CHAPTER NINE: CROSSING THE LINE
224 Words
After that evening, pretending became harder.
Ethan tried to act normal, but every time he saw Aisha, his thoughts betrayed him. And Aisha… she avoided his eyes more than usual, as if looking too long would reveal everything she was trying to hide.
For two days, they barely spoke.
No long conversations. No shared walks. Just quick greetings and silence that felt heavier than words.
On the third day, Ethan had enough.
He found her sitting alone after class, her attention fixed on her phone.
“We need to talk,” he said.
Aisha looked up, her expression unreadable. “About what?”
“Us,” he replied.
The word hung in the air between them.
She exhaled slowly. “Ethan…”
“No, don’t brush it off this time,” he said gently but firmly. “Something is going on, and we both know it.”
Aisha looked away, her heart racing. “And what if I don’t want to know?”
Ethan stepped closer. “That doesn’t stop it from being real.”
Silence followed.
Then finally, she whispered, “What are we, Ethan?”
He held her gaze, his voice softer now.
“I don’t think we’re just friends anymore.”
Her breath caught.
Because deep down, she knew he was right.
And at that moment, there was no turning back.
- Writer
