The library has appeared ahead, quiet and calm, its tall glass windows catching the gentle light of the late afternoon. But inside her chest, Anaya felt no such calm. Her mind was a storm and restless, swirling, trying to make sense of everything she had heard, and more than that… everything she had felt.
She walked up the steps slowly, dragging her feet, as if hoping that somewhere between one step and the next, clarity would arrive. But all that came were more questions.
"Why did he explain so much?" she thought again, clutching her notebook tightly against her chest. "Why did he want me to believe that there's nothing between him and Rhea?"
Her footsteps echoed faintly as she entered the library, but her heart made a louder noise like an ache that placed quietly in the back of her mind.
She didn't want to assume things. She never did. But somehow, this time, it was harder to stay unaffected.
She didn't even know when he started meaning more than just a classmate, or a CR who teased her, or someone she occasionally exchanged glances with during group projects. Somewhere in the gentle way he laughed, in the way he always made sure she was included, even if, quietly her heart had begun to stir. And now, that small stirring had grown into a restless flutter she couldn't tame.
She found an empty corner by the window and sat down. The late sun spilled across the table like liquid gold, but it brought her no warmth.
"If he loves someone… then why do I feel like I'm caught in the middle of it all?" Anaya murmured with wondered feeling.
She stared out the window, her thoughts loud in the silence. Maybe he was just being honest. Maybe he really wanted her to know the truth, to clear her mind. But something about the way he spoke… it lingered. As if he wasn't just defending himself. As if he wanted her to understand something deeper.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
She didn't want to hope. She wasn't even sure if she was allowed to. But her heart was already doing it, softly, stubbornly.
Somewhere between the library shelves, she spotted Vicky. He hadn't seen her yet. He was browsing through a book, his fingers slowly flipping pages, a calm look on his face. That same calm she used to find comfort in, and now, it made her nervous.
She quickly turned her head away and tried to focus on her notebook. But the words on the page blurred as thoughts filled her again.
"What if it really was nothing between him and Rhea? What if he's just tired of the rumors too?"
She bit her lower lip, unsure whether to believe that or not. And yet, she remembered the way he looked at her earlier, as if searching for something in her eyes. Maybe trust? Maybe something else?
The chair across from her scraped softly against the floor. She looked up. It was him, Vicky.
"Hey," he said, voice low, eyes warm but cautious. "Can I sit?"
Anaya blinked and nodded slowly. "Yeah."
He sat, placing his book aside. For a moment, there was only silence. Not uncomfortable and just thoughtful.
Then he spoke again, gently. "You seemed… quiet today."
"I'm always quiet," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
He gave a soft chuckle. "Yeah, but this time, you seemed like your mind was louder than usual."
She looked at him, uncertain. "Maybe."
A pause. Then she added, "Just… thinking."
"About?"
She hesitated. She wanted to ask him straight out about Rhea, about everything. But instead, she said, "It's just confusing sometimes. People say one thing. Then something else happens. It's hard to understand what's real."
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. It is."
Silence fell again. The space between them was filled with the soft rustle of pages and distant footsteps.
He leaned forward a little. "Can I ask you something?"
She nodded, eyes still downcast.
"Did I confuse you too?"
Her breath caught.
She looked up slowly. His eyes met hers, genuine, a little nervous, but clear.
"I didn't mean to," he continued. "I just… I heard things were going around. About me and Rhea. And I didn't want you to think I was hiding something."
Anaya blinked, unsure what to say.
"But why me?" she asked softly. "Why did you explain it to me… like that?"
He didn't answer immediately. He looked out the window, then back at her.
"Because I… care about what you think."
Those words were simple. So simple. And yet, they struck something deep inside her.
He looked like he wanted to say more but stopped himself.
"I don't want you to believe things that aren't true," he said. "And I don't want you to misunderstand me."
Anaya's hands tightened around her notebook.
"Then tell me the truth," she said quietly. "Do you… do you have someone you love?"
His gaze didn't waver. "Yes."
Her heart skipped.
She swallowed. "Is it Rhea?"
"No. I've said it already there is nothing between us." Vicky answered staightly.
Her lips parted slightly, unsure of what to ask next.
"Then who…?"
He smiled, just a little, eyes softening. "You... You'll know. Eventually."
Her heart fluttered in the quiet between them. She didn't know what to say. She didn't even know what she was feeling but only that the confusion was slowly turning into something else.
Maybe wonder. Maybe fear. Maybe… hope.
Outside, the light shifted. The sun dipped lower in the sky, and the world softened with it.
Inside the library, something else softened too.
The space between them.
The unspoken things.
And for the first time in a long while, Anaya didn't feel like running from it.
She felt like staying. Like listening. Like maybe… just maybe, she was ready to fall.
Anaya sat still, the warmth of his words lingering like the golden sunlight that touched her fingertips. Her heart was too loud now. Louder than her thoughts. Louder than the silence.
She glanced down at her notebook again, trying to focus, but her mind wouldn't stop repeating it.
"You... You'll know. Eventually."
"What did that mean?" She whispered.
He didn't say anything more after that. Just sat beside her, quietly flipping through his book, like he hadn't just shifted the world a little with that one sentence.
But she couldn't concentrate anymore.
After a while, she gently closed her notebook and stood up.
"I'll… go now," she said softly, not looking at him.
He looked up, startled. "Oh—okay. You're not staying?"
"I've something to do." she answered.
He paused, then nodded. "Alright. Take care."
She gave him a small nod and turned to walk away.
But halfway through the aisle, she stopped. Her feet didn't want to move.
She slowly turned back and saw him still sitting there, unaware that she was looking.
He wasn't doing anything special. Just resting his chin on his hand, eyes on the book. But something about the way the light touched his face made her heart ache.
She turned away quickly and walked out before she changed her mind.
Outside, the air had cooled. A soft wind brushed past her hair. She hugged her notebook tighter, walking toward the gate, but her steps were slow.
"Why did my chest feel so full and empty at the same time?" She murmured herself.
As she neared the exit, someone called out her name.
She turned. It was Rhea.
"Anaya! Wait up!" Rhea shouted.
Anaya blinked, surprised. Rhea usually didn't call her out like that unless it was something important.
"Hey," Rhea said, catching her breath. " are you going?"
Anaya nodded her head.
Rhea hesitated, then suddenly want to say something to Anaya.
Suddenly, she looked nervous...