The more I saw him—
The more I fell for him.
---
And it wasn't just a small crush anymore.
It was deeper.
Stronger.
Something I couldn't control.
---
I had fallen too far.
Too fast.
So much that now—
I couldn't turn back.
---
Every time I saw him, my heart reacted before I could stop it.
Every smile.
Every glance.
Every small moment.
---
It pulled me in even more.
---
I wanted to tell him.
I really did.
---
"I like you."
---
The words felt so simple.
But saying them?
That was the hardest thing.
---
What if he rejected me?
What if he already liked someone else?
What if everything changed after that?
---
That fear—
It stopped me.
Every single time.
---
So I stayed quiet.
---
Even though my heart was getting louder every day.
---
Sports Day was finally over.
And slowly…
Everything went back to normal.
---
The loud cheers disappeared.
The excitement faded.
The ground turned quiet again.
---
Students returned to their usual routines.
Classes started like before.
Study hours felt the same.
---
Everything…
Went back to how it used to be.
---
But somehow—
I didn't feel the same anymore.
---
Because now—
Everywhere I went…
I looked for him.
---
In the corridors.
In the assembly.
In the dining hall.
---
And every time I saw him—
My heart reacted the same way.
---
Fast.
Uncontrollable.
Real.
---
"Aria…" Lily said one day, snapping her fingers lightly in front of me.
"You've been zoning out a lot these days."
---
"I'm not," I said quickly.
---
She raised an eyebrow.
"You say that every time."
---
I sighed softly.
"I think… I like him too much."
---
This time, she didn't tease me.
---
"Then tell him," she said.
---
"I can't."
---
"Why not?"
---
"Because I'm scared."
---
"Of what?"
---
I hesitated.
Then whispered—
"Of losing even this."
---
Even if it was just small moments.
Small glances.
Small conversations.
---
I didn't want to lose them.
---
Lily looked at me for a moment.
Then sighed.
"But if you don't say it… you might lose everything anyway."
---
I stayed silent.
---
Because deep down—
I knew she was right.
---
Later that day, I found myself looking around again.
Without even realizing it.
---
And then—
I saw him.
---
Ethan.
---
Standing with his friends.
Laughing like always.
---
Like nothing had changed.
---
But for me—
Everything had.
---
I smiled faintly.
---
"If I ever had to compare him to a flower…"
---
"He would be a rose—beautiful enough to admire…"
---
"…but dangerous enough to hurt me the closer I get."
---
And maybe—
That was the truth I was afraid of.
---
Because I was already too close.
---
And still—
I couldn't stop.
---
I was falling.
Deeper.
And deeper.
---
And this time—
There was no turning back.