One afternoon, beneath the great tree in the schoolyard, Kaivan finally gathered the courage to speak. "Tania, there's something I need to tell you," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
Tania turned to him, her expression tender. "What is it, Kaivan?"
He drew a deep breath, summoning all his strength. "I… I like you, Tania. I don't know how else to say this, but I feel like you're the person I've been searching for all this time. I want us to be more than just friends."
Tania went silent for a heartbeat before smiling softly. "Kaivan, I truly appreciate your feelings. But for now, I think it's best if we stay friends. You're a very important friend to me, and I don't want to lose that. But… maybe after we graduate, you can introduce me to your parents," she added with an ambiguous tone.
Her last words lit a fragile spark of hope in him. Yet as time passed, that warmth felt hollow. Tania's once tender gestures began to feel rehearsed, false. More and more, Kaivan saw her with Rina and Dandi, laughing together without him.
One evening, suspicion gnawed at him until he could no longer ignore it. He followed, and at the small café they often gathered in, Kaivan found them—Tania, Rina, and Dandi—seated together, laughter spilling freely. He crept closer, listening from outside the window.
"Kaivan's so easy to use," Tania said with a laugh. "He'll buy me anything, probably because he's never been close to a pretty girl before."
Rina laughed with her. "He really thought you liked him. Back then, I even had a feeling he was going to confess to me—but thank goodness Dandi showed up, or he might have actually done it."
Kaivan's world collapsed. Each word was a blade, carving deep into his chest, tearing apart what little faith he had left. With leaden steps, he turned away, unnoticed. His tears fell unchecked as he stumbled down the street, feeling as though everything—trust, hope, even himself—had been stripped away.
And yet, in the dimly lit corner of the street, someone was watching. A girl with long black hair and eyes that glowed a piercing red. She stood still, gaze sharp and unyielding. But Kaivan, drowning in his grief, never saw her.
Under the city's thousand glittering lights, Kaivan walked on. His black jacket hung loosely from his thin frame. His face was a mask of cold detachment, but inside, storms raged endlessly. Every step dragged him down, as if the bitter weight of his past clawed at his heels, refusing to let him go.
A few days later, Tania stood across the street, greeting him with that sweet smile that once made Kaivan's heart race. Now, that same smile only left a bitter taste.
"Kaivan! Over here!" she called, waving enthusiastically. The neon lights from the café behind her shimmered against her flowing hair, making her appear radiant.
Kaivan paused, forcing a smile that barely reached his eyes. "Hey, Tania," he replied flatly, masking the storm inside. He stepped closer, watching how her energy and brightness stood in stark contrast to his own shadowed presence.
They sat together at a corner table, the air filled with the aroma of coffee and the gentle laughter of other patrons. Tania ordered her favorite latte, while Kaivan settled for just mineral water. His hand trembled slightly as he held the glass, quickly hiding it beneath the table. Though they sat face-to-face, it felt as though an invisible wall loomed between them.
Leaning forward, Tania rested her chin on her interlaced hands. "What's wrong with you lately, Kaivan? You've seemed down all the time. You used to be so lively. I liked that Kaivan—the one who always made me laugh."
Kaivan searched her eyes, hoping to find sincerity there. Yet all he saw was his own uncertain reflection staring back at him. "I'm just... thinking about a lot of things. That's all," he muttered.
Tania smiled softly. "Well, whatever it is, I'm here for you. You know that, right? I'll always be here."
But behind those words, Kaivan felt something else—something sharp and suffocating. He lowered his gaze, hiding the cracks forming in his expression. Every word she spoke pierced him like thorns sinking deeper into his heart.