After School
The café was small, warm, and quiet.
The complete opposite of school.
Andrea sat between Teresa and Diana, her hands wrapped around a cup of hot chocolate she hadn't touched yet.
Teresa leaned forward, eyes shining.
"Okay. Say it again."
Andrea groaned.
"I already told you everything."
Diana shook her head.
"No, no. We need emotional details."
Andrea laughed tiredly.
"You're both insane."
Teresa pointed at her.
"You kissed Matthew."
Diana added immediately,
"And something happened with Samuel."
Andrea covered her face.
"Can we not say it like that?"
Teresa grinned.
"We will absolutely say it like that."
Andrea dropped her hands and sighed.
"It's complicated."
Diana nodded.
"Good. That means it's interesting."
Andrea leaned back in her chair.
"It's confusing."
Teresa tilted her head.
"Okay, explain the confusion."
Andrea hesitated.
Then she spoke more quietly.
"Matthew… feels familiar."
Teresa nodded slowly.
"First love energy."
Andrea continued,
"But Samuel…"
She paused.
Diana leaned closer.
"Yes?"
Andrea frowned slightly.
"He's annoying."
Teresa raised an eyebrow.
"That's not what you're trying to say."
Andrea sighed.
"He's… different."
Diana smiled.
"There it is."
Andrea shook her head.
"I don't even like him."
Teresa smirked.
"Sure."
Andrea glared at her.
"I don't."
Teresa leaned forward seriously now.
"Okay, listen to me."
Andrea frowned.
"What?"
Teresa's expression softened slightly.
"Stop chasing people who are unsure about you."
Andrea blinked.
"What do you mean?"
Diana nodded in agreement.
"Matthew."
Andrea looked down at her cup.
"He's not unsure," she muttered.
Teresa tilted her head.
"Really?"
Andrea stayed silent.
Teresa continued,
"He kissed you back?"
Andrea shook her head slowly.
"No."
"He defended you after the rumors?"
Andrea hesitated.
"…No."
Teresa leaned back.
"Exactly."
Andrea's chest tightened slightly.
Diana added gently,
"You deserve someone who doesn't hesitate."
Andrea looked between them.
Her mind immediately went somewhere she didn't want it to go.
Samuel.
She shook her head quickly.
"No."
Teresa smiled.
"I didn't even say his name."
Andrea groaned.
"You didn't have to."
Outside the Café
The air outside was colder now.
The sky had turned darker, streetlights flickering on one by one.
The girls walked together slowly.
Teresa bumped her shoulder lightly.
"You're thinking."
Andrea sighed.
"I hate that you know that."
Diana smiled.
"We always know."
Andrea shoved her hands into her jacket pockets.
"It's just… everything feels messy."
Teresa nodded.
"Good."
Andrea frowned.
"How is that good?"
"Because it means something is changing."
Andrea looked ahead.
"Or falling apart."
Diana shook her head.
"Same thing sometimes."
Andrea laughed quietly.
"You two are way too calm about this."
Teresa shrugged.
"It's not happening to us."
Andrea rolled her eyes.
"Thanks for the support."
Teresa grinned.
"You're welcome."
Night
Andrea walked home alone again.
Headphones on.
Music playing softly.
But this time, her thoughts were louder than the music.
Stop chasing people who are unsure about you.
Teresa's words replayed in her head.
Matthew's face.
The way he hesitated.
The way he stepped back.
Then—
Samuel.
The way he defended her.
The way he looked at her.
The way he didn't hesitate.
Andrea stopped walking for a second.
Her heart beat a little faster.
"No," she whispered to herself.
"That's not happening."
She continued walking.
But the thought stayed.
And for the first time—
Andrea wasn't sure who she was actually thinking about anymore.