At first, the chatting app felt like a secret playground.
After homework, Ariana would quietly open her laptop.
Her username blinked on the screen:
SilentStar15
She liked that name.
It felt like her.
Silent in real life.
A little brighter online.
She started talking to different boys.
Some were funny.
Some were dramatic.
Some tried too hard to impress her.
But she wasn't serious.
She just laughed.
She teased back.
She talked about her exams, her strict study routine, her favorite subjects.
For the first time, she felt comfortable talking to boys.
No classroom.
No teasing.
No judgmental eyes.
Just words on a screen.
And somehow… that made her braver.
One evening, she was laughing at a silly joke someone sent her.
Then a new notification appeared.
UnknownUser: Hi.
She replied normally.
SilentStar15: Hello :)
A few seconds passed.
Then—
UnknownUser: I know you.
Her smile slowly faded.
Her fingers paused above the keyboard.
Know her?
How?
She felt a small nervous heat rise to her cheeks.
Maybe it was just someone joking.
She typed carefully.
SilentStar15: I don't think so.
The reply came quickly.
UnknownUser: I do.
Her heart skipped.
Why was she feeling shy?
It was just text.
Just words.
But still…
SilentStar15: From where?
There was a small pause.
Then—
UnknownUser: I was in your Grade 10 class.
Her breath stopped for a second.
Her class?
That meant—
He had seen her every day.
Maybe even during that embarrassing time.
Her face turned warm instantly.
Did he know about the confession?
Did he see her getting teased?
She quickly typed.
SilentStar15: Who are you?
But the user went offline.
Just like that.
Leaving her staring at the empty screen.
For the next few days, she didn't open the app.
Every time she thought about it, her stomach felt strange.
Not fully fear.
Not fully excitement.
Just… curiosity.
Who was he?
Why didn't he tell his name?
Did she ever talk to him in class?
Or was he someone quiet she never noticed?
She replayed old classroom memories in her mind.
Every face felt suspicious now.
After almost a week, she couldn't control herself anymore.
She opened the app again.
Her heart was beating faster than usual.
There was a message waiting.
From him.
UnknownUser: You disappeared.
Her lips pressed together.
He noticed.
She typed slowly.
SilentStar15: You said you know me. How?
This time, the reply came instantly.
UnknownUser: I told you. Same class. Last year.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
SilentStar15: Then tell me your name.
A pause.
Then—
UnknownUser: If I tell you, you'll blush.
Her eyes widened.
Blush?
Why would she blush?
Her cheeks warmed automatically.
SilentStar15: Why would I blush?
Three dots appeared.
Then—
UnknownUser: Because you never noticed me. But I noticed you.
Her heartbeat became uneven.
Not scary.
Not threatening.
Just… intense.
She swallowed softly.
SilentStar15: That doesn't help.
Another pause.
Then—
UnknownUser: I sat closer than you think.
Her mind raced.
Front row?
Back bench?
Side seat?
Her curiosity grew stronger than her fear.
She wasn't scared anymore.
She was… intrigued.
Somewhere in her heart, a small, shy smile appeared.
For the first time—
Someone from her past wasn't teasing her.
Someone wasn't laughing at her confession.
Someone had quietly noticed her.
And that thought made her cheeks warm in a way she couldn't explain.