It had reached a point where everyone knew except Rody. Or maybe he did, but he simply refused to acknowledge it.
Denial had become his shield.
He had built something special with Sam a friendship so deeply woven into his life that the idea of it changing terrified him. The thought of risking it, of shattering something so stable and familiar, made his chest tighten. He wasn't ready to admit anything, not even to himself.
Because change meant risk. And losing Sam? That was a risk he wasn't willing to take.
So, he convinced himself that nothing had changed.
Even though Sam had been closer than ever. Even though every evening, their group made some comment about their dynamic. Even though Ray never missed an opportunity to jab at him, knowing full well that Rody was tangled in something more than friendship. Even though Lina had the same hunch, quietly observing every glance, every smile, every brush of fingers.
At this point, if Rody and Sam openly declared they were together, no one would even be surprised. Except maybe Rody himself.
_________________________________________________________________________
The Conversation Without Them
One particular evening, Rody and Sam didn't show up.
It was rare almost unheard of for both of them to miss a gathering at the same time. They were regulars, the glue of the group's energy. Their absence didn't just leave a physical void, it created a silence a pause that begged for questions.
So, naturally, the topic of conversation revolved around them.
AJ, growing restless, threw his arms in frustration. "Are they even a thing at this point?" he asked. "I mean, do you see how they act? They're practically attached to each other."
Lina, biting back words she had wanted to scream for weeks, tried to stay composed. "Yeah… I know, right?" she muttered.
JJ, ever clueless, tilted his head. "Wait, huh? Rody and Sam are a thing now?" he asked, blinking. "What do you mean? When did that happen?"
Pri and Zozo face-palmed simultaneously, as if JJ's obliviousness had physically hurt them. Pri sighed, shaking her head. "Other than games and hanging out, what else do you even think about?"
AJ, never missing a chance for sarcasm, smirked. "Not much, clearly."
The teasing only lasted a moment before the conversation took a serious turn.
Ray, leaning against the wall with his usual calm confidence, glanced at the group. "I think Rody has feelings for Sam," he said, voice steady, sure of himself. "But he's clueless about it. And Sam? She's had a crush on him for a while, but she wouldn't admit it either."
At that moment, Lina couldn't hold it in anymore. It was like a floodgate bursting open.
"OMG, RAY! THANK YOU!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
The rest of the group watched in confusion as she practically exploded with pent-up information.
"Sam definitely likes Rody. Do you see how she talks about him? It's insane! And she knows literally everything about him," Lina said, eyes wide with emphasis. "I've seen her laugh at his dumbest jokes like they're the funniest thing in the world. That's not just friendship."
Then, she paused for dramatic effect.
"Did you know… Rody actually dated Ash?"
The group fell silent. Dead silent.
Ray blinked in surprise, tilting his head. "He told her even about Ash?"
This sent a ripple through the group.
JJ, wide-eyed, shot up from his seat. "WAIT. Are you saying THE ASH?!" he shouted. "The Class 1 rep?! WHAT THE HELL?!"
He looked like someone had just dropped a bomb on his world.
"He never told us about this," JJ continued, exasperated. "HIM and ASH?! He dated my long-term crush?! How did he pull that off?!"
Pri, arms crossed, huffed in frustration. "He never tells us anything about himself," she muttered. "Now he's opening up to some girl he met months ago? Wow."
AJ sat there, stunned, processing everything. "That's... kind of huge."
Lina wasn't done yet.
"Rody has fallen for her, but he's not admitting it," she insisted.
Ray nodded. "Well, obviously he wouldn't," he said. "After Ash, he told himself that he wouldn't date friends or best friends because it hurt him too much. Knowing Rody, he's just playing it safe now."
Lina sighed, brushing her hair behind her ears. "Rody gets attached to people he's close with," she admitted. "I honestly can't believe he started to like Sam this much. But he's scared of history repeating itself."
Zozo smirked. "Well, of course. With that golden retriever energy, who wouldn't like her?"
The group chuckled and collectively nodded.
Then, JJ's eyes lit up with an idea.
"Okay," he said, grinning mischievously. "Let's make a bet."
Pri raised an eyebrow. "On what?"
JJ leaned forward, voice low and full of drama. "When will Rody and Sam announce their relationship?"
The group immediately perked up, invested in the idea.
Ray, confident as ever, placed his bet first. "Two months," he said.
AJ scoffed. "No way. It'll happen within a week. Rody's overdue for a confession."
Zozo and Pri exchanged glances. "Five months," they both said in unison, then laughed.
Lina smirked, her tone sharp and confident. "Six days," she declared. "He's going to crack. Sam will say something, and he won't be able to resist."
JJ chuckled. "Y'all are underestimating how bad Rody is at admitting things. I say within a month."
And just like that A new game had begun.
The winner would get $50.
_________________________________________________________________________
Meanwhile…
Far from the group, Sam sat cross-legged on her bed, her phone lighting up every few seconds as she scrolled through memes, looking for something to send Rody. It had become a routine sending him random stuff to keep the conversations going, even when there wasn't much to say.
She hesitated, hovering over the send button.
Because things had changed. And she could feel it.
Rody had always been important to her, but lately, his presence carried weight. She thought about him more than she should. She replayed conversations, imagined new ones, and noticed the flutter in her chest when his name popped up.
She sighed. Was it worth saying anything? Would it ruin everything?
The sound of a message interrupted her thoughts. It was from Rody.
Rody: "I still owe you pizza, don't I?"
She smiled.
Sam: "Yeah. And don't think I forgot. You better bring extra cheese."
He replied immediately.
Rody: "Noted. Also, I may be free tomorrow evening. Wanna hang?"
Sam's heart skipped.
Sam: "I'm always down. It's a date. (JK, unless?)"
There was a pause. Three dots danced as he typed… then disappeared.
Appeared again.
Then nothing.
Sam stared at the screen, waiting.
Then finally:
Rody: "Haha… bold. I like it. See you tomorrow."
Sam shut her phone, hiding a grin behind her hand.
Maybe she wasn't the only one feeling something shift.
And maybe just maybe the bet wasn't as far off as everyone thought.