From her apartment kitchen, Lilianne is now in her old classroom with her old classmates... in their old faces? More like their younger faces because they look like teenagers again.

"Five more minutes. If anyone's finished, you can present it to the class now." Mr. Brown? She was shocked to see her old teacher speaking in front of their class. Deja vu. Is this a dream? Or is she high? Why is she seeing this stuff?

She looked at the cellphone she's holding. It's no longer her iPhone 13, she's now holding the old Blackberry phone she had in high school.

The screen went off and she saw her reflection from the black screen. She blinked. Is she seeing this right? She looks like she's 16 again! She gasped as she looked at her reflection closely.

She gasped so loud that caught the attention of her teacher. "Lilianne, are you already finished and you're using your phone now?"

She tried to open her mouth but she didn't know what to say. She's so confused. What the hell is happening?

"Give me your phone and finish your work first then I'll give it back to you." Mr. Brown said

She looked at her desk and saw a paper. The paper she just ripped and burned a while ago. The paper that contains her confession poem to Tristan.

"I'm actually finished." She told Mr. Brown

"Really? Okay, why don't you read it in front of the class." Mr. Brown said

She looked around. All of her classmates are looking at her. She saw Winona and Tristan as a teenager. They looked so real. This dream of hers is so vivid. Or is this real? This really feels real. Or is this a lucid dream? Because it feels like she controls herself.

"Am I the first one to speak?" Lilianne asked

"Did you hear anyone speak yet?" Mr. Brown

Isn't Winona the first one to recite?

"Uh, none." she answered.

"Okay, in the front now." She followed Mr. Brown's instruction.

She has no idea what's going on, whether it is reality, a dream, or an imagination. Whatever it is, this is what she was regretting not doing for the past decade. She was wishing to relive the moment. If only she was confident enough then she wouldn't suffer for years.

She clears her throat before reading her paper. "To my dearest friend," she started.

"This is a secret I have been keeping

My heart for you is weeping

Whenever I think we don't share the same feeling

Of emotions I hope is just fleeting

Cherished moments I keep

That I bring until I sleep

Dreaming of you and me

Will it just be forever a fantasy?

My beloved, thank you so much for everything

The laughter, the pain, and the in between

This poem for you, I am dedicating

Long story short, I love you, Tristan Martin

Always and Forever, Lilianne Parker"

The class shouted and teased them the moment she finished reading the last sentence. She was surprised by their reaction.

She looked at Winona. Her face was a mixture of shock, sadness, and pain. She felt bad. She knows how it feels to be Winona.

She then looks at Tristan. Also surprised, but you can see he was smiling. Far from the reaction he had when it was Winona who confessed to him.

"Woah, that was intense." Lilianne can't help but to also smile after hearing Mr. Brown's comment. Finally, she confessed to her crush just one time. Not too late that he is betrothed to another. If this is a dream, she no longer wants to wake up. She just wanted to stay here. Far from the reality where all of this never happened.

"You can give it now to Tristan." Mr. Brown added which she gladly obeyed.

She walks towards the direction of Tristan while the class is still hysterically teasing them.

When she finally gave it to Tristan, Mr. Brown spoke "How about you, Tristan? Can you read what you wrote in the class?" Deja vu.

"Uhm, wait. I'm not yet finished. Just one last sentence." Tristan replied as he quickly wrote something in his paper before leaving his chair. Liliane gets back to her seat as Tristan stands in front of the class.

"My bestest friend," He started "We have been best friends for a long time. I know that we are like sisters and brothers. I tried to ignore my growing feelings for you but I just can't. You're not just a best friend to me. I want us to be more than that."

Tristan pauses for a while when the class's teasing gets louder saying that the letter he is writing for is to Lilianne and they should start dating now. Another deja vu but she is in the position of Winona now.

But still, she is still anxious. What if the letter is still for Winona? That's the worst! That would be so embarrassing for her.

"Class, be quiet! Respect your classmate." Mr. Brown rebuked as the class obeyed. "Tristan, continue."

"I don't want to beat around the bush. I'm in love with you," Tristan pauses at the last part, giving the class the suspense. The class was anticipating for him to finish as he spoke again. "I'm in love with you, Lilianne Parker."

Chills all over Lilianne's body. The class once again cheers for the two of them as it is now Tristan's turn to give his letter to Lilianne.

Lilianne is extremely overwhelmed by the emotions. Tristan walking towards her direcion feels like a slow motion and everyone in their surroundings disappeared.

Tristan gave his letter to her with a smile plastered on his face. She was speechless. If this is a dream, nobody wakes her up please.

It feels surreal. The next thing she knew, the class was already back to a quieter ambience.

"Anyone else who wants to speak or I'll randomly call someone?" Mr. Brown called the attention of the class but no one raised their hand. "Okay, I'll just call someone. How about you, Winona? Are you finished?"

"No, sir. I'll just speak later." Winona answered.

Oh no, Winona! She suddenly felt bad for Winona. She knows that Winona's letter is also for Tristan. She knows the feeling. It must've hurt her.

The teacher called another student to speak in front of the class. The class ended but Winona didn't speak in front of the class.

——

Dismissal time. The three of them are walking home like usual. The only difference is, Lilianne and Winona are holding hands which gives her butterflies in her stomach.

They exited the school gates and were about to turn where the way towards their neighborhood is when they stopped walking. Winona noticed it and faced them, "Why?"

"We are not going home yet. We're sorry we haven't told you yet." Tristan apologizes.

"Why? Where are you going?" Winona asked.

"We're going on a date!" Lilianne said with excitement in her voice but also wary about Winona's feelings.

Winona was shocked, yet she smiled at the two. "Wow, that's so cool! So, you two are a thing now?"

"Kinda? I still cannot believe what happened earlier. It feels like we're in a movie. I mean, did that actually happen? Please don't pinch me if it's just a dream." Lilianne describes her feeling.

Tristan giggled at Lilianne's reaction. "Yes, it's real. It actually happened. But I do want to pinch your cute cheeks." Tristan said as he jokingly pinched Lilianne's cheeks.

Winona faked a cough to remind them of her existence and joked, "So, I'm a third wheel now?"

"No, don't think like that! We're still friends. I hope this is fine with you. Are you okay with us dating?" Lilianne asked.

"Sure, of course! I was just joking. I'm really happy for the two of you." Winona said but Lilianne knows it's a lie. She just doesn't wanna ask again.

"Thank you, Winwin! You're such a good friend." Lilianne thanked Winona as she hugs her.

The two of them walk separately to the direction of Winona's. They were heading in the direction of the bus stop. They were planning to go to the mall and the bus is their only way there. As they walked near the location, they saw a group of boys around their age bullying another boy which made them pause in their tracks. There are about four boys attacking and hurting a poor boy.

"Do you still want to go?" Tristan asked Lilianne "We could date elsewhere."

Lilianne was about to agree when he recognized the boys a few feet from them. "Wait, isn't that our classmate and the other boys are our seniors?"

"Are you planning to stop them?" Tristan asked

"Tantan, they are bullying someone! We should take action." Lilianne said

"Okay, but stay here. I will be the one to try to talk to them. If they start hurting me too, run away."

"What? Why? If Winona was here, she wouldn't let you do that."

"If Winona was here, she would have already run away before those boys notice our existence."

"Make sense. But take care."

Tristan now walks toward the direction of the fight. But as soon as the senior bullies heard his footsteps, they decided to run away thinking that it might be an authority. Tristan and Lilianne looked at each other.

They went to the bruised boy who is now on his knees. They recognized him. It was Claude Hudson, one of their classmates.

"Claude, are you okay?" Tristan asked as they helped Claude stand.

"Why are the seniors hurting you?" Lilianne asked, still assisting Claude.

"Just seniors being seniors. I'm fine now. Thank you, by the way." Claude thanked the two.

"Where are you going?" Tristan asked.

"I'm heading home. Just waiting for the bus but those assholes start messing around with me." Claude answered.

"Do they always do that to you?" Lilianne 

"Yeah, but I'm used to it." Claude 

"You shouldn't get used to it. We're here if you need help." Lilianne

"Yeah, we could be your friends." Tristan

"Aw, really? Thank you. Means a lot. I don't really have many friends." Claude

"Well, you have now." Tristan

"Anyways, where are you two heading to?" Claude

"We're going on a date." Lilianne

"Oh, yeah. The newest love birds of the class! I'm happy for both of you." Claude

The two thanked Claude. A few moments later, a bus arrived to give the three a ride. Claude to his way home and the two to celebrate the start of their relationship.