It was after school, and I had forgotten my pen in the classroom.
Most students had already left, but when I walked in, I wasn't alone.
Andrea was at her desk, hunched over her notebook.
She was so focused she didn't even hear me come in.
I was about to call out to her, but then I saw what she was writing.
Dear—
I stopped in my tracks.
A letter?
I took a step closer.
Her handwriting was a little shaky, but the words were clear.
I don't know how to say this in person, so I'm writing it instead. I don't even know if you feel the same way, but… I like you. A lot. Probably more than I should.
I froze.
A… love letter?
Andrea was writing a love letter?
My brain short-circuited.
To who?
Who was she writing to?
My chest felt weird all of a sudden—like something heavy had just been dropped onto it.
I didn't even realize I had been staring until Andrea suddenly moved.
She sighed, setting down her pen, and stretched her arms over her head.
Then, she turned—
And her eyes met mine.
For a second, we both just stared.
Then—
"REST?!"
Andrea slammed her notebook shut, nearly knocking over her chair.
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?!" she shrieked.
I snapped out of it. "I—I just—"
"DID YOU SEE?"
"No!" I blurted out.
Andrea's face was bright red.
"Liar!" she accused. "You totally saw!"
I took a step back. "I swear, I didn't see anything important!"
She groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh my gosh—this is the worst—"
I stood there, completely frozen. My brain was still processing what I just read.
Andrea.
Writing a love letter.
To someone.
For some reason, my chest felt even heavier.
"Rest," Andrea said suddenly, her voice low and dangerous.
I blinked. "…Yeah?"
"If you ever mention this," she said slowly, "I will end you."
I held up my hands. "I won't!"
She squinted at me. "Swear on your life."
"I swear on my life."
Andrea groaned again and dropped her head onto her desk.
I had never seen her this flustered before.
And I had never felt this weird before, either.
I didn't know what was wrong with me.
But one thing was clear.
I really wanted to know who that letter was for.