The realization

The Next Day

Eron found himself caught in a dilemma, tangled in the promise he had made to Aryan. How was he supposed to figure out Kiara's likes and dislikes without making things awkward?

Every time he tried befriending a girl, she ended up falling for him instead of the guy she was supposed to. And that was a disaster he wanted to avoid at all costs.

But fate had its own plans.

As if the universe itself had decided to lend him a hand, the homeroom teacher announced a rearrangement of seating. And just like that, Kiara was assigned the seat next to him.

The first few periods were filled with awkward silence. Neither of them spoke, the air between them thick with hesitation. But eventually, the ice broke when Eron helped her solve a difficult math problem.

As soon as self-study time ended, Kiara turned to him, her eyes bright with gratitude.

"Are you free today?" she asked. "I want to treat you for helping me with my homework."

Eron blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected an invitation, but why refuse when this would make his task easier?

"Sure," he agreed, hiding his relief behind a casual smile.

...

Meanwhile, in Aryan's Class.

"Again? Who is this mysterious admirer of yours?"

Marco sighed in frustration as he picked up yet another carton of chocolate milk from Aryan's desk. Attached to it was a small note with neat handwriting and a heart-shaped sticker:

"To Aryan, Love ❤️"

Aryan, unfazed by the attention, casually took the drink from Marco's hands and sipped it without a second thought. "What can I say? People just like me," he said with a smirk.

Marco groaned. "What if this admirer is actually a crazy stalker?" He snatched the drink away and tossed it into the trash. "You shouldn't just accept random things from strangers! What if they put something in it?"

Aryan chuckled. "Why are you suddenly acting like a strict parent?"

But as he glanced at Marco's irritated face, he realized something was off. His friend seemed unusually tense.

"Wait a second," Aryan narrowed his eyes. "Something's bothering you. Spill it."

Marco avoided his gaze, crossing his arms. "It's nothing…"

"Really?" Aryan pressed, unconvinced.

Marco let out an exaggerated sigh before finally blurting out, "A perverted psycho came to stay at my house!" He slammed his desk in frustration.

Aryan blinked. "Wait—perverted psycho?"

"My cousin, Rony!" Marco practically growled. "Not only did he show up unannounced, but he also took over my room! And you know what's worse? That pervert sleeps naked!"

Aryan burst into laughter. "No way!"

"I just bought new bedsheets, man. My favorite ones! And now I can't even use them!" Marco slumped in his chair, looking utterly defeated.

Aryan smirked. "Isn't Rony the one who always tricks you?"

"Exactly! And now my dad says he's staying for two whole weeks! If he doesn't leave soon, I might just commit murder."

Aryan chuckled before patting Marco's back. "If life throws you into hell, don't get burned—find a way out. Use 'group study' as an excuse and stay at my place."

Marco's face lit up. "Master, what do you want to eat? I'll buy you anything! just say..." In a burst of excitement, he wrapped Aryan in a tight hug.

"Let go, you moron! I'm dying!" Aryan gasped, struggling to free himself from Marco's suffocating grip.

As classes ended, Aryan and Marco waited for Eron to join them. But when Eron informed them about his prior engagement with Kiara, the trio had to part ways.

It was a rare occurrence—Eron had never left them behind for anyone before. Aryan didn't say anything, but he felt a strange pang of disappointment.

Marco let out an exaggerated sigh, shoving his hands into his pockets. "So, it finally happened. He got himself a girlfriend."

Aryan raised an eyebrow as they started walking side by side. "What, jealous?"

"Not jealous. Just… wondering when my turn is gonna come." Marco groaned. "Seriously, when am I gonna get a girlfriend?"

Aryan smirked. "Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing. After going on, what—like a hundred dates?—why are you still single?"

"Because no one ever sparks anything in me." Marco's voice held a note of frustration. "Dating and falling in love aren't the same thing. Just because a girl is nice doesn't mean she's the one."

Aryan chuckled, glancing at him mischievously. "No girls leave a spark, huh? Then what about dating a guy? Maybe he'd light that fire in you."

He had meant it as a joke, just a casual tease—something to mess with Marco. But the moment the words left his mouth, something odd flickered in Marco's mind. A question he hadn't thought of before.

'What if it's actually true?'

...

The soft hum of conversations and the rich scent of roasted coffee beans filled the air as Kiara led Eron into the café. The warm, dim lighting gave the place a cozy ambiance, perfect for a casual afternoon.

As they stood at the counter, Kiara scanned the display of cakes, unsure of what to pick.

Surprisingly, Eron was the one who suggested which cake to buy.

Once they settled into their seats, Kiara frowned as she noticed something.

"You seem to like sweets," she pointed out. "Why didn't you get one? It's my treat."

Eron shook his head. "I'm not really into sweets," he admitted. "My brother is. He's always eager to try new desserts, so I just happen to know a lot about them."

Kiara's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly masked it. "Our tastes really match. First drawing, now sweets. I don't like them much either." She lightly pushes the cake aside.

Eron nodded, sipping his own drink. "Oh yeah, you mentioned before—you like art."

Kiara's eyes brightened. "Speaking of which, do you still have that art book? I'd love to see it. Can I?" She clasped her hands together, her tone playfully pleading.

Hesitatingly though, Eron pulled it out and handed it to her.

As she flipped through the pages, her expression shifted. The book was filled with sketches—not just random figures or landscapes, but countless drawings of one particular person.

Aryan.

"Wow, you draw really well," Kiara said, tracing a finger over one of the portraits. "It must've been tough for him to sit still for so long while you sketched."

Eron froze.

Sit still? Aryan had never posed for him. Every stroke of the pencil, every detail—he had drawn them all from memory.

Kiara laughed lightly. "Is he your model or something? If I didn't know he was your brother, I'd almost think…" She hesitated, then smirked. "You might have feelings for him."

Eron felt his breath hitch.

It was just a joke. A simple remark. But for some reason, it hit him harder than expected.

His gaze dropped to the sketches, and for the first time, he truly saw them—pages and pages of Aryan's face, his expressions, his every detail.

Why had he drawn so many?

His mind scrambled for a logical explanation, but deep down, there was an answer he wasn't ready to face.