Sandra was very confused and anxious about her feelings for Samuel. She didn't know how to navigate her friendship with him. On one hand, Sandra felt happy and comfortable when she was with Samuel. But on the other hand, she was afraid of her friends' reactions if they found out that Sandra was close to Samuel. In their eyes, Samuel was not on the same level because he came from a poor family.
During break time, while Sandra was reading a book in the library, her friends approached her. They asked Sandra about her recent behavior of not hanging out with them as often, and they had noticed the closeness between Sandra and Samuel.
"Hey, Sandra. Lately, we've seen you hanging out with Samuel a lot. Are you guys friends?" Sarah, Sandra's close friend, started the conversation.
Sandra immediately panicked and felt nervous when she heard the question. Before Sandra could answer, the other friends started asking about the gossip as well.
"Hey, Sandra, I often see you always accompanying Samuel everywhere. Are you guys dating or something?" teased another friend.
Sandra was confused and didn't know how to respond to them. She knew that her friends wouldn't be able to accept her relationship with Samuel, whom they saw as being from a poor family.
Sandra remained silent and thought, realizing that telling the truth was wrong, but staying silent was also wrong. She was reluctant to continue lying and evading the truth. In her confusion, Sandra could only nod slowly and say that she and Samuel were just ordinary friends.
Sandra's friends fell silent, feeling confused by Sandra's behavior. Sandra felt guilty for lying and felt more pressured to keep hiding her closeness with Samuel.
Sandra wanted to be honest with Samuel about her current situation, but she was afraid of hurting his feelings. She was also afraid of her friends' reactions if they found out about their true closeness.
Meanwhile, their bond grew stronger day by day. Sandra admired Samuel's personality, which she believed was a complete package of a true man, with the only drawback being the difference in their financial backgrounds.
The next day at school, while Samuel and Sandra were engrossed in conversation in the school's backyard, coincidentally their friends passed by. Their friends' reactions were exactly as Sandra had expected. They were shocked and shaking their heads at the sight of Sandra sitting alone with Samuel.
"Sandra, why are you talking to him?" one of her friends asked in astonishment.
"Yeah, Sandra, you know he's new here and doesn't have money." Another friend chimed in.
Sandra was taken aback and puzzled to see her friends demeaning Samuel right in front of her. Samuel, hearing their comments, simply smiled. Sandra saw it from a different perspective and realized that Samuel was hurt by her friends' remarks.
"I want to know what your problem is, huh?" Sandra stood up and spoke firmly. "I don't care about his family's financial background. What matters is that he's amazing, he's cool, and I feel comfortable being friends with him." Sandra's voice grew louder.
Sandra's friends felt stunned by Sandra's response. They looked at each other with expressions of confusion.
Samuel smiled, seeing Sandra bravely defending herself, even though they were Sandra's close friends.
Sandra tried to stay strong, even though she wasn't sure whether she should defend Samuel or face her friends' opinions. She dared to speak up and defend Samuel.
After the incident in the schoolyard, the relationship between Samuel and Sandra became even more complicated and unclear. Sandra realized that her friends were starting to distance themselves and perhaps were puzzled by their closeness.
However, on the other hand, Sandra grew even closer to Samuel as she often confided in him about everything. They supported each other in every aspect.
There was one thing that bothered Sandra the most. She felt that her heart felt different when she walked with Samuel, not just as friends, but there was another feeling that made her comfortable.
Sandra was afraid to be honest because she didn't want to lose her friends. She feared becoming the subject of ridicule, not only for herself but also for Samuel, who she believed would become the target of her friends' mockery. Sandra believed her friends would no longer consider her cool.
One day, Samuel asked Sandra to meet at the café in front of the school, and Sandra agreed. Although she felt awkward, nervous, and uncomfortable, they sat in a quiet corner of the café, enjoying the delicious warm coffee.
"Samuel, there's something that stresses me out and makes me uncomfortable," Sandra said hesitantly.
"What is it? Tell me, I'm listening," Samuel replied curiously.
Sandra took a deep breath and said, "I... I... I'm confused. I don't just see you as an ordinary friend. There's something that confuses me, but I'm afraid—afraid of how my friends will react, afraid of being called weird or incompatible with my social status."
Samuel simply smiled and responded, "I understand, Sandra. I understand your feelings. But don't let other people's words hinder your own feelings. We can't control what others think, but we can control our own thoughts and choices."
Sandra was stunned and realized that Samuel was right. She needed the courage to face the consequences of her feelings and not let her social image control her. Sandra became even more convinced that she had a strong crush on Samuel.
In silence, Sandra contemplated, trying to calm herself amidst the emotional chaos she was experiencing. She realized that if her friends discovered her feelings for Samuel, her life might change. Sandra wanted to remain strong and resilient in the face of the worst possible outcome.
Facing the confusion and questions from her friends, Sandra decided to carefully consider her options. She realized that there was a distinction between pride and hope. Pride encompassed the shame and concern she felt about others perceiving her differently if they were aware of her feelings.
On the other hand, hope revolved around her desire to share those feelings with Samuel and explore the possibilities between them.
Sandra resolved to overcome her pride by bolstering her self-confidence. She understood that if her friends were truly genuine, they would accept and support her regardless of her emotions.
She acknowledged that being true to herself meant summoning the courage to express her feelings and confronting the consequences head-on.
To address the discomfort and confusion experienced by her friends, Sandra devised a plan to speak with them privately. She intended to elucidate her current situation, articulate her emotions, and clarify why she felt the need to process it individually before involving her friends.
Sandra hoped for their understanding and the space to navigate her feelings without judgment or interference.
While executing her plan, Sandra remained committed to being a good friend and providing support to those around her. Although she occasionally missed gatherings with her friends, she made an effort to attend important events and offered reasonable explanations when unable to participate.
Sandra wanted her friends to know that despite grappling with complex emotions, she cherished their friendships.