The week after the minor misunderstanding, the air between Anaya and Kian felt different—warmer, yet charged with unspoken feelings. They spent more time together in classes, at lunch, and in the art room, yet neither had fully admitted what was growing in their hearts.
Anaya sat in the library, sketchbook open but untouched. Her mind wasn't on art today; it was on Kian. Every small interaction—the way he leaned just a little too close, the way his eyes lingered on her hands, the way his voice softened when he spoke to her—made her heart race uncontrollably.
Rhea, seated across the table with her notebook, noticed her friend's distracted expression. "Spill it. Is it him? Don't tell me you're blushing again."
Anaya groaned softly, burying her face in her hands. "I… I don't know how to tell him. Every time I think I might… my words just vanish."
"You're thirteen. Not literally, but your heart might as well be. That's normal. Just… do something small. Hold his hand, show him a sketch, smile at him for longer than usual. Little gestures count."
Later, during break, Kian approached her at her locker. His usual confident stride was softened by something else—nervousness, maybe, or a hope he couldn't yet express.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Hi," Anaya whispered, clutching her sketchbook.
For a moment, neither spoke. They just stood there, the crowded hallway fading into the background.
Kian cleared his throat. "I… I really like spending time with you. You know, talking, laughing, even just… being near you."
Anaya's heart skipped. She wanted to say the same, but the words caught in her throat. "I… I feel the same," she whispered finally, almost too softly to hear herself.
He smiled, small and warm, but didn't step closer. "I… I want to say more, but I don't want to scare you."
"I'm not scared," Anaya said quickly. "Just… nervous. I… I like you too, Kian. More than I realized."
Their eyes met, full of a mix of longing, shyness, and hope. Both of them wanted to close the distance, to reach out and bridge the gap—but hesitation held them back. The moment stretched, charged and electric.
Rhea, who had been watching discreetly from across the hallway, whispered under her breath, "Come on, you two. Just a tiny step. Don't overthink it!"
Kian finally exhaled, a nervous but determined smile forming. "I… I guess we're both terrible at saying what we feel, huh?"
Anaya laughed softly, a blush rising on her cheeks. "Yeah… maybe we are."
They stood together in silence for a few more moments, hearts racing, words unspoken but understood. The tension was sweet, teasing, and full of promise. Every glance, every shy smile, every accidental brush of hands brought them closer to the moment when words wouldn't be enough—and maybe they wouldn't need them at all.