The next morning at Maplewood High School felt just as busy as usual.
Students filled the hallway with loud conversations and laughter while the early sunlight came through the tall windows. Lockers slammed open and closed while everyone rushed to get ready for class.
Yuri walked through the hallway, humming quietly to herself.
She had a habit of making random songs about whatever she was doing.
"Walking to class, trying not to trip, hoping today I don't fail math…" she sang quietly.
A few students nearby laughed.
Yuri just smiled proudly.
At the end of the hallway, Ezra was waiting near the lockers again.
"You're early today," he said when he saw her.
Yuri crossed her arms dramatically.
"I'm a responsible student now."
Ezra looked suspicious.
"What changed?"
"I remembered there's another math test today."
Ezra groaned.
"You're joking."
"I wish I was."
Before Ezra could reply, a voice came from behind them.
"Morning."
It was Michael.
He looked relaxed as usual, carrying his backpack over one shoulder.
"Morning," Ezra replied.
"Hi," Yuri said with a cheerful smile.
Michael nodded slightly.
The three of them walked toward their classroom together, but this time Michael stayed quieter than usual.
He listened as Yuri and Ezra talked.
"You should study more," Yuri was saying.
"You should stop giving life advice," Ezra replied.
"Excuse me," Yuri said. "I give excellent advice."
"You told me to guess the answers."
"That's called strategy."
Michael smiled faintly while listening to them.
But his thoughts were somewhere else.
Because before Yuri and Ezra ever started dating…
Michael had liked Yuri.
It wasn't something he ever told anyone.
Not even Ezra.
At first it had just been a small crush. Yuri's funny personality made it easy for people to like her. She made boring days feel less boring.
But before Michael ever had the chance to say anything…
Ezra and Yuri had already started dating.
Michael remembered the moment clearly.
Ezra had walked up to him after school one day and said,
"I think I like Yuri."
Michael had stayed quiet for a few seconds.
Then he simply replied,
"You should tell her."
And Ezra did.
After that, everything changed.
Michael decided to keep his feelings to himself.
Ezra was his friend.
And Yuri looked happy.
That was enough.
As they reached the classroom door, Michael stopped.
"I'll see you later," he said.
Ezra nodded.
Yuri waved slightly.
"Bye."
Michael turned and walked down the hallway.
As he passed another classroom, someone suddenly called his name.
"Michael!"
He turned.
It was Aubrey.
Aubrey was standing near the window with her bag over her shoulder.
She had been watching him for a moment before speaking.
"Hey," Michael said.
Aubrey walked closer.
"Are you heading to class?"
"Yeah."
They began walking together down the hallway.
Aubrey tried to sound casual when she spoke.
"You hang out with Yuri and Ezra a lot."
"Yeah," Michael said. "Ezra's my friend."
Aubrey nodded slowly.
She already knew that.
But what she didn't say was something else.
Aubrey had liked Michael for a long time.
Long before anyone noticed.
But she also knew something else.
Michael used to like Yuri.
Even though he never said it directly, Aubrey had noticed the small signs.
The way he looked at Yuri sometimes.
The way he suddenly became quieter when she was around.
But now Yuri was dating Ezra.
So maybe things could change.
Aubrey took a small breath before speaking again.
"Michael."
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
He looked at her.
"Sure."
Aubrey hesitated for a moment.
Then she shook her head slightly.
"Actually… never mind."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"You started it."
"I'll ask later," she said quickly.
Michael shrugged.
"Okay."
Meanwhile, inside the classroom, Yuri sat at her desk spinning a pencil between her fingers.
Ezra watched her carefully.
"You're nervous about the test," he said.
"I'm not nervous," Yuri replied.
"You're spinning the pencil."
"I always spin the pencil."
"You're spinning it faster."
Yuri stopped.
"Stop noticing things."
Ezra laughed quietly.
Just then the teacher walked into the classroom, carrying a stack of papers.
"Good morning, everyone."
Groans filled the room.
"Please take your seats," the teacher continued. "We'll begin the test shortly."
Yuri slowly turned toward Ezra.
"If I fail," she whispered dramatically, "tell people I was a good student."
"You're not failing," Ezra said.
"You have too much faith in me."
The teacher began passing out the papers.
Yuri stared at the test for a moment.
Then she leaned toward Ezra again.
"I regret everything."
Ezra tried not to laugh.
Across the hallway in another classroom, Michael sat quietly at his desk.
But he wasn't thinking about the test.
He was thinking about something else.
About how complicated things could become when feelings were involved.
And how sometimes…
Even when someone tried to ignore their emotions…
They didn't completely disappear.
And without realizing it, the story of four hearts had already begun moving toward something none of them expected.