Aki never meant to fall in love with Lua.
It wasn't in the plan — not after sixteen years of friendship, laughter, scraped knees, and the comfort of someone who'd always been there. But plans rarely survived when feelings started to bloom.
The Saturday evening air was soft and golden, spilling through the open window of her room. The faint scent of rain still lingered from the afternoon drizzle, and somewhere across the narrow street, Lua's curtains moved in the wind. Ten steps. That was the distance between their houses. It had always been ten steps — a distance so small it once felt nonexistent.
Now, it felt like a canyon.
Aki sat on the floor, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring blankly at her phone. No messages. Not that she expected any — she'd been ignoring him for days. Weeks, if she was honest. Each time his name popped up on her screen, her heart stumbled. She couldn't face him. Couldn't breathe when he was near. It wasn't his fault. It was her own heart's betrayal.
"Get over it," she whispered to herself, running a hand through her dark hair. "He's your best friend. That's all."
But her chest didn't listen. Her pulse didn't listen. And the way she still caught herself imagining stupid, romantic things — Lua smiling at her, Lua holding her hand, Lua saying her name like it meant something — that didn't listen either.
Then came the knock.
Three gentle, familiar knocks that made her entire body freeze.
Her heart stuttered. She knew that rhythm.
Lua.
For a second, she thought she was dreaming. He rarely knocked. He usually just walked in with that easy grin, calling her name like always — like they still existed in the same world they used to.
But not tonight. Tonight, he knocked.
Aki scrambled to her feet, brushing imaginary dust off her hoodie, trying to calm her racing heart. She peeked at herself in the mirror. Hair slightly messy, eyes too wide, face pink. Perfect, she thought bitterly. Just perfect.
She hesitated, fingers hovering above the doorknob.
What was she supposed to say? Why are you here? Why are you so close? Why do you make my heart hurt?
She took a breath, forcing her voice steady.
When she opened the door, he was there — Lua, standing on her porch with his usual casual posture, one hand in his pocket, the other holding two cans of soda. The dim porch light caught his white hair, giving it a soft halo. His red eyes, sharp yet kind, flicked up to meet hers.
"Hey," he said with that easy half-smile. "You were alive after all."
Her breath caught. The tone was teasing, but there was something behind it — worry, maybe. Hurt. He hadn't seen her properly all week.
She swallowed hard. "Wha—" her voice came out shaky, and she tried again, colder this time. "What are you doing here?"
Lua raised an eyebrow. "What, can't I visit my best friend anymore?"
Best friend. The words hit harder than they should have. She gripped the edge of the door, trying not to let her emotions spill onto her face.
"I've been knocking for like, two minutes," he continued, tilting his head. "You ignoring me too now, or is your music just that loud?"
Aki shook her head, forcing out a dry laugh. "No, I just… didn't hear."
It was a lie, and Lua's look told her he knew it. But he didn't press. He just handed her one of the sodas.
"Thought we could hang out. Like old times."
She hesitated, fingers brushing his when she took the can. The contact sent a jolt through her chest, and she quickly stepped back, pretending to inspect the drink.
"Lua, I—" she started, but he was already walking past her like always, heading into her living room. He still knew exactly where everything was.
Aki closed the door softly, pressing her back against it. She needed to breathe.
Why did he have to come now? Why couldn't he just let her sort out her feelings in peace?
"Your mom said you were home," Lua called from the couch, popping open his soda. "She looked surprised I hadn't been around lately."
"Right," Aki muttered under her breath. Of course her mom noticed. Everyone probably did.
She walked in, trying to look calm, and sat across from him — far enough to keep her heartbeat in check, close enough that she could still smell that faint hint of his cologne, the same one he'd worn since last year.
Lua leaned back, watching her. "You've been weird lately."
She froze. "Weird?"
"Yeah. You don't text back. You leave early at school. You even crossed the street yesterday to avoid walking home with me."
He said it lightly, but his voice carried something heavier underneath. Something that hurt.
"I just…" she looked away. "Needed some space."
"Space from me?"
The question was quiet, almost too gentle. And it shattered her a little.
"Yes," she said finally, though it barely came out as a whisper.
Lua didn't respond right away. The air between them stretched, thick and uncomfortable. Outside, the cicadas buzzed. Somewhere far off, a car passed by.
Finally, Lua sighed, ruffling his hair. "Did I do something?"
The words made her throat tighten. He sounded genuinely confused. He'd been nothing but kind — always there, always caring. He didn't deserve to be pushed away. But how could she tell him the truth? That every second near him made her heart race so fast it scared her? That she couldn't look at him without wanting more?
"No," she whispered. "You didn't."
He frowned, leaning forward. "Then what's wrong? You can tell me, Aki."
She bit her lip. The way he said her name — softly, patiently — almost broke her.
"I can't," she said, barely audible.
Lua's expression softened. He stood, walked over, and crouched down in front of her. He was taller even when kneeling, his presence warm, his gaze gentle. "Hey," he murmured, trying to catch her eyes. "Whatever it is, you don't have to shut me out."
Her breath hitched. His hand hovered for a second, almost touching hers — almost.
And that almost was enough to send her heart spiraling.
"I—" she started, but her voice trembled too much to continue.
Lua tilted his head. "Aki?"
She looked at him — really looked at him. The softness of his smile, the way his hair fell over his forehead, the tiny scar under his jaw from when they were kids. Every detail felt too familiar, too precious.
She wanted to tell him. Wanted to say everything. But fear won.
She stood up suddenly, stepping back. "I just… can't, Lua. Not right now."
He blinked, clearly thrown off by her sudden movement. "Aki, what—"
"Please." Her voice cracked, and she turned away. "Just go home, okay?"
Lua stared at her for a long moment. The silence stretched until it hurt. Then, quietly, he set his soda down on the table.
"Alright," he said softly. "If that's what you want."
He moved toward the door, his footsteps slow. Just before leaving, he stopped and looked back at her. His red eyes met hers, not angry — just sad, confused, and full of something unspoken.
"I don't know what's going on," he said, "but I'll wait. You know I will."
Then he left.
The door clicked shut, and Aki felt her knees give out. She sank to the floor, hands trembling, eyes burning.
"I'm sorry," she whispered into the quiet. "I just… can't stop loving you."
Outside, Lua stood on her porch, staring at the closed door. The night air was cool against his skin, but inside his chest, something heavy lingered — a feeling he couldn't quite name yet.
He didn't know what Aki was hiding, but he knew one thing for sure.
He wasn't going to let her drift away.