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By Dolma Thupten and Amishna Gurung
Aisha’ POV
***
The next day, Ali walked towards me with a smile on his face. I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my heart, even though I knew I shouldn't like him.
"Yo, Aisha," Ali greeted me.
"Hey," I replied, trying to sound casual, but my mind was racing, wondering what he wanted to talk about.
"Can I ask you something?" he said, looking at me expectantly.
My heart skipped a beat. Could this be the moment he finally confesses his feelings?
"Sure," I replied, trying to keep my cool.
"You know Destiny, right?" Ali asked.
I felt a pang of disappointment. He wasn't going to talk about his feelings for me; he just wanted to know about my best friend.
"Yeah, why?" I replied, trying not to let my disappointment show.
"I was wondering if I could get her Instagram. You guys seem really close," Ali explained.
My heart sank. It felt like a punch in the gut. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Um... sure," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's Love_Destiny."
Ali's face lit up with excitement. "Thanks! You're the best," he said.
"Mhm," I mumbled, feeling a mix of sadness and frustration as I slowly walked away, heading to class. My mind was filled with a whirlwind of emotions.
Later, I found Destiny, trying to put on a brave face despite the turmoil inside me.
"Hey, girl. What's up?" Destiny greeted me cheerfully.
I mustered up the courage to share the news. "How would you feel if your crush likes your best friend?" I asked, my voice shaky.
"I would feel terrible," Destiny replied, her cheerful tone fading.
"Well, guess what?" I said, unable to contain my sadness any longer.
"Huh? What happened?" Destiny asked, concerned.
"Ali asked for your Instagram," I blurted out, feeling a pang of pain in my chest.
"No way! Seriously?" Destiny exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"Yeah," I replied, my voice filled with defeat.
"Did you give it to him?" Destiny asked.
I nodded silently, feeling a heavy weight on my shoulders. It was a harsh reminder that my crush on Ali would never be reciprocated.
Destiny put her arm around me, offering comfort in that moment of heartache. We walked together in silence, both understanding the sting of unrequited feelings.
As we walked to our classes, I couldn't help but think about what just happened.I realized I wasn’t over him at all. With a heavy heart, I continued my day, trying my best to push aside the disappointment and focus on other things.
Destiny’s POV
***
'I feel so bad for her,' I thought to myself, observing the disappointment on Aisha's face.
"Well, do you like him?" Aisha asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern as she looked down, then back into my eyes.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Aisha was my best friend, and I didn't
want to hurt her. But the truth was, I did have feelings for Ali.
"Um, can I be honest with you?" I finally mustered up the courage to speak.
"Of course," Aisha replied, her eyes showing a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"I sort of have feelings for him..." I blurted out, unable to hide the truth any longer. The words hung in the air, and I watched as Aisha's expression shifted from disappointment to surprise.
Her whole face just said it all. I could see a mix of emotions crossing her features—hurt, betrayal, and maybe even a tinge of anger. I felt terrible for putting her in this position.
"You know what, I don't care," Aisha finally said, surprising me with her response.
Her words took me aback. I expected her to be upset, to lash out at me for harboring feelings for the guy she had a crush on. But instead, she showed a level of understanding and acceptance that I hadn't anticipated.
"I mean, it's not like we can control who we have feelings for, right?" Aisha continued, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. Aisha's reaction made me realize how lucky I was to have her as a friend. She cared about our friendship more than her own romantic interests, and that meant the world to me.
"I'm sorry, Aisha," I said sincerely.
"It's okay, Destiny," she replied with a small smile. "We can't control our feelings, and I want you to be happy too."
Her words filled me with hope. In that moment, I knew that our friendship was stronger than any crush.
Ali’s POV
***
I decided to text her first cause I figured she wouldn't.
"Yo," I sent to Destiny.
A few moments passed before I received a reply. "Hi?" she responded.
"It's Ali from 8th grade," I clarified, hoping she would remember me.
"Oh hey!" Destiny replied with a DM right away.
I felt a surge of relief. At least she recognized me. Now it was time to keep the conversation going.
How's your day been?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"It's good. Wbu?" Destiny replied.
"Better now that I'm talking to you," I admitted, unable to hide the smile that spread across my face.
Destiny's response made my heart skip a beat. "Oh, is that so?" she teased.
"Yepp, do you feel the same?" I asked, nervously waiting for her reply.
"Umm, I don't know..maybe," Destiny said playfully.
I chuckled softly, grateful for her lightheartedness. "Oh, bet bet," I responded, determined to prove myself.
From there, the conversation flowed and I found out we had a lot in common.
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