It's been four days since I said her name.
Four days since the stares. The whispers. The silent exits.
I thought choosing her would make things easier.
But now?
Everything feels like walking on glass.
---
Being Together
We sit next to each other now.
Eat together.
Text before bed.
It's good.
It's real.
But it's also… quiet.
Like neither of us knows what we're allowed to say now that the "what ifs" are gone.
No more testing.
No more games.
Just her.
And me.
And the space between us we're still learning how to fill.
---
The Others
Yuna still jokes.
Still teases.
Still shows up like nothing happened.
But I catch her sometimes, looking at me for too long.
And when I catch her back, she looks away.
Still smiling.
But not from the heart.
---
Airi came back to school yesterday.
Didn't say a word.
Just left a post-it note on my desk.
> "Delete complete. Rebooting friendship."
Underneath it?
A mint candy.
And a blank space.
I didn't know if it was a peace offering or a goodbye.
---
Akari walks past me in the halls.
Still perfect. Still calm.
But not waiting anymore.
She doesn't look at me like she's hoping I'll change my mind.
She just looks like she's finally moving on.
And that somehow hurts the most.
---
Reina's Latest Note
She passed me a folded paper during class.
> "You chose her. Good.
But now let's see if you can keep her."
On the back?
> "Volume 3 begins: Stability Test"
I sighed.
Loudly.
Reina winked.
> "Real love starts after the fairytale ending."
---
That Night – With Her
We sat on the park swing.
She didn't say much.
Neither did I.
Then I asked—
> "Are we okay?"
She looked at me.
Eyes softer than I deserved.
> "We're trying. That's what matters."
And somehow…
That was enough.
For now.