2
That afternoon, I didn’t go to the restaurant he always took me to.
I didn’t order his favorite spicy chicken ahead of time, like I usually did.
I just went to the library by myself and studied all afternoon.
It wasn’t until dusk that my phone screen lit up. It was the first message from Leo all day.
[Dinner tonight?]
12.19
12.19
Chapter 1
I glanced at it and didn’t reply.
The comments immediately flooded my vision:
[Answer him, sweetie! Leo’s already backing down!]
[Why are you playing hard to get now? It’s a huge deal for Leo to message first!]
[That’s just how guys are! They’re too proud to apologize, but this is his way of making up!]
I turned off my phone screen and went back to my book.
Not five minutes later, another message came in.
[Where are you? I’ll pick you up.]
I didn’t reply. I didn’t even open it.
The notification light blinked for a while before finally going dark.
That evening, I went for a run on the campus track.
It was the first time I hadn’t told him where I was going.
1 had just finished one lap when i heard someone call my name. “Mia.”
I stopped and turned. Leo was standing on the edge of the track, wearing that familiar black windbreaker.
He walked toward me, a bottle of water in his hand.
“I thought you said your cold wasn’t better yet, that you weren’t going to run?”
“I’m in a good mood today. Felt like a walk.”
He frowned, handing me the water. “Is your throat still sore?”
I took the bottle but didn’t open it.
The comments popped up again:
[He won’t say it, but he’s worried sick! He searched the entire campus just to find you!]
[He’s afraid to admit he’s worried you’ll think he’s being too emotional. Ugh, why does Leo always live by these stupid, unspoken rules?]
[Sweetie, don’t be so cold to him. What if you break his heart…]
I took a sip of water, my voice calm. “Did you need something?”
He stared at me for a few seconds before asking, “Are you mad?”
I didn’t answer.
“Is it because of Stella?”
I met his gaze. “Isn’t she your friend from childhood? What right do I have to be mad?”
Leo was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, “She’s not my type.”
I let out a small, humorless laugh. “Then what is your type?”
His eyes darted away. He didn’t answer.
12.19
Chapter 1
I didn’t press him. I just said softly, “If you don’t like her, then keep your distance. Don’t give people the wrong idea, and don’t embar-
rass me.”
“You’ve always known we’re just friends,” he said, his voice stiff. “I haven’t done anything to cross the line.”
“But it makes me uncomfortable,” I said, looking right at him. “Do you get that? It doesn’t matter if you cross a line. Just the sight of you standing next to her is enough to make me miserable.”
A heavy silence fell between us.
The comments were in a frenzy:
[Leo, say something! Our girl has spelled it out for you!]
[Holy crap, Leo, if you don’t explain yourself now, it’s going to be too late!]
[He’s totally panicking inside, but he doesn’t know how to express it… Just give him a little more time!]
waited. But no response came.
Leo just stood there, his expression a mask of restraint, as if he were fighting a battle with himself, or maybe just completely lost.
And I suddenly realized, that was the problem between us.
He was always used to silence, and I was always used to speaking for him.
Used to believing the voices of the comments, instead of the truth of his silence.
I didn’t reply to any more of his messages that night.
And he didn’t try to contact me again.
Until two in the morning, when I saw her new post.
It was a selfie from Stella.
She was on the outdoor patio of a quiet, off–campus bar.
Candlelight flickered in the photo as she flashed a peace sign at the camera.
The top comment was glowing:
[The person taking the pic is Leo, right? I get it, I get it~]
I stared at it for a few seconds, then tossed my phone aside.
The comments were still there, working overtime to explain it all away:
[Leo wasn’t even looking at Stella! He’s just using her to make you jealous!]
[Don’t believe the picture, he didn’t even take it! He was just passing by!]
[He was sitting there thinking about you! He’s still waiting for you to back down first!]
I stared up at the ceiling and slowly closed my eyes.
After a while, you hear so many excuses that you just go numb.
No matter how real they sound, they lose all their power.
