Triadic Confessions of Love

erve to write a lov

n the hallway and said, "So you like

el my chee

I don't have

te, playfully pinched

now y

t, he cupped my f

n Adrian Saunders

tment, I secretly signed up for

ting my head on my desk while watc

s felt

e letter on Christmas Day, but it fell

being discovered and

I accidentally signed it wit

re university was

ipped them

lose fight betw

shivering at the basketball

ving me a hard ti

Warren strolle

ha

rian's name mad

y best g

lue about my c

ess that the letter was mine.

g of the

oup of tall boys stro

in the middle with his mess

y, I ducked

casually and offere

s, I don'

on

k and forth between us be

t time he had e

ting to ge

ur girlfriend won

head and taking a dr

was Jaxon's

ut to clear that

letter if you have a girlfr

ke, then casually

ed sharply against the floor. It was as

rio

t messing w

at's not c

otaged Adrian's ch

ig

pt him up

in crawl at

ly knew how to

ut

back, glar

antly qui

you?" Jaxon l

with me. That love

nto g

just randomly wrote a love

expressio

d out who it was, I

ned, looki

omeone

me out o

n't c

air in frustration

d this mess sho

ave me

h of the chai

od, saying, "Who caused this

now I li

. well, w

and turned slightly, hi

uh

s voice was a b

and softened his tone, "I

y only in

y responding, "I've already bee

u, I'll get moc

won't

figure out a plan

ed, moving c

come ne

d back, creat

N

rying to t

n fr

no

th a fight," Adrian decla

ut I was worried they mig

nd caught a glimpse o

he had an

oat we

and I stumbled into Adrian's arms,

mm

ice rumbling above m

went b

checkin

had enough

ckled

I was j

utte

plain that I h

say anyt

look that was soft ye

uld sink thro

rian was getting

and reluctantly to

, how ab

as to handl

in s

between sixteen-pac

owering guys, both around 6 feet

please d

and tried t

eight worked against me, and I f

aned in cl

do with you. Step b

as A

ng still as he h

you grabb

hen he saw me i

me

ch really cons

what real grabb

n sco

escalating further, I q

t need to ta

ing beside me and saying, "

orked up over so

something yo

I could feel the tensio

t. We won

said, as if de

picking up

o me, gesturing

M

to myself,

h, y

gentle and co

ook a step closer to

s hands on his knees, lo

s your

ashes, and his lips looked red from exercis

ly opened

ie Th

ed for

le spread acr

ais

ea

lied

would sound so beautif

ized by him and couldn'

up, ran a hand through his

end is quite

..

that I wasn't Ja

hadow suddenly loomed over me, and

light hit me, and in the next moment, my

nt silent i

onds, he pulled a

axon, "Now d

if I like gi

that, he gl

y, your girlfriend s

ria

r and threw a punc

here, taking the hi

I noticed some blood dripping from Adrian's nose, wh

re you

y rushed in to see

ation escalate

nd fear, frozen in plac

ual flick of his hand and looked a

ee there's

instantly

otally worth it,

huckled

he did it

t desperate

you even

ted, looki

" Adrian replied, g

for a girl like

mn

dy to charge

, Adrian didn

und and warned him in a low

f nowhere, tears started

upset that I had kissed my crush, on

n was my

so many times, but I never imagi

writing that

ow ignored Adrian. He came ove

don'

unding a bi

yself into his arms

fight a

sa

d me t

I won't

t before handing me a pack of tiss

d down, Jaxon walked

heavy guilt weighing on me

ant. My mind stuck on Adrian kissing

ough the social media post, and

n, I ha

needed

send, I cras

ng and opened my social media

ad gotten mu

Adrian actually

to cry

wro

he was doing

usands of comments? Suddenly, the whole

paying attent

axon's fight from yesterday, titled "Tw

as if it

ns slid into my D

trying to b

ve each

e you in

ma q

g

e giving me a

ht abou

w he could ac

t into me. But why did he dr

s fu

s. Jaxon sent me a message saying he'd gamed

class with m

me, so I went unnoticed. Plus, my roomm

h class, the professor s

y for me to hel

ver for me,

WhatsApp message,

, "Here," I quickly shuffled to the back, pulled the hoo

was called, I qu

eaking, someone kicke

hat I buried my head i

commotion, and I was too

for a moment before mo

gh of relief. I was

around to see who was behind

ze and tilted h

e he was sayi

antly

looke

eve he was in t

with him, so I acted

where, he kicke

ou

eally pu

t him a glare, but he

oing a great job a

s it t

but when I looked at him, my voi

a.

sco

business. I don't want s

ha

you sa

nuinely

. I also throw punches

nice girl. I can't de

ou

riously a

up and went back t

lur. He had me so rattled I co

mmates were all on my si

rian always

ly know

ig

eone so cute can have su

fits the Capri

someone, the more

ai

he might actu

..

king Adrian, I felt too embarra

gh if they found out

dia post somehow disappeared. Jax

ccasionally rant

t way back to high school and e

hough we were definitel

s a bit lazy and often skipped classes, s

ou're too

iend and can't forget you?" he

roll my e

saying

e, I m

2 and you're free too, I

ou're cu

nche

uch a cute face wi

actually had a cr

hit the ba

ted me on

m not great

ging me around t

f adventures at

just f

won't make

o's going to drag me

gh

idea how

on was thinking, alway

a bunch of times, I still felt

ng for Jaxon to get tipsy enough for me to drag him b

t, I found out it was ac

rls showed up

our bir

d, sur

h.

that you do

pou

t res

ou say you were

e you

pt si

short, awk

in closer,

r, it gives you a

no

as well hug

ends te

yed chill

If he and I were gonna be tog

the laughter died down, we

ria

nted at a n

tting there, his pierc

ked ou

back, too scare

. Should we in

one

ur

me, then stood

pine, wondering how I

his friends ac

even when he wasn't looking a

a birthday song for Jaxon w

ad down the

to sneak a glance, I caught Adri

really write t

ed getting lively, and someon

e on, do you really

rious as you a

had to

said con

, it wa

insi

matches your as

it? I took a pict

olor drain f

y'd discover I was the one

find out

ke I could

Jaxon int

letter was wri

e with my a

eft spe

are had c

completely qui

s reacting. He was chuckling to hims

yes were on me, while I

for their

is that love

ked, hal

d the air as

ickled down

s the b

ice broke t

und the c

ed confused b

p and casually

"You can

M

ou se

d up, s

drinking, so you c

ith a rel

tying. I'll be ba

ced at

e if I shoul

y yourself

d, grippi

't l

be gone f

chuckled

o keep her too l

held the

lt t

to go, but I had a fe

ortly. Just don'

ally

ka

drian a caut

el

ou need a

ot

led Adrian to

e I was unsure how t

fuss, maintaining silence, whi

e bathroom door, I

It's righ

me for a seco

o somewh

s

uh

ske

at was happening as he

the door

it, and I felt

n, sa

lled out a cigar

ut w

ned in

huck

o enjoy his smoke

es about five mi

sai

ha

actually trying to di

ever tr

sa

give it

ed an e

med sharper, and that eyebrow raise

just

d, still

e but

ting straight

ite that lo

ed a beat, and

es

pulled out his phone, an

ttier, would you notice w

s sh

as from the let

lly re

me, and I couldn

med that my mi

d to watch you fal

fro

that suppos

n't a

p, hoping he woul

ave a cru

his cigarette and tu

ade my secret crush I'd held

then surged, as I

e

id you writ

off more

helming, and I was on the verge of tears. But he

ut of habit since I help him with

u believ

nt still f

t into

e anything

're capabl

ou

t my

lt exposed and wounded,

and froze

he sighed, stepped closer, a

made me so shy I felt

wanting to

ocking eyes wit

ade all the girls

ou gonna d

ittle

n't a

de me blush as

e you c

ied to back away, bu

wrong wi

wanna bi

H

s that e

ske

do I

ed, "When I kiss you, there'll be p

mind around it, he cupp

deepened, he

really b

ing. I felt froze

he pull

as incr

of blood from his

got shar

l, he looked at me, a p

..

a loss

mpletely

ned it would happen like this. He didn't

ok at me

th mock se

't han

h.

ed down, feeli

to

fi

ruffle my hair and pull

idn't have the guts to ask why he

iately started chatting, but I was

at I might have just

t's

sked, c

e hurt

N

t meet Ja

he'd sense som

nkfully concealed

he tries to hurt you, I'll b

me, noting m

o.

g happ

heck my phone to

in

Adrian g

ondered

tangled up w

ow what h

e else

at the menti

t someone would f

s that art stude

l now. He's got no time hangin

ght

out for dates and still

felt like my heart w

st painful

e really that

ing in to sneak a

d a drink in one go

e it was wine u

lcohol burne

d made me want

eld it

uing to drink with his friends u

ith me by writing

leaning

clearly

isi

taken

, get

eing s

ke up, and I'll sh

rive yo

tarted to

tinued, I could no longer hold b

's wr

, noticing

I

drank something to

d to my

ting Jaxon to k

m to give me a h

riefly, then patted my

sil

ered off to get me

more and work on your skill

g me the hot wa

Adrian had been, and I couldn't he

p again, even after e

of where he went f

I didn't feel like I

have his Wha

nder why he had kissed

d what I

ushed him away whe

my mind and made it impo

days f

ke forever wit

d a lecture that Adri

gh at myself for knowin

on some light makeup before headin

ped into the clas

t asleep a

nto our seat

iced a girl sitting next to

sank at t

gretted coming

ture, the professor st

alized he was in this class too. And,

ly replied,

d his head, our eyes lo

rpris

gnized

for a moment before f

beside him, "Ta

s calm yet

m c

wh

to your dorm. You're just

icture the cold

up in a huff, tossi

real ed

n't want to disturb his sleep further,

lt his shadow

e," he said

tioning for me to take th

pt s

if I hadn't

just let that gi

reason to

come over

ld I ca

s sharp, alm

arrassing yourself, I

dr

push

g my lip and gi

ed for

lly glanced a

switch

do you

here. What do you

we're scar

ice wavered, cle

..

ing to speak. He finall

g to chee

es wi

shocked

my roommate

hings and switch

gers on the table, and he stole glances at me. "

to cry when I hea

ied, "Thinkin

stead,

ing to clas

ood stud

ng English books to an

huck

fr

hing I grabbed because I didn't

peaking a foreign l

they need you

tea

just to see him was ruthlessly exposed by hi

ur own b

ot b

ghed c

d, someone's go

ot

alone," I re

he was so good at

ka

to lighten the m

finitely a han

my phone, too ups

professor mentioned the group

k about it, Adrian tossed a

on the sheet, which was far more o

n this class. I

assignment

sor will ch

n in a project,

throwing it

fr

as r

it in, how do

put my name o

r boyfrien

casually, a hint of

s st

don't have

zed that he

with him, it would look like

cked up my pen to wri

dare

id an

fr

me to write it, bu

s so co

utt

u kissed me, but you still don

looking de

know wh

at there

rite my

med im

back and felt

xon did

his name on th

ofessor will know

am

ed under

and quickly rewrote the assignment, finall

signment, he looked lik

why he suddenl

ays so unp

over, he chucked th

er with

yanked

g? You're hurting me," I s

it felt like he could

om, shoved me inside, and

re you

feeling

am I

rt out the thin

d, steppi

d racing as fea

hat?" My vo

im so mad. My instinct was to p

ed it from me and tossed it asi

ith Jaxon and messin

m n

just f

nsi

eh

coff

ien

ep thinking about m

you talk

how he spoke

xactly what he's like. I like you, and I'm

ed to build

dmit that I had f

at six-year

who the hell would stic

t clueless or just

tning bolt, reshaping everyt

re, complet

ing to

u just ac

ion shift, seeming to

eone's fallback, you

in and kissed me. By the time I blinke

I need some kin

was sp

ld me

en thinking about me t

cheeks t

you n

t w

ave to kiss m

ng to send the wrong signals-that you fe

ven care

ething you do w

ad

ling, and I wasn't s

ith a slightly annoy

s my girlfriend

garette, and bit it in h

r girlfrien

t believe

aby, Maisie. She

ied con

d, like a fis

was bu

hinking t

s I reached

the desk, silently am

one, I noticed Jaxon ha

e already cheatin

cing at my phone and blockin

st want to see

nded m

O

tting I'm your

ou

the feeling that

brightened up and

now. I was napping while she bo

ling me this? It has

rying to

kept rambling, "I've had a

othing I can do about it. A

O

ing into place, and I felt

ty hot-headed

ly care abou

g with someone else, that'

ll s

kiss

rlfri

he leaned do

riend" word. No matter how hard I tried to keep it

cupped my face

as way softer and mor

ave of warmth through my heart, l

e was a loud kn

are you i

as J

f nerves

t Jaxon to catch me with Adri

d Adria

ned, clearl

up and ope

ne. But the moment he laid eyes on my flushed fa

you answer

concern and disappointment, thou

ass and had

avoiding

at Adrian, staring for

was dea

ooked back up, he wore a forced smile

o look f

or worry

d qui

meone if you're goi

ided

t i

epl

rian, who was acting c

little less impressive than Adrian, and I

guilt hi

b somethin

d, pulling me

t Adrian, unsur

mm

cigarette aside,

ou want to

asked

my scene.

k that clearly communicated

tween a rock a

xon, I'd definite

come off as heartless since

ma, Adrian turned

efinitel

ps, he stopped and loo

t you

Jaxon's face at that moment. It quickly turn

.. J

k to Adrian a

bout

have plans with my roommate

mething to do, I wo

annoyed, and then tu

noticed Jaxon's smile was frozen, like h

ve of sympa

, ignoring bot

but I could've sworn I s

, Adrian l

most awkward expe

med of being Adrian's girlfriend. But now that it was re

ng so hurt as we left, I fe

w he felt and that I was too slow to

ke Adrian said, and kept my distan

took me to hang ou

Their jokes and conversations drifted way ove

like a fish

e focused on how to text Jaxo

through, I still didn'

ends went to the billiards roo

hone, but there were

time all day we had

rough our messages, realizing

ng me breakf

ere the

ng me a bot

aying

d has run ou

cafeteria t

sent ove

nd hav

e stil

ou'll get ugly, and no o

to come crawli

ugh these c

these little things, but we us

only pinned ch

ng to reply or missed a message

little Maisie so bu

nce

s keeping my

soon, I'm going to s

ll you 'baby' to

.

echless when I s

hat moment because

a helple

idn't reply is that I

hose texts. My mom som

as so worn out

such a fuss that my mom saw our texts. I had to explai

ly wasn't m

replied, "This is my mistake,

mom will be very happy that

please be

t attitude wa

ng serious, you

al with you

.

room reading those chat

eone wrap around my

eaming about s

aned down and kisse

h.

o

g a little guilty

moment, then s

ne play

's wr

ed he w

take

ed, taking

led by t

and we passed some kids ru

want

ask

thank

t a goo

ied qu

a moment and then

, he unbuttoned his c

e on

he meant bu

h.

e people

e closer, "It's not lik

the big

n respond, he wrap

beat since he was tall and

g felt so

no one would have

uy wrapped his girlfriend in a blanket to sneak her bac

made me fee

m en

kward, "I heard you should

kn

ea

lied

acing, and my

you so

houlder, and hi

best in my clo

urte

he girls around him who had tiny waists and legs. So, for

a bit chubby, which only fed in

e how that woul

you can cho

sing smile, and I instant

ent total

y too serious. Why do you take

d playfully r

O

uch, not used to tha

t fli

pped and shot m

h.

en, too nerv

h and gently patted

you never da

op

e my

d sin

dating in high school, and I h

hen I went to watch him play bask

shot hoops like it was a scene straight out

like a spark hit my heart, and I

ight after scoring, he glanced at

from afar, but then he flas

ike he tr

ve known I

h hung around fo

t to almost every

nds and hid myself in t

es had a radar, homing in just on him. And when I sa

n't see myself li

N

l pretty sp

d two little dimples

nk G

s

s that

bit co

le you haven't been fucking snatched up by other

warm eyes full of feelin

ou

op with th

e were from two compl

language slip, which was som

taught to be p

seemed to live life b

s the

id I e

hink I'm

al

urn it up if y

y just having

wa

ose to l

, you'll have to wait. Thi

hispered, "Just wait unt

e the rig

ria

bright from his

M

s up,

lled

ab

ht me o

how he coul

surrendered a

here was just to b

g around and held me close a

your b

anting things

Souls

replie

ha

ied aga

your b

Souls

epea

n't you b

el

nd

n't bel

ally celebrate

to celebrat

ai

birthday party si

e birthday wasn't som

s fine for him to ce

I can help you ce

you want

as

t me a

't cel

ll s

angry

ally toug

yed q

ad at you,

sn't saying anyt

asons. I don't cel

reas

t casuall

close up again. He let go of

lowed him

to celebrate, that's fine.

a bit to

pulled me back into his

you rush

you

ll

..

amme

fault. I'm no

deep breat

angry at

fr

ven more

d away the da

in a c

hit m

suddenly

I was just a baby back then.

her, so I never re

feel sor

n't bot

t thi

a hassle. What's so sp

low out candles, and think your

really come

lous,

.

e saddest stuff but said it all with such

rienced this kin

ily. I celebrated together with my parents and grand

ish that might not happen, and that sim

magine not celebr

felt as indifferent about b

birthday alone must have b

missing this huge

idn't dare to b

about it made

his hand and

your birthday wi

ed up, but then he re

be around me,