(STEVEN'S POV)
If someone had asked me before what my plans were for the first day of winter break, I would have given a straightforward answer:
Review lecture notes.
Work on my project.
Maybe get ahead on assignments.
But that was before.
Before everything shifted.
Before she said:
"I like you too."
Before I understood just how close I had come to losing her to her own fear, guilt, shame — all the things she carried so quietly I almost missed them.
Before I realized that Michelle Lui was not just someone I wanted to protect.
Before I admitted that she was someone I have already be fallen for.
--
12:47 PM — Waiting For 2 PM
I spent the entire morning pretending to be productive.
It was pathetic.
I opened a textbook.
Read one paragraph.
Thought about Michelle.
Closed the textbook.
Opened my laptop.
Wrote half a line of code.
Thought about Michelle again.
I kept checking my phone even though she hadn't messaged after confirming the time.
It didn't matter.
