Chapter 5: The Confession of a Shooting Star

Gabu's Diary Entry:

I don't know how to start this. I don't know how to breathe, let alone write. Everything feels like a dream—no, a nightmare wrapped in the most confusing kind of hope. Why is it that when the stars are out, the truth feels impossible to hold back?

It all started tonight, under the stupidly beautiful sky.

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The day had already been a whirlwind of emotions. Ever since I found Rei's notebook filled with those sketches of me, I couldn't stop thinking about her. What did they mean? Were they just a joke, some weird hobby of hers? Or… did they mean more?

I couldn't ask her. How could I? Just the thought of confronting her made my palms sweat. So, I did what any sensible person would do: I avoided her all day. Or at least, I tried.

But avoiding Rei is like trying to outrun your own shadow. She has this uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere, like a star falling right into my orbit, whether I want her there or not.

And of course, she found me.

I was sitting in the courtyard after school, trying to clear my head. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the colors. But then I heard her voice.

"Hey."

I nearly jumped out of my skin. She was standing behind me, her hands casually stuffed into her pockets, that familiar smirk playing on her lips.

"Y-You scared me!" I stammered, clutching my chest like I'd just escaped a heart attack.

"Sorry," she said, not looking sorry at all. "You seemed deep in thought."

I avoided her gaze, hoping she wouldn't notice the heat rising to my cheeks. "What do you want?"

Rei shrugged, stepping closer until she was standing beside me. "I figured I'd find you here. You always sit here when you're stressed."

I blinked. "How do you know that?"

Her smirk softened into something gentler, her eyes meeting mine. "I notice things about you."

My heart skipped a beat.

Before I could respond, she sat down next to me, her shoulder brushing against mine. The warmth of her presence made it impossible to think straight.

"So," Rei began, her tone light but her gaze serious, "did you find anything interesting in my notebook?"

I froze. My hands clenched the edge of the bench, and my stomach twisted into knots. Of course, she knew. Why wouldn't she? This was Rei we were talking about. She probably planned the whole thing just to mess with me.

"I… I didn't mean to take it," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. "It was an accident."

"I know," she said simply. "But you looked through it, didn't you?"

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "I… I did."

"And?"

Her question hung in the air, heavy and expectant. I didn't know what she wanted me to say. Did she want me to admit that I'd spent half the night staring at those sketches, wondering what they meant? That my heart had nearly exploded when I saw how much effort she'd put into capturing me?

"It was…" I started, my voice faltering. "Why did you draw those?"

Rei's lips curved into a small smile, and she tilted her head, as if considering her answer. "Because I like how you look when you're not paying attention. You're real in those moments. Honest."

I stared at her, my mind reeling. Was she… was she serious?

"You… you think about me like that?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"More than you realize," Rei said softly. Her usual teasing tone was gone, replaced by something warmer, deeper.

I didn't know what to say. My heart was pounding so loudly, I was sure she could hear it.

Before I could respond, Rei leaned back, her gaze shifting to the sky. "Look."

I followed her gaze, and my breath caught in my throat. A shooting star streaked across the darkening sky, leaving a trail of light in its wake. It was beautiful, magical, the kind of moment that felt like it belonged in one of my diary entries.

"Make a wish," Rei said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I closed my eyes, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. My mind raced, but in the end, my wish was simple: Please let me understand what she's feeling.

When I opened my eyes, Rei was watching me. The intensity in her gaze made my cheeks burn.

"Gabu," she said softly, her voice carrying an unfamiliar vulnerability. "I need to tell you something."

My stomach flipped. Her tone, her expression—everything about this moment felt too big, too important.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Rei hesitated, her hands fidgeting in her lap. It was the first time I'd ever seen her look nervous.

"I…" She took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto mine. "I like you. Not as a friend. Not as a joke. I… really, really like you."

My world tilted. For a moment, I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Did she just…?

"You're joking," I said, my voice shaky and uncertain. "This is one of your pranks, right?"

Rei shook her head, her expression serious. "No. This isn't a joke. I mean it."

The sincerity in her voice made my chest ache. I didn't know what to do, what to say. My diary—the one thing that had always felt like my safe space—was suddenly irrelevant. Nothing I'd ever written could prepare me for this moment.

"I…" My words caught in my throat. "I don't know what to say."

Rei smiled gently, her eyes soft. "You don't have to say anything. I just… I couldn't keep it in anymore."

We sat there in silence, the stars twinkling above us. My heart felt like it was caught between fear and hope, longing and disbelief.

This girl—this infuriating, wonderful girl—was driving me crazy. And maybe, just maybe, I didn't mind.

End of Diary Entry.