The next morning, Christine woke up to her phone buzzing with notifications. Her eyes were still heavy from last night’s tears, and she blinked as her vision adjusted to the bright screen. Several messages from Lara. She clicked on the notifications, her heart heavy with a mix of hope and dread. But as she scrolled through the messages, it became clear that they were filled with more anger and resentment.

How could you?
You really chose him over me.

The words cut through her like a knife. Christine clenched her jaw, her fingers trembling as she scrolled. Lara was angry—more than angry—and the messages were filled with bitterness. She deleted the texts without replying, feeling the weight of disappointment and frustration settle in her chest.

“I’ve done nothing but be a good friend to her,” Christine muttered to herself, shaking her head in disbelief. How could Lara think so little of her after all this time? She felt the sting of betrayal, but she pushed it aside. She had other things to focus on—her happiness, her growth. But it was easier said than done.

At school, Christine managed to avoid any encounters with Lara, but it didn’t make her feel any better. Her mind kept replaying their conversation, and she couldn’t shake the sadness that clung to her. She felt like she was walking through a fog, unable to concentrate in class, her thoughts constantly drifting.

By lunch break, she found herself sitting alone at a corner table in the canteen. She absentmindedly pushed her food around on the tray, lost in thought, when a familiar voice pulled her back to reality.

“Hey, Chris, mind if I join you?” Alex asked, his voice warm and gentle.

Christine looked up, surprised but grateful for the company. “Yeah, sure,” she said, trying to force a smile. She wanted to feel better—she wanted to enjoy his presence—but the weight of the day still lingered.

“Kay, that’s what most of my friends call me,” she added, hoping to make the moment a little lighter. “You can call me that too if you want.”

Alex grinned and shook his head slightly. “I like Chris better. It suits your personality. Besides, it’s special when only I get to call you that, isn’t it?”

His words sent a flutter through Christine’s stomach. Special... he wants to be special to me, she thought, her heart skipping a beat. She felt warmth rising to her cheeks and quickly nodded. “Yeah, it’s nice. You can call me that.”

But Alex wasn’t one to miss subtle changes in someone’s mood. His eyes lingered on Christine for a moment, concern clouding his usually relaxed expression. “You seem off today. Is everything alright?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine care.

Christine hesitated, not wanting to burden him with her troubles. She kept her gaze on the table, her fingers absentmindedly fidgeting with the edge of her tray. “I’m fine… just… tired,” she mumbled.

“Chris, don’t lie to me,” Alex said firmly, leaning in slightly. “Look at me and tell me what’s really going on.”

Reluctantly, Christine lifted her eyes to meet his. The concern etched in his face caught her off guard, and for a moment, all the noise in her head quieted. His light blue eyes seemed to hold her steady, like an anchor in the storm she was caught in. It was comforting—more than comforting. It felt safe.

Alex gently took her hand in his, enclosing it between his palms. The warmth of his touch sent a wave of calm through her, and suddenly, the knot in her chest loosened. All she wanted was to stay in that moment, his hands around hers, the warmth of his presence washing over her. She could tell him anything and he wouldn’t judge her. He would listen.

“I’m always here for you, Chris,” he said softly, as if he could read through her thoughts. “If something’s bothering you, you can always share it with me. You know that, right?”
Alex was looking at her with sadness and concern, a pained expression on his face.

Christine’s heart ached at the sincerity in his voice. No, she can't see him being sad because of her.

“It’s just… I had a fight with my best friend,” she finally said, her voice small. “We’re not talking anymore, but it’s fine. It’s not that bad.”

Alex’s expression softened, and he squeezed her hand gently. “Maybe you both just need some space,” he suggested. “You’ve been friends for a long time. Sometimes things get messy, but it doesn’t mean they won’t get better.”

Christine nodded, grateful for his words. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”

Alex smiled and released her hand, turning the conversation to lighter topics. He cracked a few jokes, and for the first time that day, Christine found herself laughing. It wasn’t forced—it was genuine. Slowly but surely, he was lifting the gloom that had settled over her.

After a while, Alex got up and returned with a small strawberry pastry. “Here,” he said, sliding the plate toward her. “Something sweet to cheer you up.”

Christine looked at the pastry with mild hesitation. Strawberry wasn’t her favorite—she always preferred chocolate—but before she could protest, Alex scooped a spoonful and held it up to her lips.

“Try it,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Without thinking, Christine opened her mouth, letting him feed her the pastry. The sweet and sour flavor caught her by surprise, and she found herself enjoying it more than she expected.
( So, this is the taste of love ) she thought to herself.

“How is it?” Alex asked, his grin widening.

“It’s… really good,” Christine admitted, taking the plate from him and shyly eating another bite. She didn’t know if it was the pastry or the fact that Alex had fed her, but something about the moment felt electric.

As they continued talking, Christine felt something shift inside her. She was always comfortable around Alex, but today was different. Today, she realized just how much she cared for him—how much his presence meant to her. He made her feel seen, cared for, and happy in a way that no one else had.

When the lunch break ended, they walked to their next class together, with Alex telling her all about a new novel he was reading. His voice was soft, and Christine found herself hanging on to every word, not because of the story but because of him.

I could listen to him forever, she thought, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. And that was when it hit her.

She loved him. It wasn’t a crush or infatuation—it was deeper than that. She would do anything to keep him in her life, to see him smile, to make him happy. This was love, and she couldn’t deny it any longer.

As the day wore on, Christine found herself distracted by thoughts of Alex. Sitting in her next class, she tried to focus on the teacher’s lecture, but her mind kept drifting back to lunch. The way he had looked at her, his hand gently holding hers, his voice filled with concern—everything about that moment felt so significant.

She had always appreciated Alex’s company. He had a way of making her laugh, of easing her worries with just a few words. But now, every interaction with him felt like it carried a new weight, a new meaning. It wasn’t just that he made her feel better—it was that he wanted to. He cared deeply, more than she had realized before.

As she sat there, her fingers tapping idly against her notebook, Christine let herself sink into her thoughts. What was this feeling? Her heart raced at the thought of him, and every time she pictured his smile, she felt a flutter in her chest. It wasn’t just about him being there for her—she found herself wanting to be there for him too, in ways that went beyond just friendship.

The realization that she was falling in love with Alex wasn’t sudden—it had been creeping up on her for a while. But today, something had shifted. There was no more denying it. She loved him.

But that love came with a sense of fear and hesitation. She wasn’t ready to confess it yet. She didn’t know how he felt about her, and the last thing she wanted was to ruin their friendship by rushing things. Yet the more she thought about him, the harder it became to keep her feelings bottled up.

Could he feel the same way?
Christine replayed the moments between them—the small smiles, the way he always seemed to look out for her, the gentle touch of his hands on hers. Alex was different with her, wasn’t he? He cared about her in a way that went beyond casual friendship. Maybe he felt something too.

But there was another layer to this: Lara. The fight with her best friend had left Christine with a bitter aftertaste. Lara’s words still stung, and she couldn’t shake the guilt of liking someone who had become a point of conflict between them. The thought of Lara’s angry texts flashed in her mind again, and her heart sank.

Yet, as she reflected on everything, she realized something important. Lara had pushed her away, forced her into an impossible choice. But Alex had always been there—steady, patient, kind. He had been by her side without asking for anything in return. She owed it to herself to be honest about her feelings.

Love isn’t something I should be ashamed of, Christine thought, her resolve growing. What she felt for Alex wasn’t wrong, and it wasn’t something she could ignore anymore. She would take things slow, not rush into anything, but she couldn’t deny her feelings. She didn’t want to.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Christine gathered her things, a newfound sense of clarity settling over her. She didn’t know what the future held for her and Alex, but she was ready to let her heart guide her. She was ready to embrace the love she had for him—even if she wasn’t quite ready to say it out loud.

For now, she would keep these feelings close, nurturing them quietly as she navigated the complicated web of emotions and relationships in her life. But one thing was certain: her love for Alex was real, and it was growing stronger every day.