Triadic Confessions of Love

I finally got the nerve to write a love letter to my crush.

Later that evening, he cornered me in the hallway and said, "So you like me, huh? What about your boyfriend?"

I could feel my cheeks heat up.

I mumbled, "I don't have a boyfriend."

He crushed his cigarette, playfully pinched my cheek, and laughed.

"Well, now you do."

And just like that, he cupped my face and kissed me.

1

I've had a crush on Adrian Saunders for two years now.

Since we were in the same department, I secretly signed up for all the same elective classes.

I would always sit behind him, resting my head on my desk while watching him flirt and date other girls.

I always felt jealous.

I finally decided to write him that love letter on Christmas Day, but it fell out of my hands before I could send it.

This led to the letter being discovered and posted on social media.

And, to make matters worse, I accidentally signed it with my best guy friend's name.

Suddenly, the entire university was gossiping about it.

They all shipped them as a couple.

This led to a close fight between the two guys.

That Saturday, I found myself shivering at the basketball lounge, water bottle in hand.

"Adrian's been giving me a hard time all afternoon."

My friend Jaxon Warren strolled over and said.

"What?"

Just hearing Adrian's name made my heart flip.

He was my best guy friend.

Jaxon had no clue about my crush on Adrian.

And I had no idea how to confess that the letter was mine. It totally twisted my tongue.

"Speaking of the devil..."

All of a sudden, a group of tall boys strolled into the lounge.

And I spotted Adrian right in the middle with his messy hair as he glanced at me.

Instinctively, I ducked behind Jaxon.

Adrian approached us casually and offered Jaxon a cigarette.

"No thanks, I don't smoke."

Jaxon said.

Adrian's gaze flicked back and forth between us before he broke into a smile.

It was the first time he had ever smiled at me.

I was starting to get nervous.

"Is it because your girlfriend won't let you smoke?"

He joked, tilting his head and taking a drag from his cigarette.

He thought I was Jaxon's girlfriend.

Just as I was about to clear that up, he continued.

"Why did you write me a love letter if you have a girlfriend. Isn't that kinda gross?"

He puffed out smoke, then casually raised his hand.

Soft thuds echoed as a basketball bounced sharply against the floor. It was as if I saw what was going to happen to me.

"Seriously?

Are you just messing with Adrian?"

"Jaxon, that's not cool at all.

You've totally sabotaged Adrian's chances with girls."

"Right!

And you kept him up all night!"

I felt my skin crawl at their teasing.

These guys really knew how to stir things up.

"Shut up."

Adrian shot back, glaring at them.

They instantly quieted down.

"Me? Mess with you?" Jaxon looked innocent.

It has nothing to do with me. That love letter wasn't mine.

I'm into girls."

"So you're saying someone just randomly wrote a love letter to annoy us both?"

Adrian's expression darkened.

"Who knows? If I find out who it was, I swear I'll kill them."

Jaxon groaned, looking fed up.

That someone was me.

Panic hit me out of nowhere.

"I don't care!"

Adrian kicked a chair in frustration, venting his anger.

"Whoever created this mess should clean it up.

Just leave me alone."

The loud crash of the chair startled me.

Jaxon frowned at Adrian's mood, saying, "Who caused this chaos is still up for debate.

I just know I like girls.

And you... well, who knows?"

Adrian halted mid-stride and turned slightly, his tone suddenly intense.

"Huh?"

This tone of his voice was a bit intimidating.

Jaxon looked a bit rattled and softened his tone, "I mean, you should trust me.

I'm really only into girls."

Adrian fully faced him, casually responding, "I've already been the butt of jokes for a month.

If I believe you, I'll get mocked for a year."

"That won't happen!

We've just got to figure out a plan to clear things up."

Jaxon insisted, moving closer to chat.

"Don't come near me!"

Adrian stepped back, creating some space.

"No!

I wasn't trying to touch you!"

Jaxon frowned.

"Enough!

Let's just settle this with a fight," Adrian declared, taking off his shirt.

I didn't want to watch, but I was worried they might actually throw punches.

I stepped in closer and caught a glimpse of Adrian's toned body.

Seriously, he had an eight-pack.

My throat went dry.

Just then, someone bumped into me, and I stumbled into Adrian's arms, my lips pressing against his chest.

"Hmmm."

He said, his deep voice rumbling above me as he looked down.

My face went beet red.

"Still checking me out?

Haven't you had enough of Jaxon?"

He chuckled at me.

"N-No, I was just..."

I stuttered.

I wanted to explain that I had been bumped.

He didn't say anything else.

He shot me a knowing look that was soft yet made my heart race.

I wished I could sink through the floor.

2

Jaxon thought Adrian was getting too aggressive.

He pulled me over and reluctantly took off his jersey.

"Alright, how about this?

The loser has to handle this mess."

I was in shock.

Here I was, caught between sixteen-pack abs and a dilemma.

I couldn't believe that the two towering guys, both around 6 feet tall, were really about to fight.

"Jaxon, please don't..."

I panicked and tried to intervene.

But as I rushed toward him, my height worked against me, and I felt someone tugging my neck aside.

Someone leaned in closer to me.

"It has nothing to do with you. Step back," he instructed!

It was Adrian.

I froze, remaining still as he held me in place.

"Why are you grabbing her?"

Jaxon frowned when he saw me in Adrian's grip.

"Come on!

Is a light touch really considered grabbing?

You have no idea what real grabbing looks like."

Adrian scoffed.

To prevent things from escalating further, I quietly said, "I'm fine.

You guys just need to talk this out."

But Jaxon ignored me, standing beside me and saying, "Adrian, are you even a man?

Why are you so worked up over something so silly?

Or is there something you're hiding?"

The moment he said that, I could feel the tension in the air from Adrian.

"Forget it. We won't fight."

Adrian suddenly said, as if deciding something.

He started picking up his clothes.

Then he turned to me, gesturing with his fingers.

"Me?"

I pointed to myself, confused.

"Yeah, you."

His tone was gentle and completely calm.

Before I knew it, I took a step closer to him, my heart pounding.

He bent down, resting his hands on his knees, looking at me with a smile.

"What's your name?"

I could see droplets of sweat on his long lashes, and his lips looked red from exercising, making my heart race louder than ever.

I nervously opened my mouth.

"Maisie Thomas."

He paused for a second.

Then, the smile spread across his face.

"Maisie."

"Yeah."

I replied softly.

I never thought my name would sound so beautiful coming from his lips.

I was completely mesmerized by him and couldn't help but lick my lips.

He laughed and straightened up, ran a hand through his hair, then turned to Jaxon.

"Your girlfriend is quite cute," he said.

"I..."

I wanted to say that I wasn't Jaxon's girlfriend.

Just as I was about to retort, a shadow suddenly loomed over me, and I saw his face magnified before me.

A wave of youthful energy mixed with sunlight hit me, and in the next moment, my lips were pressed against something soft.

My brain went silent in an instant.

In just a few seconds, he pulled away and stood up.

He said to Jaxon, "Now do you get it?

Do you know if I like girls or not?"

After saying that, he glanced at me.

He added, "By the way, your girlfriend smells pretty good."

3

"Adrian!!"

Jaxon sprinted over and threw a punch right at Adrian.

Adrian just stood there, taking the hit without flinching.

I was completely freaked out. And when I turned over, I noticed some blood dripping from Adrian's nose, which made his already pale face look even more striking.

"What are you doing?!"

His friends quickly rushed in to see what was happening.

The whole situation escalated way too fast.

I felt a mix of anger and fear, frozen in place as I clenched my fists.

Adrian wiped his jersey with a casual flick of his hand and looked at his friends, "Don't do anything.

Can't you see there's a girl here?"

His friend instantly went quiet.

"Kissing her is totally worth it, even if I get hit."

Adrian chuckled at Jaxon.

I can tell he did it on purpose.

"You're that desperate for girls?

How dare you even touch her?"

Jaxon shouted, looking furious.

"Oh, I'm desperate," Adrian replied, glancing down at me.

"I'm desperate for a girl like this," he added.

"Damn you!"

Jaxon was ready to charge at him again.

But this time, Adrian didn't hold back.

He tackled Jaxon to the ground and warned him in a low voice, "Don't mess with me."

I stood there, and out of nowhere, tears started streaming down my face.

I wasn't sure if I was scared or just upset that I had kissed my crush, only for him to use it to rile up Jaxon.

And Jaxon was my friend.

I'd dreamt about kissing Adrian so many times, but I never imagined it would turn into this mess.

I regretted writing that love letter.

My tears kept flowing. Jaxon now ignored Adrian. He came over to me and wiped my tears away.

"Hey, don't cry."

He said, sounding a bit flustered.

Suddenly, I threw myself into his arms, crying even harder.

"Don't fight anymore,"

I said.

He held me tight.

"Okay, I won't fight."

After a while, Adrian left, but not before handing me a pack of tissues, which Jaxon promptly threw out.

Once I finally calmed down, Jaxon walked me back to the dorm.

Once we got back, I felt a heavy guilt weighing on me from the love letter drama.

I felt like I'd lost something important. My mind stuck on Adrian kissing me and the angry words he'd thrown out.

I grabbed my phone, scrolled through the social media post, and couldn't help but write a comment.

"Adrian, I hate you."

I just needed to vent.

After hitting send, I crashed into bed.

4

When I woke up the next morning and opened my social media again, I was totally shocked.

My comment had gotten much attention.

It was because Adrian actually replied to it!

"About to cry again?"

He wrote.

It seemed like he was doing it on purpose.

Why else would he reply to me among thousands of comments? Suddenly, the whole university was invested in this drama.

Everyone was paying attention to me now.

Some even posted photos of Adrian and Jaxon's fight from yesterday, titled "Two Campus Heartthrobs Clash Over a Girl."

It sounded as if it were true.

A few of their fans slid into my DMs to humiliate me.

"Why are you trying to break them up?

They love each other!"

"How dare you interfere?

"

"Drama queen.

"

Ugh.

Those DMs were giving me a real headache.

I thought about Adrian.

I wondered how he could act like this.

I could accept that he wasn't into me. But why did he drag me into the online chaos?

I was fuming.

Later in the afternoon, we had a public class. Jaxon sent me a message saying he'd gamed all night and needed me to help him sign in.

I headed to class with my roommates.

Luckily, no one had posted any photos of me, so I went unnoticed. Plus, my roommates were on my side, which was a relief.

But then, halfway through class, the professor started calling out names.

There was no way for me to help Jaxon respond.

"Maisie, cover for me," he texted.

I glanced at his WhatsApp message, feeling anxious.

With no other choice, when my name was called, I replied, "Here," I quickly shuffled to the back, pulled the hood of my jacket over my head, and slipped on some glasses.

When Jaxon's name was called, I quietly said, "Here."

Just as I finished speaking, someone kicked my chair from behind.

I was so freaked out that I buried my head in my arms on the table.

The professor noticed the commotion, and I was too nervous to lift my head.

Luckily, he only paused for a moment before moving on to the next name.

I let out a huge sigh of relief. I was shaking in my boots.

Once I calmed down, I turned around to see who was behind me and locked eyes with Adrian.

He caught my gaze and tilted his head slightly.

He seemed like he was saying, "So what?"

I instantly froze.

I then looked away.

I couldn't believe he was in this class, too.

I didn't want to deal with him, so I acted like he wasn't there.

Then, out of nowhere, he kicked my chair again.

"You..."

He was really pushing it.

I spun around and shot him a glare, but he just shrugged it off.

He said, "You're doing a great job as his girlfriend."

"What's it to you?"

I wanted to say something fierce, but when I looked at him, my voice came out more hurt than angry.

"Ha..."

He scoffed.

"Of course, it's not my business. I don't want someone like you anyway."

"What?

How can you say that?"

I was genuinely steamed.

"I don't just say that. I also throw punches," he said with a sigh.

"Just stick to being a nice girl. I can't deal with your problem."

"You...

You're seriously annoying."

After that, I stood up and went back to my original seat.

The whole class went by in a blur. He had me so rattled I couldn't concentrate on anything.

5

Back at the dorm, my roommates were all on my side, feeling sorry for me.

"Why does Adrian always pick on you?

He hardly knows you."

"Right!

It's hard to believe someone so cute can have such a terrible attitude."

"But he totally fits the Capricorn stereotype.

The more they like someone, the more they tease them."

"Wait!

Do you think he might actually like you?"

......

As I listened to them trash-talking Adrian, I felt too embarrassed to mention the love letter.

They'd definitely laugh if they found out I had a crush on him.

A week passed, and that social media post somehow disappeared. Jaxon nearly forgot the whole thing.

He would still occasionally rant to me about it.

Jaxon was my best friend. We got way back to high school and ended up at the same university.

He looked out for me, though we were definitely not each other's type.

He treated me really well, although he was a bit lazy and often skipped classes, sometimes asking me to do his assignments.

"Maisie, you're too good to me.

What if I end up with a girlfriend and can't forget you?" he once joked with a playful grin.

I always roll my eyes at him.

"Stop saying that."

"Maisie, I mean it!

If I'm still single by 22 and you're free too, I'm totally marrying you."

"What? You're cursing me!"

I punched him.

He really wasted such a cute face with all his antics.

I never told him I actually had a crush on someone else.

"Hey, wanna hit the bar tonight?"

Jaxon texted me on WhatsApp.

"You know I'm not great at drinking."

Jaxon loved dragging me around to eat and drink.

We had plenty of adventures at clubs and bars.

"It's just for fun.

I swear I won't make you drink."

"If you don't go, who's going to drag me home if I get wasted?

Right?"

I had no idea how to respond.

I wasn't sure what Jaxon was thinking, always pulling these stunts.

6

Even though I had been to bars a bunch of times, I still felt out of place dancing or anything.

I usually just sat quietly, scrolling my phone, waiting for Jaxon to get tipsy enough for me to drag him back to campus and dose him with some hangover remedy.

Halfway through the night, I found out it was actually Jaxon's birthday.

A bunch of girls showed up with a cake.

"It's your birthday?"

I asked, surprised.

"Uh...

yeah, so sad that you don't remember."

He pouted.

I felt resigned.

"Wait, didn't you say you were older than me?

You're younger!"

He kept silent.

There was a short, awkward silence.

He leaned in closer, grinning.

"If I'm a bit older, it gives you a sense of security."

"Enough!

You two might as well hug it out by now."

Our friends teased us.

But I stayed chill about it.

Our friends were just kidding. If he and I were gonna be together, we'd already be together.

Out of nowhere, just when the laughter died down, we had an unexpected visitor.

"Adrian?"

Someone pointed at a nearby table.

I turned to see him sitting there, his piercing gaze locked onto me.

I freaked out a bit.

I quickly turned back, too scared to look again.

"Adrian's here. Should we invite him over?"

Someone asked.

"Sure."

Jaxon glanced at me, then stood up to go get him.

A shiver ran down my spine, wondering how I was going to handle it.

Then Adrian and his friends actually joined us.

Just seeing him sitting there, even when he wasn't looking at me, made me feel super tense.

7

A group of people kicked off a birthday song for Jaxon while he blew out the candles.

I kept my head down the entire time.

Every time I mustered the courage to sneak a glance, I caught Adrian's piercing stare locked on me.

"Jaxon, did you really write that love letter?"

A few drinks in, things started getting lively, and someone decided to dig up the drama.

Jaxon laughed, "Come on, do you really think I wrote that?

I'm just as curious as you about who did!"

"Oh, it had to be you."

Someone said confidently.

"No way, it wasn't me."

Jaxon insisted.

"The handwriting matches your assignments exactly!

Want me to prove it? I took a picture for evidence!"

I felt the color drain from my face.

If they compared notes, they'd discover I was the one writing Jaxon's assignments!

They would find out the truth.

It felt like I couldn't breathe.

Just then, Jaxon interrupted.

"No way, that letter was written by Maisie.

She helps me with my assignments."

I was left speechless.

My nightmare had come true.

The room went completely quiet for a moment.

My instinct was to see how Adrian was reacting. He was chuckling to himself, clearly entertained by the mess.

I felt like everyone's eyes were on me, while I just wanted to disappear.

I waited for their reaction.

"Hey, Maisie, is that love letter yours?"

Jaxon asked, half-joking.

Silence filled the air as I bit my lip.

The sweat trickled down my forehead.

"Where's the bathroom?"

Adrian's voice broke the tension.

"Just around the corner..."

Everyone seemed confused by the question.

Adrian stood up and casually strolled over.

He said, "You can show me."

"Me?

Are you serious?"

I looked up, surprised.

"Yeah, you're not drinking, so you can lead me there."

He said with a relaxed smile.

"You all keep partying. I'll be back with her soon."

I glanced at Jaxon.

I felt unsure if I should go or not.

"Just go by yourself., Adrian."

He replied, gripping my arm.

"Don't leave."

"I'll just be gone for a bit."

Adrian chuckled lightly.

"I promise not to keep her too long, no worries."

They both held their ground.

I felt torn.

I really didn't want to go, but I had a few things to sort out.

"I'll be back shortly. Just don't drink too much."

I finally said.

"Okay."

Jaxon shot Adrian a cautious glance.

"Well...

Call if you need anything."

"Got it.

"

I stood up and led Adrian to the bathroom.

I walked slowly since I was unsure how to explain everything.

He followed me without making a fuss, maintaining silence, which only made my anxiety worsen.

8

When we reached the bathroom door, I pointed towards it.

I said, "It's right there...

"

He stared at me for a second and sighed.

"Let's go somewhere else."

He said.

"Huh?"

I asked.

I didn't fully grasp what was happening as he pulled me into a hallway.

He closed the door behind us.

It was dimly lit, and I felt a wave of fear.

"Go on, say it."

He said as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

"About what?"

I feigned innocence.

He chuckled.

He took his time to enjoy his smoke while gazing at me.

"A cigarette takes about five minutes to finish."

He said.

"What?"

I wondered if he was actually trying to discuss smoking with me.

"I've never tried it."

I said.

"Want to give it a shot?"

He raised an eyebrow.

In the faint light, his features seemed sharper, and that eyebrow raise made my heart race and my palms sweat.

"Maybe just a bit."

I mumbled, still unsure.

"Brave but shy."

He teased, getting straight to the question.

"Did you write that love letter?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I looked down.

"Yes."

He paused for a moment, pulled out his phone, and seemed lost in thought.

"If I were just a bit prettier, would you notice when I sneak a look at you?"

I was shocked.

I realized it was from the letter I wrote him.

He really read it.

Shame washed over me, and I couldn't think clearly.

I felt so ashamed that my mind went blank.

"Am I just supposed to watch you fall for someone else?"

He frowned.

"What does that supposed to mean?"

I didn't answer.

I chewed on my lip, hoping he wouldn't press further.

"Do you have a crush on me?"

He took a drag from his cigarette and turned to meet my gaze.

The weight of his question made my secret crush I'd held for two years feel exposed.

My heart softened, then surged, as I whispered, "Um...

Yes."

"Then why did you write his name?"

He fired off more questions.

My heart raced. Admitting my feelings felt overwhelming, and I was on the verge of tears. But he kept asking me questions, like an interrogation.

"What if I said I wrote his name out of habit since I help him with his assignments, and it slipped out?

Would you believe that?"

The air went still for a moment.

He burst into laughter.

"I'd believe anything silly you do.

I know you're capable of that."

"You!"

I lost my cool.

With my secret out, I felt exposed and wounded, tears welling in my eyes.

He noticed and froze, staring.

After what felt like forever, he sighed, stepped closer, and backed me against the wall.

Being this close to him made me so shy I felt like I couldn't breathe.

I looked up, wanting to say something.

He leaned in, locking eyes with me seriously.

"Now that you've made all the girls around me run away.

What are you gonna do about it?

You little brat."

I didn't answer.

The nickname made me blush as he held my gaze.

"Why are you cursing?"

I felt small as I tried to back away, but he moved in closer.

"What's wrong with that?

Don't you wanna bite back?"

"Huh?

What does that even mean?"

I asked.

"What do I mean?"

He leaned even closer, then whispered, "When I kiss you, there'll be plenty of chances for you to bite me."

Before I could wrap my mind around it, he cupped my face and kissed me.

As the kiss deepened, he whispered.

"You're really beautiful."

9

My head was spinning. I felt frozen in that moment.

Finally, he pulled away.

"That was incredible."

He wiped a trickle of blood from his lips with a smirk.

"You've got sharp teeth."

Leaning against the wall, he looked at me, a playful glint in his eyes.

"I..."

I was at a loss for words.

I was completely stunned.

This was my first kiss, and I never imagined it would happen like this. He didn't even give me a second to catch my breath.

"Don't look at me like that."

He said with mock seriousness.

"I can't handle it."

"Oh..."

I quickly looked down, feeling intimidated.

"Stop.

You first."

He said, walking over to ruffle my hair and pulling out another cigarette.

My heart was still racing, and I didn't have the guts to ask why he kissed me or what this meant for us.

I returned to my seat. Jaxon immediately started chatting, but I was too distracted to catch any of it.

I finally realized that I might have just shared my first kiss.

"What's up?"

Jaxon asked, concerned.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No."

I couldn't meet Jaxon's eyes.

I was worried he'd sense something was off.

The dim light thankfully concealed my flushed cheeks.

"Don't be scared of him. If he tries to hurt you, I'll be the first one to step in."

Jaxon assured me, noting my discomfort.

"No...

Nothing happened."

I pretended to check my phone to distract myself.

"Fine.

Where did Adrian go off to?"

Jaxon wondered aloud.

"Probably got tangled up with some girl.

We all know what he's like."

Someone else joked.

My heart sank at the mention of Adrian.

I felt afraid that someone would find out something.

"Yeah, maybe it's that art student from earlier.

He's probably busy at the hotel now. He's got no time hanging around with us single people."

"Right? T

hat guy breezes in and out for dates and still seems full of energy."

Hearing all of this felt like my heart was being ripped apart.

It was almost painful to breathe.

"Is your phone really that fascinating?"

Jaxon asked, leaning in to sneak a peek at my screen.

In a panic, I downed a drink in one go to hide my nerves.

I didn't realize it was wine until I drank it.

The strong alcohol burned my throat.

It choked me and made me want to shed a tear.

But I held it together.

Jaxon didn't dig further, continuing to drink with his friends until he turned back to me again.

"Are you messing with me by writing that love letter?"

He joked, leaning in closer.

He was clearly tipsy.

"Maisie..."

I was taken aback.

"Jaxon, get a grip.

"

"I'm being serious.

"

"Wait until you wake up, and I'll show you that letter.

It'll drive you crazy."

Everyone started to make jokes.

As the laughter and drinking continued, I could no longer hold back my tears amid all the noise.

"What's wrong?"

Jaxon asked, noticing me tear up.

"I...

I just accidentally drank something too fast and choked."

I pointed to my empty cup.

I lied, not wanting Jaxon to know the truth.

I didn't want him to give me a hard time about it.

He glanced at the cup briefly, then patted my head, shaking his head.

"You silly."

With that, he wandered off to get me a cup of hot water.

"It's all good. Just drink more and work on your skills so you can hang with us."

He said, handing me the hot water with a grin.

I glanced at the empty seat where Adrian had been, and I couldn't help but think how foolish I'd been.

10

Adrian never showed up again, even after everyone left the bar.

I caught snippets of where he went from their chatter.

It stung a bit, but I didn't feel like I had the right to ask.

I didn't even have his WhatsApp number.

I couldn't help but wonder why he had kissed me in the first place.

I wondered what I was to him.

And why hadn't I pushed him away when I had the chance.

These thoughts churned in my mind and made it impossible to sleep that night.

Three days flew by.

But it felt like forever without seeing him.

Today, my roommate had a lecture that Adrian was also attending.

I couldn't help but laugh at myself for knowing his schedule so well.

Eager to see him this week, I put on some light makeup before heading to the lecture with my roommate.

As soon as I stepped into the classroom, I saw him.

He was fast asleep at his desk.

We settled into our seats behind him.

As I opened my books, I noticed a girl sitting next to him, draped in his jacket.

My heart sank at the sight.

I instantly regretted coming to the lecture.

Midway through the lecture, the professor started taking attendance.

When he called out Jaxon's name, I realized he was in this class too. And, of course, he had skipped yet again.

I reluctantly replied, "Present."

Just then, Adrian turned his head, our eyes locking for a brief second.

It surprised me.

He recognized my voice.

He just stared at me for a moment before facing the front again.

He told the girl beside him, "Take off my jacket."

His tone was calm yet commanding.

"I'm cold."

She whined.

"If you're cold, go back to your dorm. You're just annoying," he shot back.

I could almost picture the cold smirk on his face.

Sure enough, she got up in a huff, tossing his jacket aside.

He had a real edge to him.

I felt like burying my head down. I didn't want to disturb his sleep further, wondering if maybe he was in a bad mood.

Suddenly, I felt his shadow looming over me.

"Come up here," he said in a low tone.

I looked up to see him motioning for me to take the empty seat next to him.

I kept silent.

I acted as if I hadn't heard him.

After all, he had just let that girl wear his jacket.

I had no reason to obey him.

"Want me to come over and get you?

Or should I carry you?"

His voice was sharp, almost daring me.

"If you don't mind embarrassing yourself, I can do that," he said.

"Adrian!

Don't push me."

I warned, biting my lip and giving him a glare.

He paused for a beat.

He then casually glanced at my roommate.

"Can we switch seats?"

"What do you want?

We're in a lecture here. What do you want with Maisie?

Don't think we're scared of you!"

My roommate's voice wavered, clearly intimidated.

"I..."

He moved his lips, wanting to speak. He finally pressed his emotions.

"I'm going to cheer her up."

My eyes widened.

His words shocked both of us.

In the end, my roommate didn't argue.

She packed her things and switched seats with him.

Soon, he was sitting next to me, tapping his fingers on the table, and he stole glances at me. "What have you been doing the past couple of days?"

I kind of wanted to cry when I heard that question.

I almost replied, "Thinking about you."

But instead, I lied.

"Eating, going to class, sleeping."

"Oh, a good student, huh?

Good students don't bring English books to an industrial design class."

He chuckled.

I froze.

That random book was just something I grabbed because I didn't have a textbook for this class.

"Is the professor speaking a foreign language or something?

Do you think they need you to translate?"

He teased.

The fact that I came to sit in on the class just to see him was ruthlessly exposed by him, and my face turned red with embarrassment.

"Mind your own business."

I shot back.

He laughed coldly.

"If I don't mind, someone's going to get upset.

"

"Not me.

Just leave me alone," I replied, annoyed.

I had no idea why he was so good at pushing my buttons.

"Okay.

I was just trying to lighten the mood," he grinned.

"But you're definitely a handful," he added.

I looked down at my phone, too upset to fight back.

As the lecture wrapped up, the professor mentioned the group project he had assigned before.

And before I could even think about it, Adrian tossed a copy of the assignment my way.

I looked at the elegant handwriting on the sheet, which was far more organized than I thought it would be.

"I'm not even in this class. I don't need it."

I shot the assignment back at him.

"The professor will check it soon.

If you don't turn in a project, you'll freak out."

He insisted, throwing it back again.

I froze.

He was right.

"But if I hand it in, how do I sign my name?

I can't just put my name on it, right?"

"Write your boyfriend's name."

He said, leaning back casually, a hint of amusement on his face.

I was stunned.

After all, I don't have a boyfriend.

Then I realized that he meant Jaxon.

But if I clarified the truth with him, it would look like I was begging him to like me.

Taking a breath, I picked up my pen to write Jaxon's name down.

"How dare you!"

He said angrily.

I froze.

One minute, he told me to write it, but now he said not to.

"This is so confusing."

I muttered.

"It's been three days since you kissed me, but you still don't know who your boyfriend is?"

He asked, looking dead serious.

I didn't know what to say.

I just sat there, frozen.

"Just write my name."

He seemed impatient.

I was taken aback and felt a bit stuck.

"But Jaxon didn't come.

I have to put his name on this assignment.

Otherwise, the professor will know he skipped class."

"Damn!"

He muttered under his breath.

He ripped a piece of paper, bowed his head, and quickly rewrote the assignment, finally signing it as Jaxon. "Take it. Get lost."

After turning in the assignment, he looked like he was in a foul mood.

I had no clue why he suddenly flipped out.

He was always so unpredictable.

Once the lecture was over, he chucked the book at my roommate.

"Help her with this."

Then he yanked me away.

"Adrian, what are you doing? You're hurting me," I said, feeling pretty scared.

When he got riled up, it felt like he could explode at any moment.

He found an empty classroom, shoved me inside, and locked the door behind us.

"What are you doing?"

I asked, feeling anxious.

"What am I doing?

Shouldn't we sort out the things between us?"

He replied, stepping closer.

My heart started racing as fear washed over me.

"Sort out what?" My voice shook.

I had no clue what was making him so mad. My instinct was to pull out my phone and call Jaxon.

But as soon as I did, he snatched it from me and tossed it aside, pinning me against the wall.

"About you messing with Jaxon and messing with me," he said.

"I'm not!

We're just friends."

I insisted.

"Heh..."

He scoffed.

"Friends?

Then why does he keep thinking about making a move on you?"

"What are you talking about?"

I bristled at how he spoke about Jaxon.

"I've known him for six years, and I know exactly what he's like. I like you, and I'm not as shameless as you make me out to be."

Tears started to build in my eyes.

It was tough to admit that I had feelings for him.

"What a great six-year friendship.

If he didn't want you, who the hell would stick around for six years?

Are you really that clueless or just pretending to be?"

His words hit me like a lightning bolt, reshaping everything I thought I understood.

I stood there, completely frozen.

"Not going to respond?

Or are you just acting dumb?"

He watched my expression shift, seeming to enjoy the confusion.

"I've never been someone's fallback, you know. You're bold."

I didn't even realize it, but he leaned in and kissed me. By the time I blinked and processed it, it was a deep kiss.

He whispered, "I need some kind of response."

My head was spinning.

He held me close.

He asked, "Have you been thinking about me these last three days?"

I felt my cheeks turning hot.

"Can you not...?"

"Not what?

"

"Why do you have to kiss me like that?"

I was embarrassed and annoyed. "It's going to send the wrong signals-that you feel differently about me than other girls."

"Do you even care about us?

This is not something you do with just anyone."

I added.

Honestly, I was rambling, and I wasn't sure what I was saying.

But he stood there with a slightly annoyed look on his face.

"So, I can't kiss my girlfriend whenever I want?"

He looked down, lit a cigarette, and bit it in his mouth. He stared at me.

"Who is your girlfriend? Not me!"

I couldn't believe his words.

"That little crybaby, Maisie. She is my girlfriend."

He replied confidently.

11

I felt trapped, like a fish out of water.

My face was burning up.

"You're thinking too much."

I muttered as I reached for my phone.

He leaned back against the desk, silently amused as he watched me.

Once I pulled out my phone, I noticed Jaxon had called multiple times.

"Seriously? You're already cheating on me again now?"

He shot me a look while glancing at my phone and blocking my view with his cigarette.

"I'm not! I just want to see what he wants."

I defended myself.

"Oh?

So you're admitting I'm your boyfriend now?

"

"You..."

I couldn't shake the feeling that he was playing me.

Out of nowhere, he brightened up and started explaining.

"I don't know the girl from just now. I was napping while she borrowed my clothes without asking."

"Why are you even telling me this? It has nothing to do with me."

I said, trying to play dumb.

He didn't seem annoyed, just kept rambling, "I've had a few exes. I guess I'm a jerk.

If that bugs you, there's nothing I can do about it. Anyway, I'm single right now."

"Oh."

Suddenly, things were clicking into place, and I felt a little flutter in my chest.

"I can be pretty hot-headed and possessive.

I don't really care about most things.

But if I catch you flirting with someone else, that's a whole different story."

I fell silent.

"Can I kiss you now?

My girlfriend?"

He asked as he leaned down toward me.

My heart skipped a beat when he dropped the "girlfriend" word. No matter how hard I tried to keep it together, I couldn't help but smile just a little.

He came closer, cupped my face, and kissed me.

This time, his kiss was way softer and more tender than before.

Feeling his gentle touch sent a wave of warmth through my heart, like fireworks going off in my head.

Just then, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Maisie, are you in there?"

It was Jaxon.

A wave of nerves hit me.

For some reason, I didn't want Jaxon to catch me with Adrian, especially not like this.

I pushed Adrian away.

Adrian frowned, clearly not happy.

He then got up and opened the door.

Jaxon barged in, looking ready to confront someone. But the moment he laid eyes on my flushed face, he hesitated before his expression darkened.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?"

His voice deflated, filled with concern and disappointment, though he wasn't actually blaming me.

"I was in class and had it on silent."

I mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

He glanced at me, then at Adrian, staring for what felt like forever.

The room was dead quiet.

He looked down, and when he finally looked back up, he wore a forced smile, "Your roommate said you went missing.

I came to look for you."

"Sorry for worrying you."

I said quietly.

"You should tell someone if you're going somewhere else."

He chided gently.

"Got it,"

I replied.

He shot a glance at Adrian, who was acting completely indifferent.

At that moment, I realized Jaxon seemed a little less impressive than Adrian, and I couldn't help but feel it was because of me.

A pang of guilt hit me hard.

"Let's grab something to eat."

Jaxon suggested, pulling me toward the door.

I looked back at Adrian, unsure how to say no.

"Hmm?"

Adrian tossed his cigarette aside, looking annoyed.

"What, do you want to tag along?"

Jaxon asked Adrian.

"Not really my scene. I'll pass."

Adrian said, giving me a look that clearly communicated he wanted me to make the call.

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

If I went with Jaxon, I'd definitely tick off Adrian.

But if I ditched Jaxon, I'd come off as heartless since I always had lunch with him.

Noticing my dilemma, Adrian turned and walked away.

He was definitely upset.

After taking a few steps, he stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"Aren't you coming?"

I could practically see the shock wash over Jaxon's face at that moment. It quickly turned into disappointment as his smile vanished.

"Um... Jaxon.

I need to talk to Adrian about something.

How about we..."

"Sure, I just remembered I have plans with my roommate to play video games at noon.

If you guys have something to do, I won't hold you back."

He cut in, sounding annoyed, and then turned his back to me.

When Adrian came back and took my hand, I noticed Jaxon's smile was frozen, like he couldn't muster a single ounce of effort.

I felt a wave of sympathy for him.

He turned away, ignoring both Adrian and me.

I couldn't tell for sure, but I could've sworn I saw his eyes were a bit red.

After that, Adrian led me away.

This lunch was the most awkward experience I'd ever had.

I was lost in my own feelings. For two years, I had dreamed of being Adrian's girlfriend. But now that it was real, it didn't feel as exhilarating as I thought it would.

Especially with Jaxon looking so hurt as we left, I felt a genuine pang of regret.

I wondered if I realized too late how he felt and that I was too slow to notice he had deeper feelings for me.

If I had figured it out sooner, like Adrian said, and kept my distance, Jaxon wouldn't have gotten hurt.

12

After lunch, Adrian took me to hang out with his friends.

His crew was totally different from Jaxon's. Their jokes and conversations drifted way over my head, and I felt completely out of place.

I sat there like a fish out of water.

That was fine since I was more focused on how to text Jaxon to explain being with Adrian.

But after thinking it through, I still didn't know where to start.

Later, when Adrian and his friends went to the billiards room, I was still not in the mood.

I kept checking my phone, but there were no texts from Jaxon.

This was the first time all day we hadn't chatted online.

I took out my phone to look through our messages, realizing just how often we used to talk.

"Can you bring me breakfast tomorrow?"

Those were the texts.

"Please bring me a bottle of water.

I'm playing ball."

"My meal card has run out of credit.

Hurry to the cafeteria to rescue me."

"My mom sent over oranges.

Come and have some."

"You're still awake?

Don't stay up late, or you'll get ugly, and no one will want you anymore.

And you'll have to come crawling back to me."

I read through these chat records.

Our chats were just filled with these little things, but we used to talk about them for a long.

He was still my only pinned chat on WhatsApp.

It was because if I took too long to reply or missed a message, he'd pounce on me like a hawk.

"Which guy has our little Maisie so busy she can't text?"

He once asked.

"Which jerk is keeping my Maisie quiet?

"

"If you don't reply soon, I'm going to sell my body for money.

"

"Do I need to call you 'baby' to get a response?

"

...

I still felt speechless when I saw this message.

I didn't reply at that moment because I was in the shower.

I let out a helpless smile.

"Jaxon, the reason I didn't reply is that I was busy for a moment.

Please don't send me those texts. My mom sometimes checks my phone."

I replied. I was so worn out from all this.

One time, when I was back in my home town, Jaxon made such a fuss that my mom saw our texts. I had to explain forever, and she insisted I bring my "boyfriend" home.

But he really wasn't my boyfriend.

I told him, and he confidently replied, "This is my mistake, and I will take responsibility.

If you bring me home, your mom will be very happy that you have a good boyfriend.'"

"Can you please be serious?"

His nonchalant attitude was infuriating.

"If I start acting serious, you might freak out.

"

"I can't deal with you right now.

"

...

As I sat in the billiards room reading those chat logs, my mind was far away.

Suddenly, I felt someone wrap around my waist, and I tensed.

"Are you daydreaming about some other guy?"

Adrian asked. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

"Ah...

No."

I replied, feeling a little guilty and pulling back.

He paused for a moment, then set down his cue.

"I'm done playing it."

"What's wrong?"

I worried he was upset.

"Let's take a walk."

He suggested, taking me outside.

13

We strolled by the river.

The wind was pretty strong, and we passed some kids running around with ice cream.

"You want some?"

He asked.

"No, thank you.

It's not a good time."

I replied quietly.

He studied me for a moment and then smiled, "Alright."

The next thing I knew, he unbuttoned his coat and opened it up.

"Come on in."

I got what he meant but felt shy.

"Ah...

There are people around."

He laughed and pulled me closer, "It's not like we're sneaking around.

What's the big deal?"

Before I could even respond, he wrapped me in his coat.

I could only hear his heartbeat since he was tall and I was much shorter than him.

Everything felt so intimate.

If he buttoned up, no one would have a clue I was there.

I suddenly thought about a news clip I saw. A college guy wrapped his girlfriend in a blanket to sneak her back to his dorm, and even the dorm manager didn't notice.

That thought made me feel embarrassed.

"Warm enough?"

He asked, looking a bit awkward, "I heard you shouldn't catch a chill during...

You know."

"Yeah."

I replied softly.

My heart was racing, and my cheeks burning.

"Why are you so skinny?"

He pinched my shoulder, and his brow furrowed.

"Because I look best in my clothes this way."

I blurted out.

I wasn't slim before. One day, I compared myself to all the girls around him who had tiny waists and legs. So, for a long while, I only ate three-quarters full at mealtimes.

But my face was round and looked a bit chubby, which only fed into my anxiety about appearances.

"Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem.

Well then, you can choose not..."

He trailed off with a teasing smile, and I instantly knew where he was going.

My mind went totally blank.

"I was just kidding! You're way too serious. Why do you take everything I say so literally?"

He laughed and playfully ruffled my hair.

"Oh."

I flinched at his touch, not used to that kind of attention.

"Don't flinch!"

He suddenly stopped and shot me a cheeky look.

"Ah..."

I stood frozen, too nervous to move.

He took a deep breath and gently patted the back of my neck.

"Wait, have you never dated anyone?"

"Nope.

You're my first."

I said sincerely.

I didn't think anything about dating in high school, and I hung around Jaxon all the time.

But it wasn't until university, when I went to watch him play basketball, that I felt my first crush.

He wore this white jersey, ran, jumped, and shot hoops like it was a scene straight out of a movie. He was just so fluid and perfect.

When he made that basket, it felt like a spark hit my heart, and I couldn't get him out of my mind.

It was like he had superpowers. Right after scoring, he glanced at the crowd and locked eyes with me.

I thought I could admire him from afar, but then he flashed a smile in my direction.

It felt like he truly saw me.

He must have known I liked him.

That little crush hung around for two whole years.

After that, I went to almost every basketball game.

I always sat in the stands and hid myself in the crowd with my secret.

Every time I arrived at the court, I felt like my eyes had a radar, homing in just on him. And when I saw him play, everything else in the world faded away.

I seriously couldn't see myself liking anyone else.

"No?

Well, I feel pretty special then."

His smile lit up, and two little dimples formed on his cheeks.

"Thank God."

He said.

"What's that about?"

I was a bit confused.

"Just saying, with how cute you are, it's a miracle you haven't been fucking snatched up by other guys! How do you not have guys falling over you?"

He gazed at me with those warm eyes full of feelings he didn't say out loud.

"You...

Can you stop with the swearing?"

I felt so shy as if we were from two completely different worlds.

He casually let some colorful language slip, which was something I wasn't used to at all.

I'd always been taught to be polite and proper.

He, on the other hand, seemed to live life boldly with no apologies.

"What's the problem?

What did I even do?"

"Do you think I'm too much?

Really?

I can always turn it up if you want me to.

"

He was clearly just having fun with me.

"No way!"

I was close to losing it.

"If you want the real deal, you'll have to wait. This isn't the right time yet."

He leaned in close and whispered, "Just wait until you grow up a little.

That'll be the right time..."

"Adrian!!!"

My cheeks burned bright from his playful teasing.

"Mm.

What's up, babe?"

He called me...

"Baby."

It caught me off guard.

I wondered how he could be so bold.

I completely surrendered at this point.

Looked like my role here was just to be his playful target.

Eventually, he stopped joking around and held me close as we walked slowly together.

'When's your birthday?'

I asked, not wanting things to get awkward.

"All Souls' Day."

He just replied lazily,

"What?"

So I tried again. "No.

I meant your birthday!"

"All Souls' Day."

He repeated.

"What? Don't you believe me?"

"Well...

kinda."

I couldn't believe it.

"I've never really celebrated my birthday.

What's there to celebrate?" he said.

"Wait!

You've never had a birthday party since you were a kid?"

I thought it over. The birthday wasn't something he could decide.

So I felt that it was fine for him to celebrate his birthday.

"How about this. I can help you celebrate next time.

What do you want to do?"

I asked.

He shot me a look.

"I don't celebrate."

I fell silent.

He got angry again.

He was really tough to read.

I stayed quiet.

"I'm not mad at you, you know."

When he saw I wasn't saying anything, he sighed.

"I just have my reasons. I don't celebrate with anyone."

"What reasons?"

I was just casually asking.

But that seemed to make him close up again. He let go of me and started walking away.

So, I followed him, confused.

"Sorry, if you don't want to celebrate, that's fine. Just don't be angry at me."

I rushed a bit to catch up.

Seeing my discomfort, he pulled me back into his arms, saying, "Don't run.

Where are you rushing off to?

Are you nuts?

Silly."

"I..."

I stammered.

"It's not your fault. I'm not mad at you."

He took a deep breath and added.

"I'm just angry at myself."

I froze.

I felt even more puzzled.

"My mom passed away the day I was born."

He said in a calm tone.

That hit me hard.

The mood suddenly felt heavy.

"Don't look at me like that. I was just a baby back then. I had no feelings to connect.

I grew up without her, so I never really felt anything.

So, don't feel sorry for me.

It doesn't bother me.

I just think...

Birthdays are kind of a hassle. What's so special about it, anyway?

A bunch of people sing to you, blow out candles, and think your wishes will magically come true?

Can the dead really come back to life?

Ridiculous, right?"

...

I listened in shock while he poured out the saddest stuff but said it all with such disdain. Suddenly, I felt like I was frozen.

I had never experienced this kind of pain before.

For me, birthdays were always a big deal with my family. I celebrated together with my parents and grandparents, and it felt special because everyone cared.

To me, birthdays meant love, making a wish that might not happen, and that simple cake could brighten up a tough year.

I couldn't even imagine not celebrating a birthday.

I didn't know if he really felt as indifferent about birthdays as he said he did.

I guessed that spending his birthday alone must have been really difficult for him.

I felt like I was missing this huge milestone each year.

After that, I didn't dare to bring up his mom.

Just thinking about it made my heart ache.

I gently took his hand and said, "But...

Can I celebrate your birthday with you someday?"

For a moment, he tensed up, but then he relaxed and said, "Fine.

If you want to be around me, I won't mind."