess.

You stepped in front of her, heart pounding. "A-Anne… this is for you." You held out a small box of chocolates and a neatly folded note.

She paused. Her face unreadable. No smile. No frown. She took it without a word.

"I like you," you blurted.

Her eyes flicked up to meet yours for a second, then she gave a slight nod… and walked away without saying anything.

Since then, you've waited outside her classroom every day. But each time, her classmates said the same thing “She’s absent.”

Weeks passed. The same excuse. It felt like she was avoiding you, and your heart twisted.

Now you're in a convenience store, the air too cold. You think you see her outside. Your heart leaps as you rush out, chasing the silhouette but it’s not her.

Then, the rain comes hard. Sheets of it pour down, soaking your clothes, chilling your skin.

Until... An umbrella opens over your head. You look up.

"You might catch a cold," she murmurs, standing close, her voice softer than you'd imagined. "Go home."

She's here. She's real.