Until Love Finds Us Again

Chapter 3: Something Different

A few weeks had passed since I first met Adrian.

Somehow, he had become part of my everyday routine.

Every morning, he would greet me.

Every lunch break, he would find a reason to sit beside me.

And almost every afternoon, we would walk toward the school gate together.

At first, I thought it was just friendship.

But lately...

Something felt different.

"You're quiet today."

I looked at Adrian as we walked home.

"I'm just tired."

He studied my face.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"Yeah."

He smiled slightly

.

"Okay. But if something's bothering you, you can tell me."

I looked down at the sidewalk.

"Why do you care so much?"

He stopped walking.

I stopped too.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he shrugged

"Because you're my friend."

My heart skipped.

"Just your friend?"

He smiled.

"For now."

I stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

He laughed.

"Nothing. Come on."

He continued walking, leaving me confused.

I followed him.

But his words stayed in my mind.

For now.

The next day, something unexpected happened.

Our teacher announced a group project

.

"Choose your partners. Two people per group."

Before I could even look around, Adrian pulled a chair beside me.

"You're with me."

I laughed.

"You didn't even ask."

"I already decided."

"Bossy."

"You like it."

I rolled my eyes.

But I couldn't stop smiling.

We spent the afternoon working on our project.

Adrian wasn't the best at organizing things, so I had to keep reminding him what to do.

"Adrian, that's not where it goes."

"I know."

"No, you don't."

"Okay, maybe I don't"

We both laughed.

For a while, everything felt easy.

No awkwardness.

No worries.

Just us.

When we finished, we stayed behind while the others left.

The classroom became unusually quiet.

Adrian looked at me.

"Mia."

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you believe people can fall in love with their best friend?"

I froze.

I didn't know how to answer.

"Why are you asking?"

He looked away.

"Just curious."

I smiled nervously.

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Yeah. I think s

ometimes the person you least expect becomes the person you care about the most."

He looked back at me.

Our eyes met.

0

Neither of us moved.

Then he smiled.

"Maybe you're right."

My heart was beating faster than usual.

I didn't understand what was happening between us.

But somewhere inside me, I already knew one thing:

Adrian wasn't just becoming my friend.

He was becoming someone I couldn't imagine losing.

And that scared me more than I wanted to admit.