The True Love

THE OLD SCHOOL ROOFTOP

The three of them stood on the class 10 rooftop where they carved their names 3 years ago. D+E+Y.

David looked angry. "Why didn’t anyone tell me?" he shouted. "That Ella and I are cousins?"

"Because I just found out too," Ella said, tears falling. "My mom hid it."

Yury stayed quiet. He already knew. His dad and David’s dad were business partners. He heard the rumors years ago but never said anything to protect Ella.

"I don’t care," David said suddenly. "Blood doesn’t decide love. If you feel something for me, that’s real."

"And if she feels something for me?" Yury asked, finally speaking.

All eyes turned to Ella.

She looked at David. Her first love. Safe, familiar, the boy who gave her a ring.

Then at Yury. Her best friend. The one who knew all her secrets and still stayed.

"I don’t want to lose either of you," Ella whispered.

"But you have to choose," David said.

Before Ella could answer, the school guard came running. "Kids! The roof is being demolished tomorrow. You can’t be here!"

As they walked down, Ella stopped at the carved names. D+E+Y.

She took a key from her bag. And slowly, she added one more letter next to the Y.

An "L". For Love.

But whose love?

She didn’t say. And neither of the boys noticed.