Aki strained his neck, looking to the front of the bus, sending mental telepathy to the bus driver to drive faster. Today might be the day, the day he had been wishing for. The day when Zy realized that Aki was the one he loved. That day was finally here.

Aki crossed his fingers.

Just the thought of it made him feel exhilarated. If he could, Aki would have flown from his school to where Zy was.

Aki had been wanting to confess. He tried a lot of times but backed out at the last minute. He liked their friendship but he preferred having more than just that.

Yet he could not be sure. If confessing meant breaking what they already had, then he would rather not confess at all.

But if it was Zy who was going to take the first step...

As soon as Aki stepped inside the cafe, two things stood out. 1) Zy and Drew were together, and 2) they were sitting awfully close to each other.

Their heads were drawn together as Zy was showing something on his cellphone. They were laughing, completely oblivious to the world around them.

As if no one existed.

I thought… we’re talking… alone.

Aki remained rooted on his spot. He could feel people sending him glares and incredulous looks as they walk around him but he just could not find the strength to walk towards his friends.

And he would have stayed there, standing like a statue, if not for Zy glancing at his direction, waving at him. The corners of his lips immediately curved up and willed himself to walk even if it felt like his soles were full of lead. Be normal. Act normal.

“Hey,” He said, nodding at Drew, staring at their bumping shoulders.

“Sorry, we started eating first. Do you want to order something?” Zy asked.

“Sure,” he managed to say through his teeth.

Aki lined up, fending off the fear that was creeping slowly inside his heart. Don’t freak out. Nothing’s been set. Not yet.

Every now and then he would look at the direction of Zy and Drew and saw them leaning close to each other, whispering, giggling, or sometimes just staring at each other when they thought the other was not looking. There was something with the way they stared that screamed their feelings out to the outside world.

He forced his eyes to keep looking at the menu. He stared at the list until his eyes felt like they would bleed as if it could also burn the images of the scenes he witnessed.

As he returned to their table, he walked as slowly as he can. Whatever Zy was going to say, Aki would not like it. So he would like to hold it off… for as long as he could.

But he arrived at their table sooner than expected. He plopped down on his seat and munched on his fries, stuffing his face one after another. His friends laughed at something he could not comprehend. Aki cleared his throat.

As if noticing him for the first time, Zy glanced at Aki, eyes twinkling.

“Hey Aki, have I told you,” Zy said, “that I have a boyfriend?”