BEHIND HIS SMILE MY NAME

Chapter 8 – The Confession Game

The senior hallway was unusually quiet after hours, lit only by soft rays of sunset bleeding through the long windows. Zayn sat at the edge of the rooftop, legs dangling, the wind ruffling his dark hoodie. He wasn't sure why he agreed to this silly game of "Confession Dare" Teo had suggested during lunch. It was meant to be fun. Light-hearted. But his chest was anything but light.

One by one, students had gone up to confess their first kiss, a hidden crush, or a secret fantasy. Maia had gone first, playfully admitting she had once fantasized about kissing Zayn in the chemistry lab—everyone laughed, except Zayn, who only managed a half-smile. His thoughts were elsewhere.

When Teo stood up, silence fell. He rubbed the back of his neck, gaze locked on Zayn.

“My turn?” Teo said, voice low but clear. “Alright. My confession is... I’m tired of pretending we’re just a game to each other.”

The rooftop shifted with energy. Someone whispered, “Wait, what?”

Teo took a step closer to Zayn. “I’m done playing roles. I don’t want to be the second lead in your life. Zayn, I like you. I’ve liked you since the first day you told Maia you weren’t into guys, while your eyes told me a different story.”

Zayn’s breath caught. Teo’s tone wasn’t playful. It was raw. Honest.

Zayn stood, his pulse hammering in his ears. “You think I haven’t noticed you staring at me in PE? Watching me when you thought I wasn’t looking?” His voice was trembling, but not with anger.

Teo didn’t deny it. “Every time you smiled at her, I wondered if you’d ever look at me that way.”

Silence. A long, shaky pause. Then Zayn spoke, barely audible.

“I’m scared, Teo. I don’t know how to be with someone who sees me... like you do.”

Teo stepped even closer, his hands brushing Zayn’s. “Then let me teach you.”

For a second, Zayn didn’t move. But then, slowly, he laced his fingers with Teo’s, eyes flickering with something between fear and hope.

Below them, the sunset melted into dusk, and the rooftop echoed with a moment that changed everything.