Love wasn't just about feelings.
It came with expectations—spoken and unspoken, realistic and unrealistic.
Akutu and Nathan had reassured each other that they were in this together. But as the days turned into weeks, they began to realize that reassurance wasn't always enough.
Because expectations had a way of creeping in.
And sometimes, they carried more weight than words.
Akutu had always been independent. She didn't believe in needing someone to complete her.
But now that she and Nathan were together—whatever together meant—she found herself questioning things she had never questioned before.
Should she text him first every morning? Should she expect him to do it?
Should they spend every free moment together, or was it okay to have space?
Was she supposed to feel different now that they were… something more?
One afternoon, as she sat in her dorm, scrolling through her messages, she realized something strange.
Nathan hadn't texted her all day.
A month ago, this wouldn't have bothered her.
But now?
Now, a small part of her wondered why.
Nathan, on the other hand, was dealing with expectations of his own.
He had always been the friend Akutu could rely on, the person who made her laugh when she was stressed, the one who was always there.
But now, was he supposed to be more?
Should he always be the one to initiate plans? Should he check in on her constantly?
And what if he disappointed her?
What if she expected things from him that he wasn't sure he could give?
That evening, they met up outside Akutu's hostel.
She studied him for a moment, debating whether to say anything. But something in Nathan's expression told her he had been thinking the same thing.
"Do you feel like we're… supposed to act a certain way now?" she finally asked.
Nathan exhaled, relieved that she had voiced what had been circling in his mind. "Yeah. And it's messing with me."
Akutu smiled slightly. "Me too."
They stood in silence for a moment before Nathan chuckled. "We're overthinking again, aren't we?"
Akutu laughed. "Probably."
"Maybe we should just do what feels right and forget what's expected of us."
She nodded. "Agreed."
And just like that, the pressure lifted.
They weren't perfect.
They didn't have to be.
They just had to be them.
The pulleys of life had shifted once again.