【Am clubbing these two because the two main characters of this one have those elements as their powers. And also... I'm very lazy.】
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BbT7nAsKA
2027 - 4th year finals
"We had a weird little love quadrilateral going, didn't we?
Six years back, I was reeling over the fact that one of your best friends, whom I was dating, was secretly using me and another guy for a weird brain experiment. The funny thing is, the other guy was the one who you were crushing on.
I was there when you told him. You said it as if it was no big deal. It felt that way to me too, at the time.
To recap, you had a crush on my best friend, I had a crush on your best friend, who was experimenting on both sides of the equation. Even till now, I haven't managed to wrap my head around it.
Maybe that's what Aurelia and I have in common. We always feel the need to understand everything. Maybe that's the quality we liked most in each other, way back when.
But I don't know what happened in year 3 that threw me off my game like this. Life was going on well, we were all getting used to this new order.
Aurelia was never around anymore, usually working late. In hindsight, I don't know if she was actually working or just felt bad. You guys were all confused over who to pick sides with. You finally picked neither, and maintaining a neutral stance during war when you're not directly involved is usually a pretty solid move. Lead and I teamed up, having both been hurt by the same girl.
Life went on. Until I don't know what got into me.
I think that was the time I started feeling all weird around you. Sure, we've always talked and I was fine but then I somehow started feeling... it's complicated.
Okay, I just need to think... by the look on your face, you're really confused.
There was that time you helped Lead with his project, the one with the unstable gravity field. You were so patient, explaining the math to him, even though you were clearly swamped with your own work. I remember watching you, helping him with that tech. He was struggling, and you just… you made it okay. You always make things okay.
Then there was the time we were all studying for the elemental theory exam, second year. Remember that ridiculous mnemonic you came up with for the noble gases and their powers? We were all so stressed, and you just burst out with this silly song, and suddenly, we were all laughing, and the tension just melted away. You have a way of doing that, you know? A way of bringing light into even the darkest corners.
And that time in the elemental manipulation lab, when the ventilation system malfunctioned, and we were all panicking about potential gas leaks? You were the one who stayed calm, who figured out how to override the system, who made sure everyone was safe. You were so brave, so capable. It wasn’t just the skill, it was the way you took charge.
I remember one specific night, we were all in the common room, it was late, probably 2am and we were all just talking. You were telling this story about your childhood, about this time you tried to build a rocket out of fireworks and almost set your backyard on fire. You were so animated, your eyes sparkling, your hands gesturing wildly. And I just… I couldn’t take my eyes off you.
It wasn't just those big moments, though. It was the little things too. The way you always remembered my favorite tea. The way you’d always give me encouraging notes on my lab reports, and tell me all my grammar errors. The way you’d always listen, really listen, when I talked about my frustrations with my experiments.
I somehow started feeling... not fine around you. And no, it's not in a bad way at all, please rest assured of that one. I should have told you years ago, I'm sorry. I guess I was always afraid, what if it would end up like last time, Thalia? What if I misread the signs again? What if I just… messed everything up?
So... I tried to ignore it. And here people call you the quiet one in the group. Well, I kept this thing in for years. It's like a monster, eating at me all the time.
But then I realized, I'd rather risk messing everything up than live with the regret of never telling you how I feel. Because Thalia, I think… I think I'm falling in love with you. And I have been for a while now."
***
I stared at him, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and… something else. Something I couldn't quite name.
"Nick," I began, my voice barely a whisper, "I… I don't know what to say."
He looked at me, his eyes filled with a vulnerability I'd never seen before. "You don't have to say anything," he said, his voice soft. "If you don't want to..."
I nodded, my throat tight. He'd laid it all out there, every feeling, every memory, every reason why he thought he was falling in love with me. And it was… overwhelming.
"I appreciate you telling me this," I said, trying to find the right words. "You're a good friend, Nick. A really good friend, and I value our friendship."
His smile faltered, just a little. "Friendship," he echoed, his voice flat.
"Yes," I said, my voice firm. "Friendship. We've been through so much together, Nick. We've seen each other at our best and our worst. And I… I don't want to risk losing that... I don't know."
I saw the flicker of disappointment in his eyes, but I couldn't lie to him. I couldn't pretend to feel something I didn't. Or… didn't think I did. Or... I actually don't know.
"I understand," he said, his voice resigned. "I just… I had to tell you."
"I'm glad you did," I said, reaching out and squeezing his hand. "Must feel nice letting it all out."
He put his head down, hiding his face as he faked adjusting his glasses. "My unlucky self..." he grumbled to himself.
I didn't know what to say. "I know you'll find someone, I'm sure of it..."
He nodded, a small, sad smile playing on his lips. "Maybe someday," he said, his gaze drifting away.
We sat in silence for a while. I wanted to say something, anything, to ease the pain, but I didn't know what.
"You know," I said finally, "we should probably start studying. The math exam isn't going to pass itself. Well, unless you're Aurelia and your dad's the professor."
He chuckled, a hollow sound. "Right," he said, grabbing his notes. "Right."
We spent the rest of the evening studying, the silence punctuated by the rustle of papers and the occasional whispered question. I tried to focus on the formulas and equations, but my mind kept drifting back to Nick's confession.
I didn't understand. Why now? Why me? We were friends. Good friends. But that was it, wasn't it? At least, that's what I believed.
He’d always been there, a steady presence, a reliable friend. Maybe I’d taken that for granted. Maybe I’d never truly seen him, not as a potential… partner.
As we packed up our things, Nick turned to me, a hesitant smile on his face. "Thanks, Thalia," he said. "For… everything."
"Anytime, Nick," I said, returning his smile. "We're friends, remember?"
He nodded, his smile widening slightly. "Yeah," he said. "Friends."
We walked out of the library together, the cool night air a welcome relief from the stuffy room. As we parted ways, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us, something subtle, yet profound.
I didn't feel the same way, I told myself. But as I walked to my room, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd made a mistake. Or if I was just lying to myself.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
