The next day at school, Cathy was feeling more confident than ever. She knew she had taken a bold step by writing the note to the basketball coach, and she had a good feeling about what could come of it.
When she got to her classroom, she noticed Oliver sitting in his usual spot, absorbed in a book. Cathy took a deep breath before approaching him.
"Hey, Oliver," she said, trying to sound casual.
Oliver glanced up from his book. "Oh, hey, Cathy. What's up?"
Cathy hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I heard something yesterday...in the restroom. It sounded like you were talking to someone."
Oliver looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?"
Cathy fidgeted with her bookbag strap. "There was someone else in there with you. And they were talking about a love letter and...seeing someone else."
Oliver's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh no. You heard that, huh?"
Cathy nodded. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was just...curious."
Oliver sighed. "It's okay. I guess I should tell you the truth. There is someone else. I've been seeing someone for a few months now."
Cathy felt her heart drop. She couldn't believe it was true. "Who is she?"
Oliver looked at her with a pained expression. "I don't think I should say. It's complicated, and I don't want to hurt anyone."
Cathy nodded, feeling defeated. "I understand. I'm sorry I brought it up."
Oliver gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. It's good to clear the air. And who knows, maybe you'll find someone who's right for you one day."
Cathy forced a smile. "Yeah, maybe you're right."
As she turned to walk away, Jamie approached her. "Hey, Cathy. How was your morning?"
Cathy put on a brave face. "It was fine. Just...a little disheartening, that's all."
Jamie looked at her questioningly. "What do you mean?"
Cathy hesitated before speaking. "I overheard Oliver talking about his secret lover yesterday. He's already seeing someone."
Jamie put a hand on Cathy's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Cathy. That can't be easy to hear."
Cathy shrugged. "It's okay. I'll survive. But it just makes it harder to focus on my studies when there's so much drama going on."
Jamie nodded sympathetically. "I know what you mean. But hey, at least you tried, right? That's more than most people can say."
Cathy smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Jamie. I appreciate your support."
As they walked to their next class together, Cathy couldn't help but feel grateful for her friend's kindness. Even though things didn't quite work out as she had hoped with the coach or with Oliver, she knew she had people in her life who cared about her. And that was a comforting thought.