FORBIDDEN ROMANCE

ccer with the boys or laughing with the uncles. But that year, something changed. Lucas had always been around. Since he was three years older than me, he was already in college whil

ons and expectations, where every gathering feels like a carefully choreographed dance. Yet, beneath all that polish, I carry secret feelings I've been taught to hide. Even now, as I navigate the ups and downs of adolescence, I find myself caught between what I'm expected to feel and what my heart truly whispers especially when it comes to someone I shouldn't be drawn to. I've always believed that being sensible meant keeping my emotions in check, but lately, I'm learning that some feelings

os?" Lucas's voic

is dark hair was a little messier than usual, and the way the golden light hit his face made s

to act normal, even though

ckets, casual but effortlessly cool.

Rita hasn't stopped talking about h

while, watching the sky shift from orange to deep blue. The

e said suddenly, hi

t him. "What

e. "I don't know... You're not the l

hould've rolled my eyes, laughed it off like I

said, crossing my arms.

ked. "I ca

his tone, something different. For the first time, I saw Lucas in a way I wasn't supposed to. He wasn'

looking away. "Are you exc

ge is exhausting, though. Yo

think I'll lo

s head. "You always did l

as we talked about other things, his classes, my school life, rand

ad raced when he stood close. I knew it was wrong. I knew it didn't make sense. But that was the moment it started,