Trevor and Liana were still dating, and everyone at school knew it. The girls whispered about their "perfect relationship," and the guys teased Trevor like he'd won some kind of prize. But lately, things hadn't been smooth. Trevor was quieter, distracted like his mind was somewhere else.
One afternoon, they met at their usual spot behind the labs — the old toilet block where they used to sneak off after class.
Trevor kissed her softly, his hand brushing her cheek — then the door creaked open.
Liana froze.
Derek stepped in, leaning on the wall with that smug grin she hated. "Relax," he said, "it's not like I haven't seen it before."
Liana's face burned. "What are you doing here, Derek?"
Before she could even turn to Trevor, he was already backing away. "I'll be outside," he muttered and then he was gone. The door shut behind him with a soft click.
Liana blinked. "Trevor?" she called, panic creeping in. No answer.
She turned to Derek, glaring. "You're disgusting. You were supposed to wait outside."
He smirked, eyes glinting. "Guess I changed my mind."
Her chest tightened. "You think this is funny?"
Derek stepped closer, voice low. "You remember when, I told you I'm a better kisser than Trevor."
Liana's jaw clenched. "You're unbelievable."
"Want to prove me wrong?" he said, still smiling.
She wanted to slap him. She wanted to walk out. But anger and confusion tangled together, Trevor's silence, Derek's arrogance, the humiliation of it all. She didn't even know what she was thinking when Derek leaned closer and she didn't move.
It was quick. Harsh. A kiss that felt like a mistake .
When she pulled back, Derek looked proud.
She glared at him, her heart racing. "You're pathetic," she spat, pushing past him.
Outside, Trevor was leaning against the wall, pretending to scroll through his phone. Their eyes met and something in her broke.
"What do you take me for?" she said, her voice trembling, before walking away.
That night, she couldn't focus on anything. Her mind replayed the scene over and over the door closing, Derek's grin, Trevor's silence. By the time school ended, she didn't even want to see either of them.
But when she reached the gate, Trevor was there, waiting.
"Liana," he said softly, "I'm sorry about earlier."
She folded her arms. "Sorry for what? Leaving me with your friend?"
"I didn't mean for it to go that way," he said, eyes on the ground. "Derek just… he really likes you. He told me first, before I ever asked you out. I broke the boys' code."
She blinked. "The what?"
"The boys' code. You don't go after a girl your friend likes. I messed that up."
Liana's stomach twisted. "So you brought him there to what — fix it? See if he could take my place?"
Trevor looked up, regret in his eyes. "No, I swear. I just thought… if you liked him too, maybe—"
She cut him off. "You thought wrong."
The words hung between them like cold air.
After a long silence, he said quietly, "I'm sorry, Liana. I really am."
She sighed. "Just don't ever do that again."
He nodded. "Promise."
They walked home together, pretending it was fine.
That night, Liana sat on the floor massaging her mother's legs while she complained about prices and tiredness. Her hands moved, but her mind wasn't there.
But when she finally lay in bed, the silence grew loud. Her thoughts spiraled — the kiss, Trevor's lie, Derek's smirk. Why do I always let people treat me this way?
And then, faintly, like a whisper brushing the edge of her mind, a voice came:
"Do not be deceived. Not every hand that reaches for you means love."
Liana froze, heart racing. The room was still, the voice gone — but its echo stayed, sinking deep.
She turned on her side, clutching her pillow. For the first time, she wasn't sure if the ache in her chest was heartbreak… or awakening.