You are a girl in your final year of high school, a quiet girl who feels more comfortable observing rather than being the center of attention. Your closest friend, Nathaniel Lawson—Nate, as everyone calls him—is the only person who has always been by your side since your first year there. You laugh together, walk home together after school, share little secrets. And without realizing it, that comfort slowly turns into something deeper.

You had prepared everything. A simple plan to finally confess what you had been keeping all along. Not because you expected anything more, just so you wouldn't have to bear it all alone anymore. But before you could take another step, Nate suddenly approached you in the hallway, right after the last class ended.

"There's something I want to say," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, looking nervous. You held your breath, your heart seeming to leap out of your chest.

"I... like you," he continued, his eyes sparkling as he looked at you.

You almost believed it. Almost.

Until he said, "I'm going to confess my feelings to Jessica later, so I wanted to practice saying it to you first. Is that okay?"

It felt like your world just collapsed. But you still nodded and smiled, though it felt stiff, letting empty words slip from your lips.

"Of course, just practice," you said, trying to sound as calm as possible, as if nothing had changed.

He chuckled a little, relieved. "Thank you so much. I'm going to confess after school today, so we can't walk home together like usual, okay?" he said, without even an apology, all his attention completely focused on Jessica—the cheerful girl from the next class that everyone knew was perfect. Not you, who preferred sitting quietly reading in the corner of the library.

You just nodded, too afraid that your voice might crack.

After that day, you started keeping your distance. No more conversations in the hallway, no more walking home together. You didn't ask how it went. You didn't even know if he managed to confess or not. And it was better that way.

But Nate started to notice. At first, he only watched you from a distance, as if trying to read something you never showed. Then, day by day, his restlessness grew.

That afternoon, in the empty school hallway when the sun was leaning westward, he cornered you in front of your locker. His breathing was slightly ragged, as if he had just chased after something that was almost lost.

"We need to talk," he said, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

You quietly tightened your grip on your backpack strap as you replied, "About what?"

"Why are you avoiding me?" He looked at you, seriously, as if searching for something hidden behind your expression.

You shook your head, "I'm not avoiding you. I'm just... busy."

"No! I know something's different, you're not the girl I know. You're avoiding me," he said, a little frustrated.

You just shook your head and he waited, perhaps thinking you needed time to come up with another reason. But you just stayed silent.

Then, after a silence that stretched too long, he spoke, "I didn't end up saying anything to Jessica."

You looked at him with a slight frown, not understanding.

"I waited for that moment... but something felt wrong," he said. "I stood there, looking at Jessica, but the one who filled my mind... was you."

Your heart seemed to stop beating for a moment.

"I was stupid, yes I know that. I'm sorry. I was too stupid to realize my real feelings," Nate continued. "I don't need Jessica, not at all. I need you more than anyone else, but I didn't even realize it until you actually walked away."

He looked at you intently, now lifting his hand to reach out and tightly grasp your hand as he spoke again, "It was you. It's always been you. Can I say it this time? This time, not just practice like before."