Chapter 4
1160 Words
My classmates were busy flipping through their textbooks, pens scratching lightly across paper, while my mind drifted miles away.
To him.
To Andy.
Even now, I still couldn’t shake off the shock that he didn’t have a girlfriend. None. Zero. As if that were possible.
I definitely didn’t want to assume he was gay—nothing about him hinted at that. Everything about him screamed the opposite, actually. The only explanation left was that he was dating someone… and simply keeping it secret so Uncle Diego wouldn’t breathe down his neck.
And for some reason, the thought clawed at me.
I was jealous.
There—admitting it even in my head made my chest twist.
I didn’t know when that feeling started. One day, it was nothing. The next, he was everywhere. In my thoughts. In my emotions. In the quickened beating of my heart whenever he smiled.
At first, I convinced myself it was infatuation. Just a silly crush.
But the longer I tried to deny it, the deeper it sank its roots.
And it wasn’t right.
Soon we would officially be siblings—legally, permanently.
My feelings for him had no place in that future.
That’s why I tried to avoid the feeling…
Even if I had no idea how long I could keep resisting.
“Hey! You’re zoning out again. Done with your notes?”
I startled, turning to see Becky—my classmate, and now my closest friend.
“Ah—yeah. Almost.” I forced my attention back to the book, even though the words were swimming uselessly.
“You were thinking deeply,” Becky teased. “Don’t worry, he’s probably thinking of you right now too.”
I shot her a sharp look.
“Impossible. He’s in class right now.”
She burst into giggles, loud enough to make me blush.
“Woah! She admitted it! Who’s the stepbrother again?”
“W–What?! No!” My cheeks burned hot.
“Oh please! Don’t deny. You literally told me you have a crush on him.”
“Be quiet!” I hissed, glancing around nervously. “Someone might hear you!”
“They won’t. Everyone already left.”
I exhaled in relief.
“You,” I muttered, “better be careful with what you say. Just because we’re besties now doesn’t give you the right to expose me like that.”
“Sorry!” she said, laughing. “But honestly, I admire you. How do you control yourself whenever you’re with him?”
“I’m terrified of our parents,” I said truthfully. “So it’s easier to ignore my feelings. Besides, it’s just a crush. It’ll fade eventually.”
Becky raised an eyebrow.
“And what if he develops feelings for you instead? What then?”
The thought slammed into me so hard it stole my breath.
But I shook my head immediately.
“That won’t happen. To him, I’m just… a little sister. I’m definitely not his type.”
Before Becky could reply, her phone buzzed loudly. She checked it, then grinned.
“My boyfriend wants to eat out. Want to come? No more classes this afternoon.”
“I’ll pass. I should go home.” I stood, gathering my things.
“Oh come on! He’s in the Architecture building right now. Isn’t that where Andy studies?”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“So that’s your real motive.”
“Hey, I was just hoping!” she winked.
I sighed.
“Fine. But we’re not staying long.”
She squealed.
“As if you weren’t going to come anyway.”
“Be quiet,” I grumbled. “I’m only curious how their building looks.”
—
Students flooded the hallway of the Architecture building—tall drafting tubes slung across their backs, portfolios tucked under their arms. Becky tapped away on her phone while I scanned the crowd, pretending not to hope I’d see him.
“Ten more minutes before their class ends,” she said. “Let’s walk around while waiting.”
We turned into the student hall just as a burst of loud laughter echoed from the corner. A cluster of architecture students rounded the bend—loud, energetic, still buzzing from whatever they were gossiping about.
“Hey,” Becky whispered, nudging me. “Isn’t that their uniform?”
“Yeah,” I breathed, eyes searching.
And then—
“There! Your Andy!” she squealed, pointing.
My heart lurched.
There he was—walking at the end of the group, tall and striking even among his classmates. His hair slightly messy from studio work, sleeves rolled up, drawing tube slung casually over one shoulder.
I lifted a hand, gathering courage to wave—
But someone reached him first.
A girl.
Pretty. Confident.
She slipped right into his space and hooked her arm through his.
“Andres, come on,” she cooed. “Be my partner for the team exercise. We’d be the power couple!”
And then she rested her head on his shoulder.
Laughter erupted around them, teasing shouts bouncing through the hallway. Andy’s ears turned scarlet. He looked embarrassed—shy even—but he didn’t push her away.
And just like that, something inside my chest caved in.
My hand dropped to my side.
My throat closed.
My heart stung so sharply I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak.
I just stood there… watching them walk right past us.
“She’s so flirty—are they together?” Becky whispered.
“I… I don’t know.” My voice cracked. My vision blurred.
Tears threatened to fall, heavy and hot.
But the worst part—the part that hurt in a quiet, final sort of way—
was how natural they looked together.
A normal couple.
A possible couple.
A possible future that could never be mine.
Becky touched my shoulder gently.
“Hey… it’s okay. You two can’t happen anyway, right? Come on—let’s find a guy who can like you.”
I swallowed hard.
She wasn’t wrong. She was being practical. Logical.
And yet… it stung more because it was true.
“No,” I whispered. “I want to go home.”
“So you can cry alone? No way.” She grabbed my hand. “My boyfriend’s cousins are cute. Friendly. Single. Let’s meet them. You deserve someone who’s free to choose you.”
I didn’t want to agree.
But after what I saw—after that girl leaning into him like she belonged there—
something in me cracked open.
Maybe it was finally time to move on.
Before the ache grew any deeper.
I exhaled shakily.
“Fine. But just until five. If I’m late, my mom will kill me.”
Becky grinned and linked her arm with mine.
“Deal.”
What I didn’t say out loud was the sentence sitting like a stone in my chest:
If I don’t start forgetting Andy now… I never will.
- Writer
