8: WHISPERS OF CONFESSION, OR CONFUSION?

It was late in the afternoon, and the café was a bit comfy, with soft music playing in the background. The smell of freshly brewed coffee mixes with the crisp air from the open window. 

Clara and Tiffany, a confident, free-spirited woman with a sense of calm, are seated at a small table near the window. Clara's fingers idly stir her coffee, her thoughts far away, as Tiffany watches her with an observant gaze.

Tiffany is Clara's senior from Medics year three, whom she talks to once in a semester.

Tiffany leans forward, her smile easy but knowing. "You know you can talk to me, right?" 

Clara meets her eyes, hesitating for a moment. Her relationship with Alex has been weighing on her mind, and the kiss they shared has only made everything more complicated. "I don't even know what to say anymore." Her voice is heavy, filled with frustration. 

Tiffany raises an eyebrow. "It sounds like you're giving him a lot of space to figure things out, but... what about you?"

Clara sighs deeply, her fingers curling around her cup. "I want him to be honest. I want him to just admit if he wants to be with me. But... the more I think about it, the more I realize I'm just waiting for him to decide. And maybe... maybe that's not fair."

Tiffany's expression softens. She leans back in her chair, studying Clara for a moment.

"You deserve someone who's willing to meet you where you are. Not someone who's too afraid to take a step forward."

Clara nods slowly, the words sinking in. "I know. But I care about him so much. It's hard to just... walk away."

Tiffany looks at her with understanding. "It's hard to walk away from something that's not giving you what you need. But sometimes it's the only way to make space for something better, something that's real."

Clara stares at the table, her thoughts swirling. The weight of Tiffany's words lingers. As much as she wants Alex to be ready for something real, she knows she can't keep waiting for him forever. She deserves clarity.

"I don't know if I'm strong enough to let go," Clara whispers, but her resolve begins to form. Maybe it's time to stop letting Alex dictate her happiness. 

The midday sun casts long shadows across the campus. A few steps away from a quiet corner in the courtyard, near the law department building, Alex spots Dave was sitting alone, his head down.

He held a book on his hand, but it was clear he wasn't reading. He was lost in thoughts.

Alex hesitates for a moment before walking over, feeling the weight of their recent tension. 

"Dave," Alex says, trying to keep his voice steady.

Dave looks up but doesn't smile. There's an edge to his gaze, a coldness Alex can't ignore. "What do you want, Alex?" His tone is curt, almost dismissive.

Alex stands in front of him, his heart beating faster. "Why are you being so cold to me? Ever since the kiss, you've been avoiding me. What's going on?"

Dave's lips twist into a half-smile, but there's no humor in it. "Cold? I'm not being cold. I'm just... staying out of your way."

Alex frowns, confused. "Why? You think I don't know what's happening? You saw me kiss Clara. Is that what this is about?"

Dave looks away, his jaw tightening as he runs a hand through his hair. He looks as if he's trying to find the right words, but nothing seems to come out.

"I didn't ask you to be in the middle of this, Dave," Alex presses. "I'm trying to figure things out, but it's not just about Clara. It's—"

He stops himself, the words getting caught in his throat. He wants to say that it's also about Dave, about how their friendship has become so strained, but he doesn't know how to put it into words.

Dave's eyes darken, and for a moment, Alex sees something break in him. "You know what, Alex? Maybe I don't want to be in the middle. Maybe I don't want to be some secret you don't want to talk about." Dave's voice shakes with barely suppressed emotion.

Alex takes a step closer, lowering his voice. "You're not a secret to me, Dave. You never have been. You're my best friend."

But Dave stands abruptly, cutting Alex off. "Haha, here he goes again. You know what Alex? Fuck you" His voice cracks, aggressive but full of pain, he stands up sharply, walking off without another word.

Alex stands frozen for a moment, a girl staring at him from the other corner, weirdly. For a moment he stares back at her. "What are you looking at?" he asks abruptly. She shakes her head, stands up and leave. He felt a sinking feeling in his chest, the confusion and guilt were eating at him. What does all of this mean?

Behind the library, an isolated spot where the campus is quieter, and were students in a chaotic relationship often go to solve their issues, Hannah and Terah stand a few feet apart, both lost in their thoughts. The tension between them has been worse ever since their group hangout, but the silence is thick tonight. The energy shifts when Hannah takes a hesitant step forward, her eyes meeting Terah's.

"Terah…" Hannah begins softly, but before she can say anything else, Terah steps closer, almost as if compelled by something neither of them can name.

Without thinking, Hannah reaches out, her hand resting lightly on Terah's arm. The touch sparks something between them, something they both feel, yet neither of them is ready to fully admit. Their eyes lock, and for a long moment, neither speaks.

Then, without warning, Terah leans in, pressing her lips to Hannah's. The kiss is unexpected, but it's filled with raw, unspoken emotion. For a few fleeting seconds, it feels like nothing else exists but the connection they've both been denying.

But as quickly as it happens, Terah pulls away sharply, her breath ragged. Her face is flushed, her eyes wide with confusion.

"I... I can't do this," Terah whispers, almost to herself, taking a few steps back. "I don't know what I want. This isn't right."

Hannah stands frozen, her pulse racing. "Terah, wait, we..."

But Terah shakes her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I can't. I'm sorry." She turns and walks away briskly, disappearing into the fading evening, leaving Hannah standing there, breathless, heart pounding.

Hannah stands still, the cold air biting at her skin, feeling the confusion and longing settle heavily in her chest. She doesn't know what just happened, but she can't shake the feeling that it was something important; something that both of them weren't ready for.