"Even in silence, we searched for each other—between pages, between hours—because some connections don't need constant words, only the promise to return."
Time flies by.
The days fall into their usual rhythm—but now, there's one constant addition: chatting with her. Every single day.
Lately, though, I've noticed something.
I'm giving her more and more of my time. We talk from morning till night, almost without pause. And slowly, it's started to take a toll.
On both of us.
Our finals are coming up—and if we keep this up, it's only going to hurt us.
I need to talk to her about it.
As I sat in class, those thoughts kept circling in my head.
Ryan, on the other hand? Fast asleep.
Right there in the middle of class.
I just hoped the teacher wouldn't notice.
Not that it mattered much—the class was almost over anyway.
---
Later that evening, after returning home, I found a message already waiting for me.
Just a simple greeting. From Lily.
And with that, our conversation began—like always.
It was 10 p.m. when we finally talked it through and agreed on something new.
From now on, we'd reply with a 30-minute interval between messages.
A way to make space for focus. To stop getting so carried away.
---
Pages flipped.
The timer ticked down.
We both sat with our books open, trying to study.
But even with eyes on the pages, our minds kept drifting back to each other.
"Did they message yet?"
The thought hovered between us.
Silent. Persistent.
The rule helped—at first.
For the next few days, we stuck to the 30-minute window, forcing ourselves to be disciplined.
But it didn't work. Not really.
We were still distracted. Still thinking about what to say next.
Still waiting for the next 'ting' of a reply.
So we changed the rule again.
From now on, we'd only talk after finishing our studies for the day.
That way, there'd be no guilt. No half-focus. Just... time.
Quality over quantity.
Our conversations grew shorter.
But they also grew more precious.
And so the days continued—quietly, steadily.
Not less connected.
Just more... aware.
---
It was 11:55 p.m.
I sat at my desk, phone in hand.
Lily's chat was already open, a message typed out and waiting to be sent:
"Happy birthday...! Many many happy returns of the day!"
Five minutes to midnight.
Five minutes until Lily's birthday.
I was just... waiting.
Honestly, I hadn't even known her birthday was coming up.
It was Claire who told me.
Claire...
I sighed.
Every time we talk, she says the same thing:
"Don't get too close to Lily."
I don't know why she's so against it.
We're just talking—aren't we?
It's not like I'm trying to win her over.
But still...
Lily's the kind of girl who leaves an impression.
The kind you remember.
Gentle. Kind. Understanding.
She has this warmth—like the calm in a storm.
What more could a guy possibly want in a lover?
But why am I even thinking about her like that? About what makes her a good lover?
We're not in a relationship.
We're just... enjoying each other's company.
Right?
The moment the clock struck twelve, I tapped Send.
The message had already been typed out beforehand. It read:
"Happy birthday...! Many many happy returns of the day!"
It was read within a minute.
A reply came right after:
"Thank you very much... I can guess you were holding your phone, just waiting for the clock to hit 12."
I smiled.
She was right.
"It's my pleasure," I replied.
I paused.
What's her expression right now?
Is she smiling too?
It's strange—now that I think of it... I've never seen her face. Not even once.
I don't even know what she looks like.
And yet...
I want to see her.
----------
Outside the digital bubble with Lily, campus life trudged on.
College days are both enjoyable and annoying. You get to hang out with friends, go on tours, and make memories. But then reality hits—you have finals coming soon!
Still, enjoyment can sneak in between the seriousness. That's what we were doing. As usual, Ryan and I had bunked classes and were lounging at our usual spot—a quiet corner surrounded by trees.
"Have you noticed Julien lately?" Ryan asked, munching on a sandwich.
"Are you talking about him running around Alina like a puppy?" I replied, sipping from a cold drink. I usually like having something to drink while chatting.
Julien was one of our friends. A topper, honestly. Smart, serious about studies, and a genuinely good guy. But lately, there'd been a change. He was always hanging around Alina—another classmate.
Alina had the kind of beauty that turned heads—not because she was stunning, but because she acted like she was. Her wavy chestnut hair flowed carelessly around her shoulders. Her soft, flirtatious eyes and sly smile gave her an aura of confident charm. She had a fuller figure, her curves noticeable—especially her chest, which she subtly emphasized with her outfits. Her style was bold but not overly revealing—just enough to stir curiosity. She knew how to hold attention, and she enjoyed it.
It's not abnormal to hang out with friends, but Julien's case was different. He was always rushing off to Alina whenever he had a spare moment.
"Looks like we're on the same page," Ryan grinned.
"Well, he's acting so unusually that it's hard not to notice."
"I bet Alina seduced him with those jugs of hers," Ryan laughed.
"Be respectful, buddy."
"Come on, respect her? No way. She's a bitch—switches boyfriends faster than clothes."
I didn't say anything, but I agreed. Ryan and I had heard about Alina's flings from one of her friends—who clearly had a grudge. Jealousy makes people spill secrets.
"Should we warn Julien?" Ryan asked, looking genuinely worried.
I shook my head. "Julien isn't a kid. And honestly, I think they're already together. If we try to warn him now, he'll just think we're against him."
"Besides," I added with a laugh, "a maiden in love never listens to advice unless they've already suffered exactly what they're being warned about. And yeah, Julien isn't a maiden—but you get the point."
Julien probably never had romantic interactions before. Alina might even be his first love. He wouldn't take our words seriously—he'd just get mad at us.
"So you're saying we just let it play out?" Ryan asked.
"Bro, everyone has their own life. What's bound to happen will happen."
"If you say so," Ryan sighed. Then, with a spark of mischief, he asked, "Hey, wanna go to the red area tonight?"
"The red area? What—thinking about Alina got you excited?" I laughed. "You know I don't go to those kinds of places."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. Just thought I'd invite my best buddy for some fun."
"I should thank you for that, right? How about I thank you in front of your parents?"
"No need! You'll get me kicked out of the house!" Ryan exclaimed.
We both burst out laughing. Just then, the bell rang—class time. Only the last period remained.
We stood up. The last class couldn't be missed. On the way, we were joined by a few classmates, chatting idly before the teacher arrived. The bond between us all was something special.
As usual, Julien and Alina were sitting side by side. I glanced at them and thought, I hope nothing serious happens to Julien…
The teacher arrived a little late. I groaned internally. Let's just get through this class and go home. I seriously need sleep after gaming all night. Ugh… my eyes!