Months passed, and Daniel and Amara became inseparable.
They studied together.
They ate lunch together.
Sometimes they stayed up late texting about random things—movies, music, or stupid jokes that made no sense.
Everyone around them thought they were dating.
But they weren't.
Because Daniel never saw Amara that way.
One afternoon, they were sitting under the large mango tree on campus, their favorite place to relax after lectures.
Daniel looked unusually excited.
"I met someone yesterday," he said.
Amara felt a strange tightness in her chest.
"Oh?" she asked.
"Her name is Vanessa," he continued. "She's really beautiful."
Amara forced a smile.
"I'm sure she is."
Daniel kept talking, completely unaware of the pain slowly growing in Amara's heart.
"She's funny too. I think I might ask her out."
For a moment, Amara didn't speak.
She had imagined many times what it would feel like to hear something like that.
It hurt even more than she expected.
But she still said the words she always said.
"You should go for it."
Daniel grinned.
"You always give the best advice."
Amara nodded.
But inside, her heart whispered something she would never say out loud.
Why can't you see me?
That night, Amara stared at her phone for a long time.
Daniel had just sent her a message.
"Wish me luck tomorrow. I'm asking Vanessa out."
Amara typed a reply.
"Good luck."
Then she put her phone down and closed her eyes.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Because loving someone who only sees you as a friend is a special kind of heartbreak.
And Daniel had no idea…
That the girl cheering him on…
Was the girl who loved him the most.