The Monday after the talent show felt different.
Josh walked into school with his usual backpack slung over one shoulder, but his thoughts were still stuck on Friday night. The applause, the lights, Aki's hug—it all replayed in his head like a highlight reel he didn't want to forget. He'd never felt that alive before, and it was all thanks to her.
He spotted Aki near their lockers, chatting with a group of classmates. She looked like her usual self—bright, full of energy, waving her arms around like she was telling a story. Josh smiled, walking over.
"Hey, superstar," Aki greeted him when she saw him. "Feeling famous yet?"
Josh laughed. "Still waiting for my autograph requests."
"I'll be your first fan," she joked, nudging him.
Before Josh could reply, he heard his name being whispered from behind.
"Psst. Josh. Over here."
It was Kevin, one of his classmates, motioning him over with a conspiratorial look. Curious, Josh excused himself from Aki and wandered over.
"What's up?" Josh asked, lowering his voice.
Kevin grinned. "So, you and Aki, huh?"
Josh blinked. "Huh what?"
Kevin leaned in. "You guys were so close onstage. Everyone's talking. Some people even think you're… y'know, a thing."
Josh's heart skipped a beat. "We're just friends," he said quickly.
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Sure. But you like her, don't you?"
Josh felt his face grow warm. "What—why would you say that?"
Kevin shrugged. "I dunno. You just act different around her. And people have been saying stuff. Oh, and did you hear? I think someone said Aki likes someone, too."
Josh froze. "Wait—what?"
"Yeah. Don't know who. But apparently she told someone she has a crush."
Josh's brain went into overdrive. Aki liked someone? Who? Did she mention it before? Was it a new thing? Was it—
"Dude," Kevin said, snapping his fingers. "You okay?"
Josh forced a smile. "Yeah. Just surprised. Thanks, I guess."
As he walked back to Aki, his mind raced. His chest felt tight, like something had just flipped upside down inside him. Aki liked someone. And now all he could think about was one question:
What if it's not me?
---
That day felt longer than usual. Every time Aki laughed or talked to someone else, Josh couldn't help but wonder if that was the guy. He tried to act normal—join her in conversations, laugh at her jokes, respond like he always did—but something felt off. And Aki noticed.
"You're being weird," she said at lunch, squinting at him over her sandwich. "Like… glitching-Josh weird."
Josh chuckled, trying to brush it off. "I'm just tired."
"Liar," she said, but she didn't push it.
He wanted to ask her. Desperately. Just come out and say it—Hey, do you have a crush on someone? Is it someone I know? But the words stayed locked behind his lips.
Instead, he watched her talk and laugh and smile… and wondered if maybe, for once, she wasn't smiling because of him.
---
That night, Josh sat at his desk, notebook open in front of him again. The page from before—the one with the letter—remained untouched. He flipped to a new one and scribbled down two words:
"What if?"
He didn't know what the rest of the sentence was yet.
What if she liked someone else?
What if she knew how he felt?
What if it ruined everything?
The questions kept spinning, and for the first time in a while, he wasn't sure how to be around his best friend anymore.