"Do you know what it's like to like someone so much you can't stand it and know that they'll never feel the same way?"
-Jenny Han

This is pretty much how I feel about you, Brielle. Every time I try to approach you and just tell you that I like you, I get scared. Scared because I know that you wouldn't accept me. Don't worry, though because when I get tired of hiding, I'll finally show you who I truly am. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Have a nice day :) -Your Secret Admirer ♡

☔︎・☔︎・☔︎

"Thanks for the ride, Dad. I'll see you later, " I said while grabbing my stuff from the backseat.

"Hey, did you know that your Tito Jaden was your Mom's ex-boyfriend?" he asked out of the blue.

I looked at him in shock. "They're what?! Why would you tell me that?"

He chuckled. "I thought you knew. Your mom used to tell you a lot of stories, right?"

"Yeah, but those aren't one of them!" I answered.

"Well, now you know."

"Why tell me out of the blue?" I asked.

"Because I just saw Jay park his car, " he answered while pointing to Jay who is locking his car. "Jay!" Dad called.

Jay walked towards my Dad's window. "Hey, Uncle Gabriel, " he greeted.

"How are you?" my dad asked.

"I'm doing alright, " he answered.

"When are you going to court my daughter?" he asked.

"Dad, what the hell?!" I exclaimed.

Jay chuckled. "We'll have to talk about it, " he answered.

"I'll see you later, Dad. Go now. Bye, " I said, getting out of the car.

"I'll see you later, Ariel, " he said before driving away.

"Please don't take my dad's words seriously, " I told Jay.

"Your dad's crazy." He chuckled.

"I just found out that my mom is your dad's ex-girlfriend, " I said.

"Ah, yes. My dad told me that before, " he said. We are now walking to get inside the school.

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"It never came up." He shrugged. "He told me his first love was your mom and she totally broke his heart."

I groaned. "I never knew my mom was that cruel."

He laughed. "But I must say, my dad has great taste in women."

"Yeah, because your mom is so beautiful. She looks like an angel, " I said.

"Your mom is also beautiful." He smiled. "And you look exactly like her."

☔︎・☔︎・☔︎

When I entered the cafeteria, I immediately saw Sunshine, Danica, and Faith sitting on the table near the corner of the cafeteria.

I went and ordered my food before walking over to where they're sitting. They were talking to one another so they didn't notice when I placed my tray down on the table.

"What are we talking about?" I asked while sitting down. They immediately stopped talking and sat properly on their seats.

"It's nothing," Shine answered.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Seriously, what is it?"

"Let's just tell her. She'll find out sooner or later," Danica whispered but I heard it clearly.

"We can't!" Faith whispered back.

I felt a sting in my chest while they were doing that. It felt like they are excluding me from our friendship group. "Y'all are keeping secrets from me. I'll just find other friends then, " I said, standing up and grabbing my tray.

"Wait! Sit down. We'll tell you, " Faith said.

I sighed before taking my seat again.

"Now tell me, " I said,

"Gabbie, my best friend, my sweet Gabbie bear, Gabcake, Marina Gabrielle, dearest baby–"

"Just get straight to the point, Faith, " Danica said, interrupting Faith.

Faith sighed before looking at me with a sad expression on her face. "Xander and Maddie are dating."

And as fast as lightning, I felt my heart shatter into pieces. Just when I thought that maybe I'll get a chance, five words are all it takes to change everything completely.

"Gabbie..." Shine held my hand.

"Wow," I said, wiping the tear that already fell from my eye. I'm trying so hard to stop my tears from falling.

"I'm so sorry, Gabbie," Danica said.

I tried to smile. "It's fine. Let's eat," I said, looking down at my tray and eating my food, trying my hardest to forget what I just heard for a while.

☔︎・☔︎・☔︎

"Don't you have theater practice today?" Shine asked while we were walking out of last period.

"I don't," I answered.

"Want to get iced coffee while we're waiting for your dad?" She smiled.

"Of course! Who wouldn't, right?" I answered.

"Okay, okay. Wait for me. I'll just hand these files over to the principal, " she said and I nodded as a response.

When I was left alone in the hallway, I just took out my phone and scrolled through my social media accounts. Not much is going on with the people around me so my timeline is so boring.

I ended up putting my phone back in my pocket. I just leaned on the lockers and fidgeted with my fingers.

"You're so annoying, you know that?" I heard a familiar voice said. I looked around the hallway to see where it was coming from and to my surprise, I saw Maddie and Xander approaching the school exit.

Xander was carrying Maddie's bag for her and he seemed happy to be with her.

And it hit me again. The pain of seeing him with someone else. Picturing him with Maddie was one thing but seeing them together with my own two eyes hurt me more than anything.

Xander... Why can't you like me back?

"How are you feeling?" someone asked. I looked beside me and saw Jay also looking at Maddie and Xander.

"How should I feel?" I ask back, facing Maddie and Xander again.

"You should feel like sh*t," he answered. I looked at him and he did the same. "That's how I feel all the time." He shrugged.

"Why?" I asked.

"Don't pretend like you don't know the answer." He chuckled.

I sighed. "Jay, I–"

"I wished Xander liked you so it'll be easier for me to accept that we'll never be something more than just friends," he said and I looked down, feeling guilty.

"It's funny, right?" he asked, making me look at him again and when I looked at the person standing behind him, I saw Shine.

"I should be happy that he got a girlfriend because that means the chances that you'll like me are higher but I know that whatever happens, you'll always think of me as a brother. Nothing more and nothing less." He shook his head.

"Maybe this is really fated. A Tyler is not really for a Key. And it sucks! Just why..." He took a deep breath. "Why can't you like me back?"

I looked at Shine. The pain was evident in her sapphire-like eyes and slowly, it's starting to get glassy.

As much as it hurts to see Xander with someone else, it aches more when I see my friend get devastated.

"Let me go, Jay. I'm not the one for you, I'm sorry, " I said before walking away.

As I was walking a little bit farther away from them, I can't help but tear up. All emotions I've been bottling inside me since they told me that Xander was dating Maddie just broke out. I don't know what to do anymore and I feel so lost.

I took a left near the exit of the school and stopped where I cannot be seen then I peeked at Shine and Jay.

Shine was hugging Jay as he cried on her shoulder. Shine was whispering something to him that I cannot hear but I know that those are words to calm him down.

I sighed before wiping my tears. She's the one for you, Jay. Why can't you like her back?