She turned back to the cake, ready to blow the candle but his hand suddenly stopped her.
"What now?" she sighed. "I've already made my wish."
"I didn't hear it," he said.
"I said it in my mind."
"But I'm supposed to know," he insisted, a small smile forming. "I'm your friend. You have to tell me."
Maja hesitated… then sighed softly.
"Fine."
She looked at him, her voice turning sincere.
"My wish is… to always have you in my life, Adrian. I don't want what we have to fade away. I don't ever want to lose this friendship… because it means so much to me."
Her words hung in the air.
Soft.
Honest.
Unfiltered.
Adrian's expression softened as he gently took her hand, squeezing it lightly.
"Wishes do come true," he said quietly. "And this one will. Because I don't want to lose you either."
Maja exhaled, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.
"Okay… okay," she said quickly, forcing a light tone. "Let's not get too emotional. Let's just cut the cake."
He smiled faintly. "Alright."
They cut a small slice together.
Maja took a bite, her eyes instantly lighting up.
"It's so good!" she said excitedly. "This is the best cake I've ever had."
"I'm glad you like it," Adrian replied, watching her closely.
"Thank you… for everything," she added softly.
He nodded, then stood up suddenly. "I have something else for you."
Maja blinked in surprise as he walked toward the car.
"What now?" she murmured to herself, curiosity rising.
When he returned, something sparkled in his hand.
Her breath caught.
"A… necklace?" she whispered.
"It's a locket," he corrected gently.
He opened it.
Maja leaned closer, her eyes widening in shock.
Inside was her picture and his. Side by side.
"It's beautiful…" she breathed.
Then reality hit her.
"Adrian, I can't accept this," she said quickly, shaking her head.
"It's not just a gift," he said softly. "It's for our friendship. So you'll always remember me."
He stepped behind her before she could argue further and carefully placed the locket around her neck.
"It looks perfect on you," he added.
Maja turned to him slowly, emotion flickering in her eyes.
"Thank you…" she whispered before pulling him into a tight hug.
This moment felt special, different and unforgettable.
She slowly pulled away but neither of them moved.
They just stood there, looking at each other.
Lost.
Adrian's hand found her arm as he leaned in slowly this time, without hesitation.
And then..
He kissed her, soft, gentle, unexpected.
Maja's eyes widened in shock.
Her heart raced wildly.
For a brief second… she didn't move.
A part of her wanted to stay in that moment, but reality crashed in.
She pushed him away.
Her breath was uneven.
"We're not supposed to do this, Adrian," she said, glancing around nervously. "If my mom sees us.."
"There's nothing wrong with it.."
"Of course there is," she cut in quickly. "We're too young for this. We shouldn't even be feeling this way. We're just friends… nothing more."
Her voice was firm, but her eyes betrayed her.
She turned her back to him, trying to steady herself.
There was a pause.
"Is that really how you see me?" Adrian asked quietly.
"Just… a friend?"
"Yes, Adrian whatever you're feeling… it's just infatuation," Maja said, her voice quieter now. "My mom always says feelings like this don't last at our age. We're just best friends… and I'd be happy if we keep it that way."
Adrian's expression fell.
For a moment, he just stared at her, as if trying to understand how something that felt so real to him could sound so small in her words.
"I know that," he said slowly, his voice tight with emotion. "I know we're young… and maybe you're right about everything else but this feelings are so real…"
He stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers.
"you're not just a friend to me, Maja."
Her breath caught.
"I tried to ignore it. I tried to act like it was nothing," he continued, his voice soft but steady. "But I can't lie to myself anymore."
He paused, just for a second.
Then said it.
"I think… I love you."
The world seemed to go still.
No laughter.
No breeze.
No sound at all.
Just those words… hanging heavily between them.
Maja stood frozen, her heart pounding so loudly it felt like it might betray her.
Adrian moved closer, stopping right in front of her.
"I love you, Maja," he repeated gently. "And I'm willing to wait… however long it takes. Until we grow up. Until you're ready."
His voice softened even more.
"Because I know you feel something too. Maybe you're scared, maybe you don't understand it yet… but it's there. We just need to be patient."
Maja shook her head quickly, stepping back as if his words alone could pull her in.
"No… it's not right," she said, her voice trembling despite her effort to sound firm. "We shouldn't feel this way. We're just friends, Adrian. That's all we are."
Her heart raced uncontrollably as she spoke.
This isn't love.
It can't be.
We're too young.
Her mother's words echoed in her mind, louder than her own feelings.
It's just infatuation.
"It's wrong…" she whispered more to herself than to him.
Adrian's jaw tightened, frustration flickering in his eyes.
"So that's it?" he asked, his voice edged with hurt. "You just want me to pretend none of this means anything?"
Maja didn't respond, she couldn't.
Because a part of her… knew he wasn't entirely wrong. And that scared her even more.
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy. Painful. Unbearable.
Then Adrian exhaled slowly, as if forcing himself to let go of something he didn't want to lose.
"It's okay, Maja," he said at last, though his voice no longer held the warmth it once did.
He turned away from her and walked back to the car, without looking back, he told the driver to move...