The thing about unspoken feelings was that they didn't disappear.
They just waited.
Aira felt it in the space between words now—
in the way Reyhan paused before speaking,
in the way his eyes lingered a second too long before looking away.
They were standing near the vending machines after last period, pretending this was just another normal afternoon.
It wasn't.
Reyhan broke the silence first.
"You've been honest lately."
Aira blinked. "Is that a complaint?"
"No," he said quickly.
"It's… brave."
She looked at him. "So are you."
He scoffed lightly. "Debatable."
"No," she insisted.
"You listen. You don't deflect anymore. That counts."
Reyhan leaned back against the wall, hands in his pockets.
"I keep thinking there's something I should say," he admitted quietly.
Aira's chest tightened.
"Then why don't you?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
He looked at her then—really looked.
"Because once I say it," he said slowly,
"things won't be the same."
Aira swallowed. "Different doesn't mean worse."
"I know," he replied.
"But it means permanent."
That word lingered.
Permanent.
Aira understood then.
This wasn't about fear of rejection.
It was fear of crossing a line you couldn't uncross.
"I don't need you to say anything," she said softly.
"Not before you're ready."
Reyhan's shoulders eased slightly.
"You don't?" he asked.
"No," Aira replied.
"I'd rather you say it because you want to—
not because silence feels too loud."
He smiled faintly.
"That's dangerous," he said.
"You make it hard to hide."
"I'm not asking you to hide," she replied.
"I'm asking you to stay honest."
Reyhan nodded.
"I will," he promised quietly.
"Even if it takes time."
Aira met his eyes.
"I can wait," she said.
"But I won't chase words that aren't ready."
That mattered more than a confession ever could.
They walked toward the gate together.
No touching.
No dramatic moments.
But something had shifted.
Expectation had loosened its grip.
And somehow… that felt safer than hearing the words too soon.
RULE #44: Don't expect him to say it first.
Because some feelings matter too much
to be rushed out of fear.