The final bell rang, echoing across the school grounds like a release from captivity. Students rushed out of classrooms, their chatter filling the air as they made plans for the rest of the day.
Rhaine slung her bag over her shoulder, her glasses slipping slightly down her nose. She pushed them back up with a sigh, her mind still replaying the awkwardness of earlier. Another pair work. Another forced partnership with Sam. It was like the universe or their teachers were in on some cruel joke.
"Rhaine! Over here!" Maya's voice cut through the noise, waving wildly from the gate. Beside her, Eli leaned casually against the post, smirking as if he had already guessed everything that was swirling inside Rhaine's head.
Rhaine walked over, her long stride making her appear more composed than she felt.
"You look like you just fought a war," Maya teased as soon as Rhaine reached them. "Group work again?"
Rhaine groaned. "Why is it always group work? Why is it always pairing? Do teachers not believe in solo effort anymore?"
Eli chuckled. "Maybe they just don't want you outshining everyone."
Rhaine shot him a look, but it lacked its usual sharpness. "It's not funny, Eli. Every time it happens, I end up paired with Sam. Every. Single. Time."
"Oh no," Maya said, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Not Sam again."
Rhaine crossed her arms defensively. "Don't start."
But of course, Maya started. "Come on, Rhaine. You're acting like being paired with her is a nightmare. She's smart, she's nice, she's… well, you know."
"She's what?" Rhaine snapped a little too quickly.
"Pretty," Maya answered without hesitation. "Like, really pretty."
Eli jumped in, smirking. "More than pretty. She's the type that makes heads turn in the hallway. Even I've noticed."
"Ugh!" Rhaine groaned, pressing the heel of her hand against her forehead. "Why does everyone keep saying that? She's just… Sam. Ordinary Sam."
"Ordinary?" Maya echoed with a laugh. "Wow, denial really looks good on you."
Rhaine stiffened, her heart thudding faster. "Denial? I'm not denying anything. I just… don't like her like that."
"Uh-huh," Eli drawled. "So you're telling us that all those times you get flustered around her, or when you avoid looking directly at her, or when your ears turn red—totally unrelated?"
"I don't do that!" Rhaine snapped again, though her voice cracked at the end.
Maya and Eli exchanged a knowing glance.
The three of them started walking toward their usual hangout—a small milk tea shop a few blocks from school. The late afternoon sun cast warm streaks across the pavement, and the air buzzed with the chatter of students still wearing their uniforms.
Inside the shop, they claimed their favorite booth in the corner. Maya ordered her usual wintermelon, Eli got taro, and Rhaine stuck with plain black tea, insisting she liked it "simple."
The moment they sat down, Maya leaned forward on the table, resting her chin on her palm. "So. Be honest. Why does Sam get under your skin so much?"
Rhaine froze, fingers tightening around her straw. "She doesn't."
"She does," Eli said, smirking.
Rhaine glared at him. "She just… she's too much. Too outgoing, too friendly, too… close."
Maya tilted her head. "Close? Like, physically?"
Rhaine's ears heated. "She doesn't know personal space, okay? Always leaning in, smiling like she owns the air I breathe—"
Maya giggled. "Wow. You sound like someone describing their crush."
"I don't have a crush!" Rhaine slammed her hand on the table a little louder than intended, earning glances from nearby students. She immediately ducked her head, muttering, "I don't. I can't. I'm not…" Her voice trailed off.
"You're not… what?" Eli pressed gently, though his eyes were sharp.
Rhaine stared at the ice floating in her tea, words fighting in her throat. She wanted to say it. That she wasn't like that. That she wasn't the type to… to like girls. That it wasn't her. But the words wouldn't come out clean, because a part of her knew it wasn't true.
"I'm just not like that," she said finally, forcing the words out.
Maya's smile softened. She didn't tease this time. "It's okay, Rhaine. No one's saying you are. We're just… noticing how different you are around Sam. That's all."
Rhaine bit her lip. The warmth in Maya's voice almost made her want to confess everything—the way her chest tightened whenever Sam's hand brushed against hers, the way her stomach flipped when Sam's laugh echoed in her ears. But instead, she shook her head.
"You're both imagining things."
Eli leaned back, crossing his arms. "If you say so. But denial won't hold forever, you know."
Rhaine stayed silent, sipping her tea. She hated how much truth clung to Eli's words.
The three of them fell into lighter chatter afterward complaints about assignments, gossip about classmates, laughter over silly TikTok videos but for Rhaine, the weight of their earlier conversation lingered.
When they finally left the shop and parted ways, Rhaine walked home alone. The streetlights flickered on as the sky darkened, and she found herself whispering under her breath:
"I'm not like that… I'm not…"
But the flutter in her chest every time she remembered Sam's smile told her otherwise.