ME

AFTER SCHOOL HANGOUT

May and Maya walked out of the school building, enjoying the warm sunshine on their faces. They had just finished a long day of classes and were looking forward to relaxing together.

"Hey, want to come over to my place and study for our math test?" Maya asked, adjusting her backpack straps.

May nodded, smiling. "Sounds like a plan. But can we take a detour first? I need to grab a snack from the café down the street."

Maya grinned. "Of course, I could use a coffee fix anyway."

As they walked to the café, they chatted about their day, discussing everything from their favorite TV shows to their plans for the weekend.

Once they arrived at the café, May and Maya ordered their snacks and sat down at a small table by the window. May took a bite of her pastry, savoring the sweet flavor.

"Hey, Maya?" May said, her voice low.

Maya looked up from her phone, curious. "Yeah?"

May leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to tell you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else."

Maya's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but she nodded seriously. "I promise, May. What's going on?"

May hesitated, unsure of how to share her secret. But something about Maya's kind expression put her at ease. "It's about Jamie," May said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Maya's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What about Jamie?"

May took a deep breath, letting her words spill out in a rush. "I think I might have feelings for him, Maya. But I don't know what to do about it."

Maya's expression softened, and she reached out to put a reassuring hand on May's arm. "We'll figure it out together, May. I'm here for you."

May's cheeks flushed as she thought about Jamie. It was crazy, really. They had only collided in the hallway once, and yet, she couldn't seem to get him out of her head.

Maya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, May, what's the deal with you and Jamie? You guys aren't even friends, are you?"

May shook her head, feeling a little silly. "No, we're not. I don't even know him that well. But there's just something about him..."

Maya nodded, a knowing glint in her eye. "I think I know what you mean. Sometimes you just can't explain why you're drawn to someone."

May sighed, feeling a little frustrated. "I know, right? It's like my brain is telling me to stay away from him, but my heart is saying, 'Go for it!'"

Maya chuckled. "Well, it sounds like you're having a bit of an internal debate."

May nodded vigorously. "Exactly! And I don't know which side to listen to. Part of me thinks I'm being ridiculous, that I don't even know Jamie well enough to have feelings for him."

Maya leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "But another part of you is curious, wants to get to know him better and see where things might go."

May's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know that?"

Maya grinned mischievously. "Because I've been there too, my friend. And trust me, it's always more fun to take a chance and see what happens."

Maya had; had series of relationships, until she decided to focus on herself after her last breakup with Klein, her 27 year old ex boyfriend. Apparently, She caught him cheating on her unexpected visit to his apartment. Weirdly, he didn't seem bothered or tried to reach out for an apology.

He probably faked the love all along.

Maya spent that night at my place weeping, and I hated him for it.

She probably lost the will to fall in love ever since then.