Rose pov
Shortly after we both began studying for our entrance exams to the same university,I know right, we were both planning to go to the same university, and I was so excited, it all felt like things were leading to us finally being together. Even if he hadn't asked me out yet, just knowing he had a crush on me made me so happy.
Even with our busy schedules and endless hours studying for the exams, we still made time to speak to each other. I even let him borrow my textbook; of course, I didn't hand it to him myself since we hadn't met in person yet, but still, it was my textbook.
Our daily routine settled into a sweet rhythm: in the daytime we would chat a little, in the afternoon we buckled down and studied hard, and at night we talked and talked for hours.
Those late-night text conversations looked a little something like this:
> Harry: Hey... are you still awake? I know you've been grinding hard for these exams, but I couldn't go to sleep without checking in on you.
> Me: Hey! No, I'm still up. Just taking a quick study break before I review my notes one last time. How's your brain holding up?
> Harry: Honestly? It's fried. But it gets a whole lot less fried the second you text me back.
> Me: Oh really? Is that your clever way of saying you missed me today? ?
> Harry: You don't even have to guess. I literally caught myself staring at your last message for five minutes straight instead of reading my chapter. You're a serious distraction, you know that?
> Me: Me?! I am the most focused student on this entire planet. You're the one who keeps sliding into my DMs with smooth lines when we're supposed to be hitting the books.
> Harry: Guilty as charged. But can you really blame me? When the smartest, prettiest girl is just a text away, studying takes a backseat.
> Me: Stop it right now, you're going to make me blush through my phone screen.
> Harry: Good. That's the exact goal. Honestly, counting down the hours until we can finally hang out on campus once these exams are over is the only thing keeping me sane. Just imagine us actually walking together instead of just staring at chat bubbles.
> Me: Don't tease me like that... you know I'm already way too excited about it. But we still have to pass first, mister! Back to your books!
> Harry: Fine, fine, I'm opening my textbook now. But only because you told me to, boss. Goodnight, text you first thing tomorrow?
> Me: You bet. Sweet dreams, Harry. Study hard.
>
The next day, I had to walk my dog Ricky, and as always, the big guy was the one doing the walking, dragging me left and right. You wouldn't blame me if you saw the size of him; he really was a massive dog, though he was a friendly one at least. While on my walk around the neighborhood, I saw him.
With his new haircut, he looked as handsome and cute as ever. He hadn't noticed me yet, and I was still too shy to talk to him face-to-face once again, so I did the only normal thing to do: I ran to hide behind a bush with my big baby, begging him to follow me this time. Thankfully, he did, and I was saved from a sudden panic attack.
After he had passed and I successfully avoided him, I bent down to pet and thank my angel.
"Who's a good boy? You are, yes you are, my baby," I said with the thinnest, softest voice, which he seemed to love because his tail was wagging a mile a minute.
When I got home after the long walk, I took a nice, refreshing shower. Afterward, I reached for my phone and saw a notification pop up on the screen. It was a text from Harry.
Harry: I saw you today walking your dog. You looked so cute.
My heart skipped a beat.
Me: Well, thank you! But why didn't you come and say hi?, you know you promised to try it the next time you saw me.
I know, I know,I was the one actively avoiding him! But I certainly didn't want him to know that I did it again.
Harry: I wanted to, but I couldn't.
Me: Oh, I see. Okay then.
Was I hurt a little bit? Yeah, maybe. I guess I thought that if he really liked me, he would have found a way. I figured maybe he just wasn't into me enough.
Harry: Are you mad at me?
Me: I'm fine.
It was as if he could see my face right through the screen and knew I was, in fact, not fine at all.
Harry: It's not that I didn't want to; it's that I literally couldn't because I was so nervous and shy, but I really, really wanted to talk to you.
Me: Really?
Harry: Yes, really. Now, could you please stop being mad at me?
Me: I wasn't mad.
Another lie to add to the collection, but oh well I couldn't also deny that I too was shy. We pushed past it, kept on talking, and grew even closer over the next few days.
A week later, the results were finally out. We had both passed our entrance exams with flying colors, and we were just waiting to hear back from the school. It was such a joyful, euphoric day, and we celebrated over text like we had won the lottery.
Weeks later, after talking constantly and planning everything out, reality set in. To my surprise,since I was studying a different course than him,we found out we wouldn't be on the same campus after all. Our respective campuses were in different places, about an hour away from each other. But upon finding this out, we didn't let it dampen our hopes of meeting one day. It was kind of fun, right? We still hadn't met face-to-face yet, largely because both of us were massive introverts and painfully shy people, which definitely did not help our case.
The next day, I had seen him outside playing with his brother, which was so undeniably cute, and of course, I told him so. That seemingly casual conversation turned out to be the day he finally decided he couldn't wait any longer.
Later that night, hours after we had finished our usual evening chat, he suddenly sent a message that made my entire world stop.
Harry: I have something to tell you.
Me: Yes, yes? What is it?
Harry: I...
Harry: Really...
Harry: Really...
Harry: Really...
Harry: Like you.
And just like that, my crush had said it. He liked me. He actually liked me. He whattttttt?!