"EVER WONDERED WHY YOU KEEP ON LOVING THAT SAME PERSON EVEN WHEN THE ODDS CHANGE OR THEY CHANGE OR PEOPLE TRY TO SEPARATE YOU EVEN WHEN YOU GUYS DON'T GIVE PERMISSION?, WELL THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S TRUST AND A DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU TWO AND IT NEVER SEEMS TO FADE AWAY EVEN WHEN YOU ARE MILES APART".
As the days went by, I couldn't ignore the fact that I was feeling more and more drawn to her. It wasn't just about seeing her smile or hearing her laugh anymore. It was deeper than that. I kept thinking about the moments we shared, the glances, the quiet conversations. Every little interaction felt like it carried weight, and I couldn't help but wonder if she felt it too. I kept telling myself to be patient, to wait for the right moment. But that moment never seemed to come. Every time I saw her, the feelings only grew stronger, more urgent. My heart raced whenever she was near, and I found myself constantly thinking about her. What would it be like if I told her? Would she feel the same way, or would I be risking everything we had built? I couldn't help but imagine what it would look like—us together, sharing moments, laughing, talking about everything and nothing at the same time. I wanted to know her better, to be closer, but fear kept holding me back. What if she didn't feel the same? What if I ruined everything? Despite the growing certainty in my heart that she felt the same, I couldn't bring myself to take that step. I wasn't ready to say the words out loud, to expose myself fully. The fear of ruining everything held me back. So, I kept my feelings locked inside, buried under layers of friendship, music, and shared interests. We were in our own little world, the two of us. Conversations flowed easily, whether we were talking about movies, our favorite songs, or just laughing at silly jokes. I sang, sometimes out of nowhere, and though she found it a little weird, she always knew what I was getting at. It wasn't perfect, but it felt real. There was something about the way we connected—our shared love for music and movies, our discussions about school, our quiet moments—that told me we were on the same wavelength. In the classroom, we worked together like a team. Our study sessions felt natural, comfortable, like we were partners in everything, even if neither of us admitted it yet. I couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same way I did, but I couldn't bring myself to ask. I didn't want to ruin the delicate balance we had. Still, deep down, I knew. She had feelings for me, but just like me, she was afraid to say it. We were both stuck, locked in this silent dance, both waiting for the other to make the first move.
One day, everything changed. Our class teacher, who had recently taken over, decided to change our seats. And suddenly, she was sitting right in front of me. It felt like the universe had conspired to bring us closer. The physical distance between us had shrunk, but more importantly, so had the emotional distance. Our connection deepened even further. We were so close now—almost too close, but in the best way possible. With every glance, every quiet exchange, I felt the bond growing stronger. There was no denying it anymore. The feeling was undeniable. I was falling for her, and I was sure she felt the same. I could see it in her eyes, the way she looked at me, the way her smile lingered just a little longer than usual. It was like we were both caught in this silent world of shared emotions, neither of us willing to break the stillness with words. One day, as we worked together on a class assignment, our hands brushed. Just a slight touch, but it was enough to send a jolt through me. I knew it was real now. The feelings I had for her, the way I wanted to be near her, to protect her, to make her smile—it was all more than just infatuation. I was sure she was the one. No one could convince me otherwise. She looked at me, and for a split second, I saw something in her eyes that mirrored what I was feeling. But even then, we both hesitated. Neither of us could bring ourselves to speak the words. There were so many unspoken feelings between us, but also a fear of ruining it all. We were two souls caught in the same silent dance, unable to make the first move. And yet, the more time we spent together, the more I realized that this connection was real. It wasn't just fleeting attraction or a crush. It was something deeper, something that neither of us could ignore.
The moment I was waiting for had arrived. That day, it was clear to me—she felt the same way. It wasn't a guess anymore. I was sure. It was closing time, and we were all getting ready to head home. As I gathered my things, my sister called out to me, asking if I was ready to go. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. She waved at me, a simple gesture, but to me, it meant everything. I waved back, feeling a smile creeping up on my face. But then, something unexpected happened. She called out to my sister. My heart skipped a beat. Did I just hear that right? My sister, of course, noticed my confusion. She laughed and teased me, saying, "Didn't you hear that? She called me in-law, What's up with that?" I stood there, frozen for a moment, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The way she said that, the way she smiled—it was like a quiet confirmation, one that I couldn't deny anymore. It was a sign, a sign that she felt the same way I did. I realized at that moment that everything I had been feeling, everything I had been holding back, wasn't just one-sided. She felt it too. It gave me the courage to finally believe that maybe, just maybe, I could tell her how I felt. I could approach her now. I could express what had been building up inside me for so long. She had been the girl I thought I could never have. The girl I doubted I could ever be close to, yet here she was, right in front of me, showing me that maybe we had more in common than I had ever imagined. I felt like I had been given a second chance, and I wasn't going to waste it. From that moment on, I knew. She wasn't just a friend to me anymore. There was something deeper between us, something both unspoken and undeniable. People around us started to notice the connection too, though no one knew the full story. They thought we were a couple—everyone assumed we were dating, but we knew the truth. We were more than friends, but we weren't quite there yet. Not out loud, at least. Still, every glance, every smile, and every word we exchanged said it all. And in that moment, I promised myself: tomorrow, I'd take the leap. Tomorrow, I was going to tell her how I truly felt. Because I knew, deep down, she was my girl.
Even though I had been so sure of my feelings for her, even after everything that had happened, I still hadn't told her. It wasn't that I didn't want to; it was just... life. The next day came, and I was ready to go for it, but it just didn't happen. I was caught up in schoolwork, caught up in everything. The pressure of being a student, balancing my studies, and, honestly, the excitement of just seeing her every day—it kept me distracted. The time seemed to fly by. I'd gotten so caught up in the hustle and bustle of school, preparing for exams, finishing assignments, and just living in the moment that I forgot to act on what was in my heart. And yet, somehow, I wasn't upset. In a way, I felt okay with it. After all, I knew she was there, and I could feel that she was part of my world, even if I didn't tell her outright. But then, one of my inner friends told me, to be specific, the part of me that always gave me advice, the creative part of me along with Scott and some others kept telling me not to rush it. Don't rush to say what's been building up inside of you. Let it flow naturally. Let it come when the time feels right. And that's exactly what I did. I didn't push it. I let things unfold on their own. Maybe it was fate, maybe it was the way things were meant to be. But I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't going to rush it.
As the days passed, things between Nadira and I became more natural, more familiar. The initial awkwardness from my confession seemed to melt away, and we started to settle into a rhythm. Our connection grew stronger—not in a dramatic or sudden way, but in small, everyday moments. I could feel the bond between us deepening, even though we didn't talk about it directly. We were still friends, and that was enough for now. I noticed how much more comfortable we were around each other, how our conversations had become easier. Sometimes it felt like she could read my thoughts before I even said a word. And I wasn't the only one who saw it—others started noticing too. But then, the rumors began. It wasn't long before I started hearing whispers, but they weren't about me—they were about Nadira. People started saying things I didn't want to believe, rumors that she might have feelings for someone else. At first, I tried to ignore them. After all, gossip spreads like wildfire in school, and most of it never amounted to anything real. But as the days passed, the rumors seemed to grow louder. People mentioned a name—another guy, someone from another class. I didn't know him, but the idea that Nadira could like someone else gnawed at me. It was frustrating, confusing. We were closer than ever, so why would she be interested in anyone else? But no matter how much I tried to brush it off, the thought lingered in the back of my mind. I started paying closer attention to the way people looked at her, the way they talked around us. Was she giving me any signs that the rumors were true? Had something changed between us without me realizing it?
I didn't want to believe it, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. And then, I saw it—that slight change in her, the way she sometimes seemed distant, as if her mind was somewhere else. I didn't know if it was just my imagination, fueled by the rumors, or if something really was happening. One day, I decided I couldn't keep it inside anymore. I had to know. During break, I found a moment when we were alone. My heart was pounding, but I kept my voice as calm as I could.
"I've been hearing things," I said, trying to sound casual even though the words felt heavy. "People are talking about you... and some guy."
She looked at me, a flicker of something in her eyes—surprise, maybe, or discomfort. I couldn't tell.
"I know people talk," she said, her voice steady but quieter than usual. "But it's not true. They're just rumors."
I wanted to believe her, and for a moment, I did. But the rumors had done their damage, planting seeds of doubt that were hard to shake.
"It's not true?" I asked, needing to hear her say it again, to feel certain.
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's not true, Amir. There's nothing going on with anyone else." Her words should have put me at ease, but part of me couldn't help wondering why the rumors started in the first place. And more importantly—did she even care about what people were saying? Was she as affected by this as I was?
We stood there for a moment, the silence stretching between us. I didn't want to press her any further, afraid that pushing too hard might make things worse. So I let it go, even though the uncertainty lingered. Even after that conversation, I could still feel the weight of the rumors hanging in the air. It wasn't that I didn't trust her—I did. But the whispers didn't stop, and they made me question everything. Every time I saw her talking to someone else, laughing with her friends, I couldn't help but wonder if there was something I was missing. Was I being paranoid? Or was there something real beneath the surface?
The truth was, the rumors had started to affect me. Even though Nadira and I were still close, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us. Maybe it was my own insecurity, or maybe it was just the way rumors have a way of twisting things, but it felt like there was a crack in the foundation we'd been building.
I hated that the gossip had this kind of power over me, but it did. That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened. The rumors, the conversation with Nadira, the uncertainty that wouldn't go away. I knew I should trust what she'd told me, but the doubts were still there, lurking in the back of my mind. I didn't know what to do next. Part of me wanted to confront the rumors head-on, to talk to Nadira again and really get to the bottom of it. But another part of me was scared—scared of what I might find out, scared of pushing her away. The bond we had was strong, but it felt fragile now, like it could break if I wasn't careful. I didn't know how much longer I could keep pretending that the rumors didn't bother me. As I drifted off to sleep, the questions kept swirling in my head: Was I overthinking it? Was I letting other people's words get in the way of something good? Or was there something I wasn't seeing, something Nadira wasn't telling me? I didn't have the answers. All I knew was that, whatever happened next, it would change everything.