Bold enough for you to see

Bold Enough for You to See Sometimes, the hardest thing to say isn’t “I love you.” Sometimes, it’s simply: “I like you.” Jay had known Mira for almost two years. They talked almost every day—sometimes about serious things, sometimes about the most ridiculous stuff imaginable. She was the kind of person who could turn an ordinary conversation into something Jay would remember for days. But there was one thing Jay had never told her. He liked her. Not just because she was beautiful, or because she made him laugh. He liked the way she remembered tiny details. The way she could tell when something was wrong even when he said, “I’m fine.” The way she somehow made boring days feel less boring. His friends knew. Of course, they knew. “Bro, just tell her!” Daniel said one afternoon. Jay shook his head. “And if she doesn't feel the same way?” “Then at least you'll know.” Jay laughed nervously. “Easy for you to say.” For weeks, Jay kept waiting for the perfect moment. There was never a perfect moment. Then one Friday evening, they were sitting outside after school, watching everyone leave. Mira was scrolling through her phone while Jay stared at the ground, trying to gather enough courage. “Can I tell you something?” he finally asked. She looked up. “Sure. What is it?” Jay took a breath. “I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time.” Mira smiled. “You're making it sound serious.” “It is.” He looked at her. “I like you.” For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Jay's heart felt like it was racing. Mira looked surprised. Then she smiled. “I honestly didn't know.” Jay laughed nervously. “I thought I was making it obvious.” “You weren't.” “So… now you know.” “Yeah,” she said. Jay nodded slowly. He didn't know what would happen next, but strangely, he wasn't scared anymore. Because sometimes being brave isn't about knowing what the other person will say. Sometimes being brave is simply having the courage to let someone see what you've been hiding. And that day, Jay finally became bold enough for her to see.