The evening felt unusually heavy.
Katrina sat at her study table, her book open—but her eyes weren't really reading.
Her mind was somewhere else.
Katrina (thinking):
What did Ethan want to tell me…?
Was it… something important?
Her fingers slowly traced the edge of the page.
Does he want to tell me that he likes me…?
For a brief moment, her heart skipped.
But the next thought came just as quickly—
Or… maybe he wants to tell me that he likes Jessica…
She immediately shook her head.
"No… no, that's wrong," she whispered to herself.
I shouldn't think like that.
She tried to focus again, but it was useless.
Her thoughts were louder than anything.
Time to Leave… or Not?
After a while, Katrina glanced at her phone.
It was time.
She slowly stood up.
"I should get ready…" she murmured.
She walked toward her wardrobe, but before opening it—her eyes drifted toward the window.
And then—
She saw him.
Ethan.
In his room.
Through the slightly open window.
He was on his phone.
Smiling.
Laughing softly.
And then—
He looked a little shy.
Almost… blushing.
Katrina froze.
Her heart sank quietly.
She didn't need to guess.
Katrina (thinking):
Jessica…
That single moment was enough.
All the thoughts, doubts, and feelings she had been suppressing—came crashing down at once.
The warmth she had felt earlier disappeared.
Slowly… she turned away.
Walked back.
And sat down again on her chair.
Her voice was barely a whisper—
"That's it…"
Katrina (thinking):
I'm not going anywhere.
On the Other Side – Ethan's Room
Ethan was still on the call.
But things weren't as they looked from afar.
"Yeah… but how do I tell her that I like her?" Ethan said, running his hand through his hair nervously.
Jessica sighed on the other end.
"Just go and tell her, Ethan. You like her—that's it."
"But it's not that easy…" he said anxiously.
Jessica sounded slightly irritated now.
"Then leave it if you're not ready."
"No, no—I have to," Ethan replied quickly.
"Okay, fine. Bye. Mom is calling me."
"Alright… bye."
The call ended.
Ethan sat there, staring at his phone.
His heart was racing.
"What should I do…?" he muttered.
"Should I take something for her…?"
He stood up, pacing around the room.
"Ahh… this is so difficult."
He stopped and took a deep breath.
"Calm down, Ethan."
First… get ready.
He checked the time.
"I'm already getting late…"
Just then—
His phone rang.
It was Katrina.
A small smile appeared on his face instantly.
He picked up quickly.
"Hii, Katrina."
"Hii…" her voice was soft.
There was a pause.
Then—
"Ethan… I'm sorry. I can't come."
Ethan's smile faded.
"But… you said you would come."
"I'm sorry… I have to go out with my mom."
And before he could say anything—
The call ended.
Silence
Ethan stood there, still holding his phone.
For a moment, everything felt still.
Then slowly—
Everything sank in.
"What… just happened…?"
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"What should I do now…?"
He walked toward the window, lost in thought.
And then—
A car sound.
He looked down.
It was Katrina's house.
Her mother's car.
Driving away.
Alone.
No Katrina.
Ethan's expression changed.
His chest tightened.
Ethan (thinking):
So… she lied.
A quiet pain settled in his heart.
Not anger.
Just… hurt.
He looked away and sat on the edge of his bed.
"This is so messed up…"
He sighed deeply.
"She misunderstood something… I know it…"
He picked up his phone again.
Should I call her?
He didn't think twice.
He called.
At Katrina's House
Katrina was sitting quietly at her desk again.
Trying to study.
Trying to distract herself.
But failing.
Her phone started ringing.
Ethan.
She looked at the screen.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
But she didn't pick up.
It kept ringing.
And then stopped.
A few seconds later—
A message.
She picked up her phone.
Ethan:
I know you're home.
Her eyes widened.
Her heart skipped.
Katrina (thinking):
He… saw Mom leaving…
Another message came.
Ethan:
If you really don't have any plans… please come to the café.
I need to tell you something important.
Katrina stared at the screen.
Her emotions were tangled—
Hurt.
Guilt.
Confusion.
Fear.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
Katrina (thinking):
What should I do…?
Outside, the evening grew quieter.
But inside her—
Everything was loud.