When they got close to the neighborhood, Andrew's dad eased up on the gas. Andrew leaned back into the seat, trying to settle his racing thoughts. He had too much on his mind, but he didn't want his dad worrying more than he already was. Especially after admitting that the diary wasn't just strange—it was dangerous.
The car rolled into the driveway. Andrew grabbed the diary, slipped it into his bag, and wished his dad goodnight before heading straight for his room. He was exhausted, but his brain wasn't ready to shut down.
He lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. Grace's smile popped into his head, the way she had stood next to him in all the confusion. Then Sophia. Ryan. Everyone who had gotten pulled into this whole mess without even knowing it.
"Tomorrow," he told himself. "Tomorrow I'll start doing something."
That thought was the last thing he remembered before sleep finally won.
The next morning, Andrew woke earlier than usual. Sunlight spilled through his window, washing his walls in gold. He got dressed quickly, slung his bag over his shoulder, and set off for school.
As soon as he walked through the gates, he spotted Ryan waving wildly across the courtyard. Grace was next to him, her hair glowing in the morning light.
"Andrew! Over here!" Ryan shouted.
Andrew walked toward them, and for a second, yesterday didn't feel so heavy. His friends were the same as always, cheerful and loud. Together, the three of them headed for class.
The classroom buzzed with the usual chaos—students laughing, swapping notes, goofing off. Andrew sat down, Grace beside him, Ryan a row back. Lessons blurred by: scribbled notes, teachers droning on, whispered comments between him and Grace. Andrew tried to focus, but his thoughts kept slipping to the diary tucked inside his bag. Every time, though, Grace's smile reeled him back in. That was enough to keep him steady.
When the lunch bell rang, the class scattered. Ryan got caught in some heated sports argument, while Grace turned to Andrew.
"Want to eat outside today?" she asked.
"Yeah," Andrew said, smiling.
They found a spot under the trees, where the air was breezy and the noise of the courtyard faded a little. Grace opened her lunch box and laughed.
"I brought egg dishes again. Want some?"
Andrew grinned. "Only if you take some of mine."
They swapped bites, laughing when the portions came out uneven. For a while, it was just normal—two friends sharing lunch, pretending the world wasn't falling apart.
But someone was watching.
From the window above, Sophia stood still, her eyes locked on them. She saw Andrew laugh with Grace, saw the way he leaned toward her without even realizing it, how his eyes softened when he looked at her.
Sophia's chest tightened. She had always been there, since childhood, long before Grace showed up. And now she was standing on the outside, looking in.
The jealousy hurt more than she wanted to admit. For the first time, she told herself the truth—this wasn't something small she could ignore. It was deep. It was heavy. And it hurt.
"This time," she thought, gripping her chest, "I'll tell him. I can't keep it inside anymore."
The day passed quickly. After classes, everyone packed up to leave. Grace left early, waving goodbye.
"Family stuff," she said with a smile.
Ryan was dragged into another group chat, leaving Andrew on his own. That's when Sophia walked up to him.
"Andrew," she said softly, "can we talk?"
He blinked. "Uh, sure."
"Come with me. To the rooftop."
Andrew hesitated, then nodded.
The stairwell was empty except for their footsteps. When they reached the rooftop, Sophia pushed open the door. A cool breeze hit them, and the sky was streaked with orange and pink.
Sophia walked ahead a few steps, her hands trembling, then turned back to him.
Andrew noticed right away—she was nervous. "What's wrong?" he asked.
She took a shaky breath. "Andrew… we've known each other since we were kids. You've always been there for me. You made me laugh, you understood me… I never thought my feelings would change, but they did. I like you. No… I love you."
Andrew froze. Out of everything he had expected today, this wasn't on the list.
He stared at her, stunned. In his heart, Sophia had always been his childhood friend, the one who teased him when they were younger, the one tied to his earliest memories. He had never imagined she felt more.
Sophia's eyes searched his face, waiting.
Andrew swallowed. "Sophia… I'm grateful for how you feel. Honestly, I never thought you saw me that way. But…" His voice was steady, even though it felt heavy. "I already like someone else. I've already chosen who I want to protect and stay with. I'm sorry."
Her lips trembled. Tears filled her eyes, but she smiled anyway, small and broken. Maybe she had expected this, but it didn't make it hurt less.
"I see," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I just… needed to say it. I couldn't hold it in anymore."
Andrew stepped toward her, his chest aching. "Sophia—"
She shook her head quickly. "Don't. You don't need to say more. I'm glad I told you."
Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she kept that bittersweet smile.
"Thank you for listening," she said softly, then turned toward the door before he could reply.
Andrew stayed there, the wind pulling at his hair, his chest tight. He hadn't meant to hurt her, but he had. Watching her leave, he realized how strong she was, confessing even when she already knew what the answer would be.
The door clicked shut behind her. Andrew whispered to himself, "I'm sorry."
That night, walking home alone, everything weighed on him—Grace, the diary, Sophia's confession. His mind was tangled, but one thing stayed clear: his resolve.
He had promised himself. He would protect Grace. He would fight against the diary's predictions. No matter what it cost.
Even if it meant breaking hearts along the way.
The city lights flickered on as night settled, and Andrew knew things were only going to get harder from here. But he would face it all. He had to.