Janice and Xander, the campus's golden couple, walked hand in hand, their smiles as bright as the morning sun. To everyone else, they were the epitome of love, but I knew better. The truth was hidden behind their practiced smiles and affectionate gestures.

I was nestled in my usual corner, lost in a book, when I overheard Xander and Janice speaking in hushed tones nearby. "We have to keep up the act for our parents," Janice whispered, her voice tinged with resignation. My heart raced as I realized their relationship was a facade, a mere business arrangement orchestrated by their families.

Xander caught me as I was leaving the library. His eyes were stormy, a mix of anger and fear. "You heard us, didn't you?" he demanded, his voice low but tense. I nodded, unable to deny it. For a moment, he seemed lost, his façade crumbling before my eyes.

Our unlikely friendship began over steaming cups of coffee. Xander was different when he wasn't putting on a show. He was genuine, his laughter real. "I never wanted any of this," he confided, his eyes meeting mine with a sincerity that tugged at my heart.

As our friendship deepened, so did the tension. The way Xander looked at me was no longer just friendly. His gaze lingered, filled with a longing that mirrored my own conflicted feelings. "I wish things were different," he murmured one evening, his voice barely above a whisper.

I realized that what I felt for Xander was more than friendship. His presence filled a void I hadn't known existed. But the weight of secrets and obligations loomed over us, a reminder of the perfect illusion we were entangled in. Yet, in that moment, under the vast night sky, hope flickered—a promise of something real, waiting to be discovered beyond the shadows.