Mika stood near the school gate, her phone in her hand, her heart beating faster than usual as if it already knew something important was about to happen.A message from San popped up, "Can we talk today? Just us."Almost at the same time, Leo's message appeared, "I'll be in the library."Mika stared at both messages, her fingers slightly shaking. "Why today…" she whispered.
She walked slowly through the hallway, her steps feeling heavier with each second.Her mind kept repeating the same thing, You have to choose."I don't want to choose," she murmured.
"Mika," San's voice came from behind, but this time it wasn't loud or playful, it was quiet, serious.She turned.For once, he wasn't smiling at all."Can we talk?" he asked.Mika nodded.
They walked outside, away from everyone, stopping near the empty benches.San took a deep breath. "I'll just say it… because if I don't, I think I'll regret it."Mika stayed silent, her heart already racing."I like you, Mika," he said. "No… I love you."
The words hit her harder than she expected.San looked at her, his eyes no longer hiding anything. "Not in a joking way, not in a 'I'll make you smile' way… I mean it."Mika's lips parted slightly, but no words came out."I know I joke a lot," he continued. "I know I don't act serious most of the time, but that doesn't mean what I feel isn't real."He looked down for a second. "I stayed… even when you were pushing everyone away. I stayed because I wanted to… because I care about you."
Mika's chest tightened."I know I'm not like him," San added quietly. "I don't say deep things, I don't always understand everything… but I would try, Mika. I would try for you."
There was a long silence.The kind that makes everything feel heavier.
"Say something," San whispered.
Mika looked at him, her eyes soft but filled with conflict. "San… you mean so much to me."His eyes flickered with hope."But…"That one word was enough.
San let out a small breath, like he already understood. "It's him, right?"Mika looked down."Leo," San said quietly.
Mika closed her eyes for a second. "It's not about choosing who's better… it's about what I need.""And I'm not what you need," San said, finishing her sentence.Mika's silence confirmed it.
San laughed softly, but it sounded empty. "I knew it… I just didn't want it to be true.""San…""It's okay," he interrupted. "No, really… it's okay."
But his voice wasn't okay.
"I tried to make you happy," he said quietly. "I thought if I stayed long enough, if I made you smile enough… maybe one day you'd look at me the same way."Mika felt tears forming. "You did make me happy… you still do.""But not in the way that matters," San replied.
Silence again.
"I don't regret loving you," he added after a moment. "Even if it's one-sided."Mika's tears finally fell. "I'm sorry.""Don't be," he said softly. "You didn't do anything wrong… feelings just don't work that way."
He stepped back slightly."But promise me one thing," San said.Mika looked up. "What?""Be happy… really happy. Not just pretending."
Mika nodded, unable to speak.
San smiled.That same familiar smile.But this time—it broke.
"I guess this is where I stop being the 'always' person," he said quietly.
And then he turned… and walked away.
Mika stood there, her chest heavy, her hands slightly shaking.It didn't feel like relief.It felt like losing something important.
After a while, she slowly walked to the library.
Leo looked up as she entered."You look like you've made a decision," he said calmly.
Mika walked closer, stopping in front of him."I did," she said softly.
Leo studied her face. "Was it difficult?""Yes," she replied. "It still is."
There was a quiet moment.
"I don't want something that just makes me forget my pain," Mika said slowly. "I want something that helps me understand it… and heal from it."Leo stood up, stepping closer."And?"Mika looked at him, her voice steady this time. "That's how I feel with you."
Leo didn't smile widely.Just a small, real one.
He gently held her hand. "Are you sure?"Mika nodded. "I'm not choosing because it's easy… I'm choosing because it feels right."
Leo's grip tightened slightly."Then I'll make sure you never feel alone in that choice," he said quietly.
Mika felt something settle inside her.Not excitement.Not confusion.
Just… peace.
But somewhere, in another part of the city—
San walked alone, his hands in his pockets, his smile completely gone.
"I really thought…" he muttered softly, then stopped himself.He looked up at the sky.Then laughed quietly.
"Guess I wasn't enough either."