Sam sits with a tray in front of him, nervously picking at his food. His eyes keep drifting toward Alex, his best friend, who is laughing at something on her phone. Across the table sits Jordan, Sam’s longtime crush, whose smile seems to light up the whole room. "Did you guys finish the math homework? I swear Mr. Lee made it impossible on purpose," Sam asks, trying to sound casual, but his gaze lingers on Jordan.

As they walk together, Alex keeps glancing over at Jordan, her cheeks tinged with pink. Sam notices Alex’s excitement and the way she bites her lip when Jordan talks. He feels a strange knot forming in his stomach. "Jordan, are you coming to the game on Friday? I was thinking we could all go together," Alex says, her voice a little too eager.

Sam watches as Alex and Jordan sit close, their laughter blending seamlessly. Sam’s heart sinks as he realizes what’s happening. He tries to join the conversation, but feels like an outsider in his own group. "Alex, you always know how to make me laugh. I’d love to go to the game with you guys," Jordan says, flashing Alex a grin.

He finally types out a message, hesitates, then erases it. Instead, he calls. When Alex answers, her voice is warm but distracted. "Hey, can I talk to you about something? It’s kind of important," Sam says, his voice trembling slightly. "Of course, Sam. You know you can tell me anything,"

Sam takes a deep breath, looking down at his hands. He struggles to find the right words, but the emotions come tumbling out. "I’ve liked Jordan for a long time. I just... I noticed you seem to like him too. I didn’t know what to do," "Sam, I didn’t realize. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you," Alex replies, her eyes shining with regret.

Alex reaches for Sam’s hand, squeezing it gently. They sit together in comfortable silence, the weight of their honesty softening the tension between them. "No matter what happens, you’re still my best friend. We can figure this out together," Sam nods, a small smile breaking through his uncertainty. The future feels uncertain, but for now, they have each other—and that’s enough. __END__