Rody had always been a creature of habit. He liked routine, predictability, and the ability to control his own pace. Friendship had always been easy familiar, uncomplicated, simple. His group was solid, the everyday hangouts were part of his rhythm, and new additions, like Sam, were just that new people to get used to.
But something was off.
He couldn't quite place it.
At first, it was subtle. The daily hangouts continued as normal, but every now and then, he'd catch himself thinking too much. About what, exactly? That was the problem he didn't know. But something about Sam had stirred a strange imbalance within him.
She was just another friend, right?
A fun, energetic person who had settled into the group effortlessly. She was easy to talk to, easy to be around. And sure, JJ and AJ had clearly taken a liking to her. Pri was less enthusiastic. Lina treated her like family. For Rody, she was simply… there.
Or at least, that's what he told himself.
Then, one day, Sam stopped coming downstairs.
She had always been around laughing, teasing, throwing him off his usual rhythm with her endless energy. But suddenly, she was gone. Normally, someone missing from their meetups wouldn't affect Rody much. People got busy. Life moved on.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, her absence sat uneasily with him.
He noticed it.
And he hated that he did.
That evening, after the usual hangout, his phone buzzed. A text.
Sam:Hey, I have exams coming up, so I won't be coming down for a few days!
Rody stared at his screen for a moment, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It made sense. She was just studying nothing unusual. But still… why did that text make him feel disappointed?
It was stupid.
His mind was messing with him.
And yet, despite himself, he typed back
"Good luck with your exam! Gonna miss ya."
The second he sent it, panic set in.
"Miss you?"
Why had he written that? That wasn't him he never sent texts like that to anyone. Ever. What the hell had just happened?
His heartbeat stuttered. His chest tightened.
"Did I just make this weird?"
He stared at his phone, tension crawling up his spine.
Then, her response came.
Sam:Aww thank you! Gonna miss you too!
Rody's eyes widened slightly.
His face felt warm.
His head buzzed.
Slowly, he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
He blinked.
Huh?
Whatever was happening to him he didn't like it.
Not because it was bad.
But because it was new.