The moon cast a silver glow over the academy's grounds as Zen and Alice sat together on a bench, their shoulders almost touching. They had snuck out of the dormitories to enjoy the peacefulness of the night.
Alice turned to him, her eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Zen, can I ask you something?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Anything," Zen replied, his heart racing with anticipation.
"What's going on with you?" Alice asked, her gaze piercing. "You've been distant lately, and I can tell something's bothering you."
Zen hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He didn't want to burden Alice with his problems, but at the same time, he felt like he could trust her.
"It's just...I don't know if I'm good enough," Zen admitted, his voice laced with uncertainty. "I feel like I'm just pretending to be someone I'm not."
Alice's expression softened, and she reached out, her hand brushing against his. "You're not pretending, Zen," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "You're one of the most talented people I've met. You just need to believe in yourself."
Zen felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words. No one had ever believed in him like that before.
As they sat in silence, Zen realized that he was falling for Alice, hard. But he was scared to express his feelings, fearing it might ruin their friendship.
Alice, sensing his gaze, turned to him, her eyes locking onto his. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.
Then, without thinking, Zen reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair behind Alice's ear. The touch sent shivers down his spine, and he felt like he was drowning in her eyes.
Alice's lips parted slightly, and Zen's heart skipped a beat. He thought she might lean in, might kiss him.
But the moment was broken by the sound of footsteps approaching. They quickly pulled away from each other, their faces flushed.
As they stood up to leave, Zen knew that things would never be the same between them again. The question was, what would happen next?
*To be continued...*