The semester was winding down, and with exams almost out of the way, everyone on campus was buzzing with anticipation for the annual summer pool party. It wasn't just any gathering it was the event of the year, the one tradition everyone looked forward to. Laughter, music, splashes of water, and a carefree atmosphere that seemed to wash away all the stress of schoolwork.
For Ruth, the idea of the party carried excitement, but also a strange knot in her stomach. Normally, she would be planning matching outfits with Dav, sending him endless messages about what snacks to bring, and joking about who could win the silly pool games. This year, however, things were different. Dav had grown distant quiet in group conversations, unresponsive to her late night texts, and absent in moments she expected him most.
Ruth found herself staring at her phone constantly, re-reading the unanswered message she had sent days ago: Can we talk? The small, gray "seen" mark beneath it mocked her.
On the other side of campus, Dav was battling a storm within himself. Every time he saw Ruth laughing with her friends, or worse, talking with Brown, a wave of jealousy surged in him so strong it nearly suffocated him. He would look away quickly, trying to mask his emotions, but inside, it burned.
His mind played cruel tricks, painting images of Ruth accepting Brown's proposal, of them holding hands openly, of Brown claiming the moments that once belonged only to him. It hurt more than he ever thought it could.
And yet, despite everything, his heart still raced whenever Ruth's name appeared on his phone screen. He had ignored her messages, telling himself it was for the best. But ignoring didn't mean forgetting. If anything, the silence only made his feelings clearer: he didn't see her as just a friend anymore. Not even close.
But what could he do? How could they possibly reveal the truth to their friends without breaking Brown's heart or worse, destroying the very friendship that had held them all together?
"Dav, you good?" Sly asked one evening as they lounged in the hostel common room, prepping for the upcoming pool party.
"Yeah," Dav replied quickly, forcing a smile.
Sly studied him for a moment. "You've been zoning out a lot lately. This about Ruth?"
Dav's expression faltered, and Sly shook his head knowingly. "Man, you've got to figure yourself out. Brown's moving fast, and you can't keep hiding forever."
The words stung, because they were true. But Dav wasn't ready to admit it out loud not even to Sly.
Meanwhile, Brown was brimming with confidence. Ever since he publicly asked Ruth to be his girlfriend, he had felt the tide shifting in his favor. Though she hadn't said yes yet, she hadn't rejected him either. That gave him hope and hope was enough to fuel his determination.
He was already planning how to make the pool party the perfect moment to finally win her heart completely. He imagined them walking hand in hand around the pool, laughing together while everyone watched, leaving no doubt that Ruth was his.
Ruth, however, was torn. She couldn't bring herself to accept Brown's proposal, no matter how many times her friends whispered about what a great match he would be for her. Every time she tried to picture herself with Brown, her heart betrayed her, pulling her thoughts back to Dav the one who had been by her side all these years, the one whose silence now hurt her more than anything else.
As the day of the party drew closer, her restlessness grew. She needed to talk to Dav, to clear the air before everything spiraled beyond control. But he was like a shadow these days always slipping away, always keeping his distance.
On the eve of the party, Ruth sat on her bed, scrolling through old photos on her phone. Pictures of her and Dav at the gym, laughing in the cafeteria, making silly faces at the camera after late-night study sessions. They weren't just friends in those moments they were something deeper, something real. She knew it. And so did he.
She whispered into the quiet of her room, as though speaking to him from afar: "Dav, why are you running away from me?"
But Dav, miles away in his own dorm, lay awake staring at the ceiling, whispering his own unanswered question into the darkness: "Ruth… how do I tell you without breaking everything apart?"
The night dragged on, heavy with unspoken words. Both hearts restless. Both longing. Both afraid.
The pool party was only hours away. The stage was set, the crowd would gather, and soon whether they were ready or not truth, jealousy, and love would collide under the sun.