By the fifth week, the journal didn't feel like homework anymore.
It felt like something else entirely.
Amira now checked her desk every Monday with butterflies in her stomach. And when she saw the familiar notebook waiting, her whole body warmed.
She read his latest entry slowly.
"I think about your words sometimes. Randomly. Like when I'm walking home, or eating cereal, or pretending to listen in class.
Is it weird that I want to know your voice? I mean, your real one. Not just your writing.
But maybe not knowing is what makes this special.
Still… if I ever find out who you are, I hope you smile at me. Just once. That would probably ruin me—in a good way."
Amira pressed her fingers against her mouth, heart racing.
She'd never had anyone talk to her like that before. Not in real life. Not even close.
She picked up her pen and began her reply, her handwriting a little shakier than usual.
"If I smiled at you, you wouldn't know it was for you. That's the strange part.
But I'd smile. A real one. The kind I save for only a few moments in life. You've given me more of those lately.
Sometimes, I wish we weren't anonymous.
Not because I want to stop writing… but because I think I'd like hearing you say things like that to my face.
I think I'd melt.
Also, I think about your words too. They stick to my ribs. In a soft way. Like sweet things I'm not used to tasting.
— Still me. Still hoping."
---
Across the room, Jayden watched her without meaning to.
She was always bent over her desk, always writing something quietly. Could it be her?
He didn't know. But he wanted to.
He wanted to tuck her hair behind her ear. He wanted to see her blush and look away when he complimented her.
And maybe—just maybe—he wanted to kiss her.
Just once.
Not yet. Not now. But soon.
He didn't know who she was.
But he was falling for her anyway.