HIDDEN HEARTS

Episode 7:MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS

The campus was quiet at last. Streetlights cast soft pools of yellow across the deserted walkways of Maplewood College, and the only sound was the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Amina’s footsteps echoed lightly as she made her way to the back of the library courtyard, her heart pounding in her chest. She had received the message from Zuri earlier:

“Meet me near the courtyard tonight. Alone. Trust me.”

Her fingers had hovered over the phone for what felt like hours before she finally typed:

“I’ll be there.”

Now, as she approached, she saw Zuri leaning against a tree, arms crossed, eyes scanning the empty courtyard. Seeing her there, calm and composed, made Amina’s chest tighten in ways she hadn’t felt before.

“You came,” Zuri whispered as Amina approached.

Amina nodded, cheeks flushed. “I… I wasn’t sure I should.”

“Good,” Zuri said softly, stepping closer. “It’s only because you chose to come that this matters.”

Amina’s breath caught. She makes everything feel dangerous and safe at the same time.

Zuri reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind Amina’s ear. The touch was electric, sending a shiver down her spine. “You don’t have to hide from me,” Zuri murmured.

“I’m not good at this,” Amina admitted quietly, looking down at her hands. “At… at letting people see me. Letting people in.”

Zuri took her hand gently. “I don’t want to rush you. I just… want you to know that I’m here. Always.”

Amina’s heart thudded painfully. She lifted her eyes and met Zuri’s gaze. The world felt impossibly still. No students. No rumors. No judgment. Just the two of them.

“I… I like being with you,” Amina whispered. “Even when I’m scared.”

Zuri smiled faintly, leaning in just slightly. “Even when you’re scared?” she repeated, voice low, teasing.

“Yes,” Amina said, words trembling. “Even then.”

For a moment, neither moved. Their hands intertwined, their faces inches apart. The tension between them was palpable, a delicious mix of fear and desire.

Then Zuri leaned closer, brushing her forehead against Amina’s. “You don’t have to be perfect,” she murmured. “You just have to be you. That’s enough.”

Amina closed her eyes, letting herself feel it — the warmth, the safety, the thrill. For the first time, she realized that maybe hiding from the world wasn’t what she wanted anymore.

“I trust you,” she whispered, almost to herself.

Zuri smiled softly, squeezing her hand. “And I trust you too.”

The night wrapped around them like a secret promise. For once, the fear of the world beyond Maplewood College seemed distant. In this moment, there was only them, and the quiet thrill of being seen — fully, honestly, together.