SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FRIENDS AND FOREVER

The Day I Confessed (Linda's Memory)

Linda’s POV

This is the day everything changed between us.

Not because something dramatic happened in front of everyone.

But because something inside me broke quietly… and never went back to normal.

I still remember it too clearly, like a memory I didn’t choose but can’t delete.

It was the last day before the school break. The school was loud in the usual way, chairs scraping, students laughing too loudly, bags being packed, everyone already halfway out mentally.

But I wasn’t thinking about the break.

I was thinking about Noah.

I stood outside the classroom longer than usual. My heart was beating too fast, like it already knew I was about to cross a line I couldn’t uncross.

Because I already knew what I was going to do.

And I was scared of myself for it.

When Noah finally stepped out, my chest tightened instantly.

“Linda?” he said, noticing me. “Everything okay?”

Even now, I can still hear that voice clearly in my head.

“Can we talk?” I asked softly.

He nodded easily. “Yeah, sure.”

That was Noah.

Always calm, always easy, and always unaware of how much space he occupied in my mind.

We walked behind the school building—the quiet place we always went to when everything else was too loud. Our usual spot.

But that day didn’t feel usual at all.

It felt like something was about to end.

We sat on the cold bench.

Silence came first.

Then his voice.

“You’ve been acting weird today,” Noah said lightly.

I gave a small nervous laugh. “Weird how?”

“Just… off.”

Off.

That word stayed with me.

Because I was off. I had been off for weeks. Ever since I started noticing things I couldn’t ignore anymore—the way my heart reacted when he smiled, the way I started waiting for him without realizing it.

I looked down at my hands.

They were shaking.

Say it.

Just say it.

But my voice wouldn’t come out.

Noah tilted his head slightly. “Linda… what’s wrong?”

That question almost broke me.

I took a shaky breath.

“Noah…” I said.

He looked at me properly now.

Waiting.

Always waiting.

That was the problem.

He always gave me time.

But I didn’t have time anymore.

“I need to tell you something,” I said.

His expression changed slightly. “Okay.”

No pressure.

No suspicion.

I have no idea what was coming.

And that made it worse.

I swallowed hard.

Then I said it.

“I like you.”

Silence.

Instant.

Heavy.

The world didn’t move, or maybe it did,but I didn’t feel it anymore.

I couldn’t look at him.

Because I was scared of what I would see.

Confusion. Shock. Rejection.

“Say something,” I whispered.

Still nothing.

That silence stretched too long.

When I finally forced myself to look up—

Noah was staring at me.

Frozen.

Like he didn’t know how to respond to something that changed everything but wasn’t supposed to.

My chest tightened painfully.

“I’m not expecting anything,” I rushed out. “I just needed you to know.”

He blinked slowly.

“Linda…” he said softly.

My name felt heavier than it ever had before.

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly confused.

“I don’t know what to say,” he admitted.

And that was it.

Not yes,not no.

Just uncertainty.

I forced a small smile even though my eyes burned.

“It’s fine,” I said quickly. “You don’t have to say anything.”

But my voice shook anyway.

“No, I mean” he started.

I stood up immediately.

Because staying meant waiting.

And I couldn’t survive waiting for something I didn’t understand.

“I should go,” I said.

“Linda, wait,” he called after me.

But I didn’t stop.

Because if I stayed, I would break in front of him.

“If you don’t feel the same, it’s okay,” I said quietly. “Just don’t make it harder for me.”

That was the last thing I said before I walked away.

And even now… I still feel every step of it.

The present classroom noise slowly pulled me back.

I blinked.

People were talking. Laughing. Moving around like nothing had ever changed.

But I wasn’t fully here.

“Linda!”

I turned.

Bailey.

She walked toward me, smiling, adjusting her bag like she always did.

She stopped beside my desk and looked around.

Then she frowned slightly.

“Wait…” she said, genuinely confused. “Where’s Noah?”

I paused.

That question hit differently.

Not sharp. Just… unexpected.

Bailey looked between empty seats.

“I mean,” she continued, “you two are usually always together in class. , talking about everything.

My fingers tightened slightly on my pen.

I forced a small breath.

“We’re just… not sitting together now,” I said carefully.

Bailey blinked, still confused, not suspicious, just surprised.

“That’s so weird,” she said. “Did something happen? You guys always move like a pair.”

I didn’t answer immediately.

Because “something happened” didn’t have a simple explanation. Bailey tilted her head.

“And Noah?” she added casually. “How’s he been? I haven’t seen you two properly talk since I came back. I thought I’d see you catching up like usual.”

My throat tightened slightly.

“He’s… fine,” I said.

Bailey nodded slowly, still observing.

Then she smiled lightly.

“Okay… that’s just surprising,” she said. “You guys usually spend holidays together or something, right? Or at least talk nonstop.”

I shook my head slightly.

“No,” I said quietly.

That made her pause.

“Really?” she asked. “That’s actually shocking.”

I gave a small, tight nod.

Because I couldn’t explain that some things don’t end loudly.

They just… drift.

Bailey smiled again, trying to stay light.

“Well, I hope you guys go back to normal soon,” she said. “It always felt weird seeing you apart.”

I forced a small smile.

But inside me, I knew something she didn’t.

There is no “back to normal” after silence like that.

Only what comes after.