The next morning felt heavier than usual.
Not because of school.
Not because of studies.
Because of three words folded inside her bag.
"I love you."
Ariana hadn't taken the note out again.
She didn't want to.
But she couldn't stop thinking about it.
At school, Lily noticed immediately.
"You look like you didn't sleep."
"I slept."
"You're lying."
"I'm fine."
Lily narrowed her eyes but didn't push.
During class, Ariana made fewer jokes. She answered questions correctly, took notes neatly — but something was off.
Her mind kept replaying the auditorium.
The empty stage.
The folded paper.
His message.
"Now you won't miss it."
Why would he do that?
Why now?
Why her?
At home, she went straight to her room after dinner.
No delay.
No hesitation.
She opened the app.
He had already messaged.
UnknownUser: Reached home safely?
She stared at it for a full minute before replying.
SilentStar15: Yes.
Short.
Dry.
A few seconds later—
UnknownUser: You're quiet.
SilentStar15: I'm busy.
Pause.
Then—
UnknownUser: With?
She felt irritation rising instantly.
SilentStar15: Life.
There was a longer silence this time.
Then—
UnknownUser: You're upset.
She clenched her jaw.
SilentStar15: I'm not.
UnknownUser: You are.
Her fingers moved faster than her thoughts.
SilentStar15: Stop assuming things.
Silence.
A minute passed.
Then—
UnknownUser: Did I make it worse?
She stared at the screen.
Her chest felt tight.
She didn't want to answer that.
Instead—
SilentStar15: You didn't have to do that.
Pause.
Then—
UnknownUser: I wanted to.
That line irritated her even more.
SilentStar15: Not everything you want needs to happen.
There was no reply for almost two minutes.
She felt a strange mix of guilt and anger.
She wasn't angry because he wrote it.
She was angry because it changed things.
Before she logged off, one more message appeared.
UnknownUser: I didn't mean to pressure you.
She didn't reply.
She went offline.
For the first time in weeks—
She didn't wait for typing dots.