The walk home felt different after Madison left.
Too quiet.
Too heavy.
Even Ryan wasn't joking anymore.
And that alone felt strange.
Lia glanced at him carefully while they walked beside each other.
"You've been quiet for like… three minutes."
Ryan looked ahead.
"A new school record."
Lia smiled slightly.
But it faded quickly.
Because Madison's words were still sitting in her head.
"Not everyone stays when things get difficult."
Ryan suddenly stopped walking.
Lia blinked.
"What happened?"
Ryan turned toward her slowly.
"Do you believe her?"
Lia froze slightly.
The question caught her off guard.
Ryan looked unusually serious now.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
Just honest.
"Do you think I'll leave when things get difficult?"
Silence.
Cars passed nearby.
People walked around them.
But suddenly it felt like it was just the two of them standing there.
Lia looked down for a second.
"…I don't know."
Ryan's expression changed slightly.
Not angry.
Just hurt a little.
Lia noticed immediately.
"I didn't mean it badly," she said quickly.
Ryan stayed quiet.
So she continued softly:
"It's just…"
She struggled for the right words.
"I trusted someone before too."
That sentence landed heavily between them.
Because they both knew who she meant.
Ethan.
Ryan looked away for a second.
Then nodded slowly.
"…right."
For the first time since meeting him—
Lia saw Ryan look unsure.
And somehow…
That bothered her more than she expected.
So she spoke again.
Softly.
"But you stayed."
Ryan looked back at her.
Lia continued:
"When I was crying…"
A pause.
"When everyone was talking about me…"
Another pause.
"You stayed."
Ryan's eyes softened slightly.
Then of course—
He ruined the emotional moment himself.
"So basically," he said proudly, "I'm amazing."
Lia stared at him.
"…there you are."
Ryan grinned immediately.
"Thought you lost me?"
"You were acting normal. It scared me."
Ryan gasped dramatically.
"Wow. So this friendship is built on disrespect."
Lia laughed softly.
And Ryan smiled after hearing it again.
That sound was becoming dangerous for him.
Meanwhile — Ethan
Ethan sat alone in the basketball court long after practice ended.
The place was quiet now.
Empty.
But his head wasn't.
Madison's words replayed again.
"They look good together."
Then another memory hit him.
Lia handing Ryan water.
Lia laughing with him.
Lia looking happy beside him.
Ethan leaned back against the bench and closed his eyes for a second.
When did everything become like this?
His phone buzzed again.
A message from one of his teammates:
"Bro are you and Lia officially over?? Because the Ryan thing is looking REAL "
Ethan stared at the message for a long time.
Then locked his phone without replying.
Because honestly?
He didn't know anymore.
Back with Lia and Ryan
They finally reached Lia's apartment building.
Ryan looked at her carefully.
"You're thinking too much again."
Lia sighed.
"Can you read minds now?"
Ryan nodded seriously.
"Yes."
Lia rolled her eyes.
"Liar."
Ryan smiled slightly.
"No seriously. Your forehead starts looking stressed."
Lia immediately covered her forehead.
"Ryan!"
He laughed loudly.
"There she is."
Lia shook her head smiling.
Then suddenly—
Her expression softened.
"…thank you."
Ryan blinked.
"For what this time?"
"For not letting things feel heavy all the time."
Silence.
A soft one.
Ryan looked at her quietly for a moment.
Then said something much softer than usual:
"You don't have to carry everything alone anymore."
And that sentence—
That simple sentence—
Did something dangerous to Lia's heart.
Because nobody had ever said it to her like that before.
Not even Ethan.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Neither of them looked away.
And slowly—
Very slowly—
Ryan stepped closer.
Not enough to scare her.
Just enough for the air between them to change.
Lia's heart started beating faster suddenly.
Ryan noticed the way she looked at him now.
Confused.
Soft.
Nervous.
Then—
"RYAN!"
Both of them jumped apart instantly.
Ava was standing on the balcony upstairs.
Watching them.
Ryan looked offended immediately.
"…you ruined cinema."
Ava laughed loudly.
"You two have been standing there for five business days!"
Lia covered her face in embarrassment.
"Ava please go inside!"
Ryan looked up at Ava seriously.
"For the record, I was being respectful."
Ava nodded dramatically.
"Mhm. Sure."
Lia groaned.
Ryan laughed.
And somehow—
The heavy feeling Madison left behind earlier…
Didn't feel quite as strong anymore.