The True Love

THE SILENT HEART

The summer after class 10 felt longer than 10 years. David and Ella started texting every day. Study dates turned into coffee dates. Everyone said they looked perfect together.

Yury was happy for them. At least that’s what he told everyone. He still came to their group hangouts. He still teased Ella and still helped David with math. But at night, he went home and deleted all the drafts he wrote to her.

Ella noticed. "You’ve been quiet lately," she said one day.

"I’m fine," Yury lied with his biggest smile. "Just busy."

David noticed too. He saw the way Yury looked at Ella when she laughed. Guilt ate him alive. He tried to talk to Yury once. "Are you okay with... us?"

Yury punched his shoulder. "Bro, I’m happy for you. Don’t be weird."

But he wasn’t okay. Every time he saw them together, he remembered being 6 years old and promising, "We’ll be best friends forever." He never imagined "forever" would hurt this much.

One evening it rained hard. Ella’s bike got a flat tire. David was out of town. Yury showed up in 10 minutes with an umbrella and her favorite snacks. He walked her home in the rain, not saying much.

At her gate, Ella said, "Thank you, Yury. You’re the best friend anyone could ask for."

Yury nodded. "Always."

He walked away in the rain, smiling. And for the first time, he wondered if "best friend" was all he would ever be to her.