The next morning, Lila woke up feeling restless. The memory of yesterday lingered like a quiet whisper she could not ignore. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kade sitting under the tree, his expression calm but serious, as if he already knew something she did not. Lila dressed slowly, choosing a soft yellow top and black skirt. She wanted to appear confident, even though inside, her nerves were buzzing.
Breakfast was unusually quiet. Her little brother chattered about his school projects, but Lila could barely pay attention. Her thoughts kept drifting to Kade. She wondered what he was thinking, what he might say if she spoke to him today. She knew one thing for sure: she could no longer pretend that she did not care.
At school, the hallways seemed louder than usual. Students ran p
