My Unsolved Love Equation

CHAPTER 2: THE EQUATION

There are three things I learned that morning.

First, dreams can be annoyingly realistic.

Second, waking up doesn't always mean you're done dreaming.

And third...

apparently, my past had decided to come back and ruin my peace.

I stared at the three messages on my phone.

Josh: You don't remember me?

Ezekiel: Elle, are you already on campus?

Michael: Don't tell me you're late again.

I read them again.

And again.

And again.

Maybe if I stared long enough, the messages would magically disappear.

They didn't.

“Okay,” I whispered.

I put my phone down.

“Calm down.”

I picked it up again.

Still there.

“Maybe prank.”

I put it down.

Picked it up.

“Maybe wrong number.”

I looked at Josh's message.

You don't remember me?

“Obviously wrong number.”

Then Ezekiel's.

Elle, are you already on campus?

“Could be another Elle.”

Then Michael's.

Don't tell me you're late again.

I froze.

“Okay.”

I stared at the message.

“That one is definitely not another Elle.”

I sighed.

I didn't know what scared me more.

The fact that I had dreamed about these three guys...

or the fact that they somehow knew me.

I looked at the time.

7:32 A.M.

I was going to be late.

Again.

“Great.”

I grabbed my bag.

“Romance mystery later. Attendance first.”

---

By the time I reached the university, I had already convinced myself that everything had a logical explanation.

There had to be.

Maybe I'd met them before and simply forgotten.

Maybe I'd seen them around campus.

Maybe my subconscious had stored their faces somewhere and used them in my dream.

That made sense.

Everything had a reason.

Everything had an explanation.

Everything had a solution.

At least...

that's what I wanted to believe.

I entered the building and immediately saw someone standing near the stairs.

Blueprint tube.

Black shirt.

Messy hair.

I stopped walking.

Josh.

He looked up.

Our eyes met.

He smiled.

And just like that, my brain stopped working.

“Morning.”

I forced a smile.

“Hi.”

He walked toward me.

“You got my message?”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He stopped in front of me.

For a few seconds, we just stared at each other.

Then he tilted his head.

“You really don't remember me?”

There was something in the way he said it.

Not angry.

Not disappointed.

Just...

curious.

I shook my head.

“I'm sorry.”

He smiled.

“That's okay.”

“Have we met before?”

“Three times.”

I blinked.

“Three?”

He nodded.

“Three.”

“Where?”

He smiled.

“Church.”

I froze.

Church.

Something clicked.

A memory.

A small chapel.

Sunday morning.

A boy carrying chairs.

A white shirt.

A smile.

A pair of eyes I couldn't stop looking at.

My first crush.

I stared at him.

“Josh...?”

His smile widened.

“So you remember.”

I looked away.

“Oh my God.”

He laughed.

“You do.”

“I remember you.”

“Good.”

I shook my head.

“I can't believe it.”

“Why?”

“Because…”

I hesitated.

Then laughed.

“It's embarrassing.”

“Why?”

“Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“No.”

“Come on.”

“No.”

He leaned slightly closer.

“Elle.”

I looked at him.

“Hmm?”

“You used to stare at me.”

My face burned.

“I did not!”

He laughed.

“You did.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“You're lying.”

“I'm not.”

I crossed my arms.

“Maybe you were the one staring.”

He smiled.

“Maybe.”

My heart skipped.

I hated that.

I hated how easily he could make me nervous.

And the worst part?

I had already convinced myself years ago that I was over him.

Apparently, my heart disagreed.

---

Years Earlier

I was fifteen when I first noticed Josh.

It was a Sunday morning.

I had just finished helping my mother prepare some food for the church gathering.

I was carrying a tray when I saw him.

He was near the side of the church, helping arrange chairs.

Nothing dramatic.

No slow motion.

No music.

No magical wind blowing through his hair.

Actually, there was a strong wind.

And he almost dropped a chair.

But somehow...

I still thought he was cute.

“Who's that?”

My friend looked where I was pointing.

“Oh, him?”

“Yeah.”

“Josh.”

“Josh.”

I repeated his name quietly.

She looked at me.

“Don't.”

“Don't what?”

“Crush on him.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

She laughed.

“Because literally everyone likes him.”

I looked back.

There were three girls talking near him.

Another girl waved at him.

Someone else called his name.

He smiled at everyone.

I watched.

“Oh.”

She laughed.

“See?”

“Yeah.”

I shrugged.

“Okay. Never mind.”

That was my first crush.

And possibly the shortest crush in history.

At least...

that's what I told myself.

I saw him again the following Sunday.

Then another Sunday.

Then another.

We never really talked.

Just small smiles.

Small greetings.

Sometimes we'd pass each other.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

That's it.

But somehow, my brain turned those two letters into an entire love story.

Pathetic.

I know.

Then one Sunday, I saw a group of girls talking about him.

“Josh is so handsome.”

“Josh is so nice.”

“Josh is so talented.”

“Josh is going to be an architect.”

I listened quietly.

Then I thought:

Okay.

He's nice.

He's handsome.

He's talented.

And apparently the entire female population has already claimed him.

So I gave up.

No confession.

No dramatic moment.

No heartbreak.

Just...

moving on.

Or so I thought.

---

“Elle?”

I blinked.

I was back in the present.

Josh was staring at me.

“You disappeared for a second.”

I laughed nervously.

“Sorry.”

“What were you thinking?”

“Nothing.”

He smiled.

“You always say that.”

I frowned.

“You remember that?”

He shrugged.

“Some things are easy to remember.”

My heart skipped.

Before I could respond, someone called my name.

“Elle!”

I turned.

Ezekiel.

He was walking toward us.

Backpack over one shoulder.

Calculator in hand.

He looked at Josh.

Then at me.

Then at Josh again.

“What are you doing here?”

Josh raised an eyebrow.

“I study here.”

“I know.”

“Then why ask?”

Ezekiel sighed.

“Because you're standing too close to her.”

My eyes widened.

Josh smiled.

“Does that bother you?”

“No.”

“Sure?”

“Yes.”

Michael suddenly appeared behind Ezekiel.

“Wow.”

He looked between them.

“It's eight in the morning and we're already fighting.”

I sighed.

“Why are you all here?”

Michael smiled.

“Because apparently, we're all in the same project group.”

I froze.

“What?”

Ezekiel held up a piece of paper.

“Didn't you check the group list?”

“No.”

Michael laughed.

“Of course you didn't.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“You're always late.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“How do you know that?”

He smiled.

“You'll find out.”

I stared at him.

“That's not an answer.”

“I know.”

Josh laughed.

Ezekiel shook his head.

“I don't understand you two.”

Michael looked at him.

“You'll get used to it.”

I looked between them.

Something about the three of them standing there felt strangely familiar.

Like I'd seen this scene before.

Like I had already lived it.

Except...

I knew I hadn't.

Not yet.

---

We walked toward the classroom together.

Josh walked beside me.

Ezekiel was on my other side.

Michael walked behind us.

I could feel the weirdness.

Not just from me.

From them.

It was like each of them already had some kind of history with me.

But I couldn't remember most of it.

We reached the classroom.

Josh pulled the door open.

“Ladies first.”

I looked at him.

“Thank you.”

I walked inside.

Ezekiel followed.

Then Michael.

We took our seats.

Our professor entered shortly after.

“Good morning, class.”

“Good morning, sir.”

He placed some papers on the desk.

“Today, we'll discuss your interdisciplinary project.”

Everyone groaned.

I opened my notebook.

Our professor continued.

“You will work in groups composed of students from different departments.”

He started calling names.

I listened.

Then—

“Elle.”

I looked up.

“Josh.”

Josh raised his hand.

“Ezekiel.”

Ezekiel sighed.

“Michael.”

Michael smiled.

“Complete.”

I looked at them.

Our professor continued talking.

But I wasn't listening anymore.

Four people.

One group.

One semester.

Three boys.

I wrote on my notebook:

Problem:

Then:

Three variables.

I stared at the words.

I laughed quietly.

Maybe I was being dramatic.

I crossed it out.

---

At lunch, we met again.

Josh had brought a large folder.

Ezekiel had already prepared a spreadsheet.

Michael had somehow already created a group chat.

GROUP 4 — SURVIVORS

I stared at my phone.

“What is this?”

Michael replied immediately.

“Our group chat.”

“Why is it called Survivors?”

“Because we'll need to survive this project.”

Ezekiel typed:

Ezekiel: Stop changing the group name.

Michael changed it.

GROUP 4 — FUTURE MILLIONAIRES

I laughed.

Josh sent:

Josh: I hate this.

Michael:

Michael: You're welcome.

I smiled at my phone.

This was going to be a long semester.

---

After lunch, we divided the tasks.

Josh handled the design.

Ezekiel handled the technical calculations.

Michael handled the presentation.

I handled the research.

It should have been simple.

It wasn't.

Because apparently, Ezekiel and I couldn't agree on anything.

“I think we should use this method.”

“No.”

I looked at him.

“Why?”

“It's inefficient.”

“It's standard.”

“Standard doesn't mean efficient.”

I crossed my arms.

“Then what's your better method?”

He turned his laptop toward me.

“This.”

I looked.

Then looked again.

“That's actually…”

I stopped.

He smiled.

“Good?”

“No.”

“You were about to say good.”

“I was about to say complicated.”

“Same thing.”

“No, it's not.”

He laughed.

I stared at him.

“You're annoying.”

“You said that already.”

“And I'll probably say it again.”

He smiled.

“Looking forward to it.”

I looked away.

Why did that sound like flirting?

It wasn't.

Probably.

Maybe.

I wasn't sure anymore.

Across the table, Michael was watching us.

He smiled.

“What?”

I asked.

“Nothing.”

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because you two are cute.”

My face heated up.

Ezekiel nearly dropped his pen.

“What?”

Michael laughed.

“Relax.”

Josh looked amused.

“I agree.”

I stared at both of them.

“Stop.”

They laughed.

I buried my face in my hands.

“I'm surrounded by idiots.”

Ezekiel leaned toward me.

“Don't worry.”

I looked at him.

“You're one of us now.”

I smiled.

And for some reason...

that made my heart flutter.

---

That evening, after our meeting, I walked toward the university gate alone.

The sun was beginning to set.

The sky was orange.

Students were leaving campus.

I adjusted my backpack.

Then I heard footsteps.

“Elle.”

I turned.

Josh.

He caught up with me.

“Heading home?”

“Yeah.”

“Same.”

We walked together.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

Then he said,

“You really forgot?”

I looked at him.

“Forgot what?”

“Us.”

I frowned.

“Us?”

He smiled.

“The three times we met.”

I laughed.

“Sorry.”

“It's okay.”

He looked ahead.

“You were different back then.”

“How?”

“You were shy.”

“I was not.”

“You were.”

I laughed.

“Maybe a little.”

He smiled.

“Do you remember the second time?”

I thought about it.

Then I did.

A church event.

I had dropped something.

He had picked it up.

He gave it to me.

“Here.”

“Thanks.”

That was it.

But apparently, he remembered.

“That's crazy.”

“What?”

“You remember things I don't.”

He smiled.

“Maybe I paid more attention.”

I stopped walking.

He stopped too.

“What?”

I stared at him.

“What did you say?”

He smiled.

“Nothing.”

“Josh.”

He laughed.

“Goodnight, Elle.”

He walked away.

I stood there.

My heart was pounding.

I watched him disappear.

Then I whispered:

“Maybe I never really got over him.”

---

The Rival

The next memory came unexpectedly.

I was sixteen.

It was the first day of our new school year.

I walked into the classroom and saw a new student sitting near the window.

He was reading.

Quiet.

Focused.

Unbothered by everyone around him.

I took my seat.

Our teacher entered.

“Class, we have a new student.”

The boy stood.

“Ezekiel.”

He nodded.

“Welcome him.”

Everyone clapped.

I didn't think much of it.

Until the first exam.

I got 98.

I smiled.

Top of the class.

Then our teacher announced the rankings.

“First place…”

I sat straighter.

“Ezekiel.”

My smile disappeared.

I looked at him.

He looked at me.

Then he smiled.

Just slightly.

I stared.

“Second place…”

“Elle.”

I couldn't believe it.

After class, I approached him.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

I crossed my arms.

“You beat me by one point.”

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Enjoy it.”

“I will.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You won't stay there.”

He smiled.

“Then catch me.”

And that was the beginning.

The competition.

The endless quizzes.

The exams.

The recitations.

The projects.

If I got 97, he'd get 98.

If I got 99, he'd get 100.

If I answered first, he'd answer better.

At some point, our classmates stopped asking who would win.

They simply watched.

Because they knew.

Every competition became personal.

But somewhere along the way...

I stopped wanting to beat him.

I started wanting to impress him.

And I hated that.

---

One afternoon, we were preparing for a debate.

Our teacher divided us into teams.

Ezekiel and I ended up on opposite sides.

Of course.

The topic was complicated.

The room was hot.

Everyone was nervous.

Except him.

He stood confidently.

Then the debate began.

I presented my argument.

He countered.

I attacked his point.

He defended.

I smiled.

He smiled back.

It felt less like a debate...

and more like a conversation between two people who already knew exactly how the other thought.

When it ended, our teacher smiled.

“You two should debate professionally.”

Our classmates laughed.

After class, Ezekiel approached me.

“You were good.”

I smiled.

“I know.”

He laughed.

“Of course.”

“You weren't bad either.”

“Thanks.”

I looked at him.

“Next time, I'll win.”

He smiled.

“Looking forward to it.”

Then he walked away.

I watched him.

And realized something terrifying.

My rival had become someone I looked forward to seeing every day.

---

The Friend

Michael was different.

There was no competition.

No crush.

No dramatic beginning.

Just a boy sitting alone.

I first noticed him behind the school building.

A group of boys were laughing.

Michael was standing in front of them.

His bag was on the ground.

One of the boys pushed him.

I froze.

Then I walked toward them.

“Hey!”

They looked at me.

“What's going on?”

“Nothing.”

I looked at Michael.

He was trying to smile.

But I could see he wasn't okay.

“Leave him alone.”

One of the boys laughed.

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

“Who are you?”

I crossed my arms.

“Someone who has enough time to report all of you.”

They stopped laughing.

“Come on.”

They left.

Michael picked up his bag.

“Thanks.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You're lying.”

He smiled.

“Maybe.”

I sat beside him.

“You should've fought back.”

He laughed.

“I don't like fighting.”

“Then use your words.”

“Like you did?”

“Yes.”

He smiled.

“You're scary.”

“I know.”

He laughed.

And somehow...

that was the beginning of our friendship.

We became classmates.

Then friends.

Then best friends.

We studied together.

Shared food.

Complained about teachers.

Talked about our families.

Made fun of each other.

He knew when I was upset even when I said I wasn't.

He knew when I needed silence.

He knew when I needed someone to make me laugh.

And I knew him too.

I knew when he was pretending to be okay.

I knew when he was worried.

I knew when he needed someone.

We never called it anything more than friendship.

At least...

I didn't.

---

Present Day

I stared at my notebook.

Three names.

Three memories.

Three completely different relationships.

Josh.

My first crush.

The boy I thought I had forgotten.

Ezekiel.

My rival.

The person who challenged me to become better.

Michael.

My friend.

The person who knew me better than almost anyone.

I leaned back in my chair.

“Why does this feel like a problem?”

My classmate looked at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

She laughed.

“You always say that.”

I smiled.

Maybe she was right.

Maybe I did have a problem.

Because the three boys from my past had somehow become part of my present.

And I had no idea what that meant.

My phone vibrated.

I looked down.

A message from the group chat.

Michael: Meeting tomorrow?

Ezekiel: Yes.

Josh: Where?

Michael:

Elle's choice.

I stared at the screen.

Why me?

I typed:

Library.

Michael replied immediately.

Too boring.

Ezekiel:

It's a library.

Michael:

Exactly.

Josh:

Coffee shop?

Michael:

Now we're talking.

I smiled.

Then Ezekiel sent:

Elle decides.

I looked at the message.

For some reason, my heart fluttered.

I typed:

Fine. Coffee shop.

Michael:

Good choice.

Josh:

See you tomorrow.

Ezekiel:

Don't be late.

I rolled my eyes.

I won't.

Michael:

Liar.

I laughed.

Then I stopped.

Because I realized something.

I was smiling at my phone.

Again.

I closed the group chat.

“No.”

I shook my head.

“This is nothing.”

It was just a project.

Just four students.

Just friends.

Just old memories coming back.

Nothing romantic.

Nothing complicated.

Nothing I couldn't solve.

I opened my notebook.

At the bottom of the page, I wrote:

Josh = past

Ezekiel = rivalry

Michael = friendship

Then I stared at the three equations.

I added one more line.

Elle = ?

I frowned.

I crossed it out.

Then wrote:

Love = ?

I stared at it for a long time.

Maybe that was the real problem.

I had always believed that every equation had an answer.

But maybe some equations weren't meant to be solved immediately.

Maybe you had to live through them first.

Maybe you had to make mistakes.

Maybe you had to lose.

Maybe you had to choose.

And maybe...

sometimes the answer wasn't the person you expected.

I closed my notebook.

I didn't know it yet, but the three boys who once belonged to different chapters of my life were about to become part of the same story.

Josh, the crush I thought I had forgotten.

Ezekiel, the rival I could never stop competing with.

Michael, the friend I never imagined losing.

Three names.

Three histories.

Three possibilities.

One heart.

And absolutely no formula for what was about to happen next.

My love equation remained unsolved.

For now.