I couldn't shake the encounter with Iris from my mind. Everything I'd tried to bury over the past year was resurfacing, more vivid and painful than I remembered. The way she smiled at me, as if nothing had changed, unsettled me. Did she really not know what had happened? Or was she just pretending?
The day I met her, I thought I'd found something pure, something that made me feel different. But now… now I'm not sure of anything. My life hasn't been the same since that accident, and although she seemed unchanged, something in her eyes told me there was more than what she let on.
Meanwhile, there's Oli. The knot in my stomach tightens when I think of him. His angry glare when I mentioned Violeta made it clear that the wound between them was deeper than I realized. He had always been my rock, the one who stood by me when everyone else turned their backs, but now he seemed more distant, like something was shifting between us too, and I wasn't sure why.
I feel trapped between these two worlds: the past that won't stop haunting me and the present that won't let me move forward. Oliver, Violeta, Iris… they're all here, but I don't know if I want them to be. Each one reminds me of a part of myself I want to forget, but it seems impossible to leave it behind.
And then there's basketball, always present, always reminding me of the day I lost everything. The empty court in front of me is like a reflection of my life: once full of promise, now only silence and echoes.
Why do I keep looking back? Why can't I just… move on?
That's when Jazmín appears.
"Why the long face?" she asks, her tone as curious as ever.
"It's nothing. Just… remembering the past."
"The past will stay there only if you let it," she says, so genuinely. "The only thing that matters is the present. Keep that in mind."
Those words struck deep. Maybe she's right, and I'm worrying too much. Maybe I should just focus on what's in front of me.
But there will always be that voice inside me that won't let me rest.
It was two years ago. It was something like this time. We crossed paths in the library and started talking. Gradually, we grew closer. I thought maybe she might like me.
I couldn't have been more wrong. She was still in love with her ex-boyfriend, and I was just in the way. Although I already paid for that at the time. I hope things are going well with her relationship, despite the inconvenience I caused them. I won't lie; the punch her boyfriend gave me was over the top, plus he wasn't the best person in the world.
Who am I kidding? I deserve a lot of bad things, but I'm not sure if that was one of them. But well, the past is the past. Besides, I never had a chance with her.
Back in reality, I'm sitting in class. I keep thinking about what to do with Oli.
During the break, I set out to take action.
POV Aaron
Since our last encounter, Oli has been distant, and I can't keep ignoring the tension between us. He's always been my rock, my best friend, and I can't lose him, especially now that I'm trying to rebuild my life. Today, I see him sitting alone in a corner of the courtyard, and I know it's time to clear the air.
"Oli, can we talk?" I ask as I approach, trying to sound more confident than I feel.
Oli glances at me, his expression harsher than usual, but he nods, inviting me to sit next to him.
"What do you want, Aaron?" he replies, his voice tense, lacking its usual warmth.
I sit down, feeling the weight of what I'm about to say. I don't know where to start, but I know I have to be honest.
"I don't want to lose your friendship, Oli. I know you got mad when I mentioned Violeta, but I just wanted things to go back to the way they were. You and I… we've been through so much, and I don't want this to tear us apart."
Oli closes his eyes for a moment, as if trying to keep calm. But when he opens them, there's a mix of frustration and something else I can't quite figure out.
"Aaron, you don't understand… It's not just about Violeta. It's something more, something I've been hiding for a long time."
I stay silent, waiting for him to continue. I feel like something important is about to come out, something that could change everything.
"Violeta saw me… with a guy, Aaron," he finally says, his voice heavy with emotions he's been keeping inside. "I'm gay, and I've always known, but I never dared to tell you. I was afraid you'd reject me, that you wouldn't want to be my friend."
The air around me feels thick. Oli's revelation leaves me speechless. I never suspected, but not because I didn't trust him—it just never crossed my mind.
"Oli, I…" I start, but I don't know how to continue. I look into his eyes, seeing the pain and fear he's been hiding all this time. "I had no idea. I didn't know what you were going through."
Oli looks at me, his eyes reflecting a mix of relief and sadness.
"That's what hurts the most, Aaron. That you didn't know, that I thought I had to hide it from you. And the worst part is that Violeta knew before you did, and she used it against me. I thought that by keeping it a secret, everything would stay the same between us, but that only ended up hurting me… and you."
My mind races as I try to process all of this. Oli has been carrying this burden alone, and I wasn't there to support him.
"Oli, I'm sorry you had to go through this alone. I don't know why you didn't see it before, but I want you to know that none of this changes our friendship. I care about you too much to let something like this tear us apart."
POV Violeta
I stand a safe distance away, watching them from the shadow of a nearby tree. I know I shouldn't be spying, but I can't help it. I need to know if there's any way to fix what I did. When I get closer to where they are, both of them look at me, surprised to see me there.
"Violeta…" Aaron says, as if he wasn't expecting to see me. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard what you said, Oli," I say, my voice trembling. "And I know I hurt you, but not for the reasons you think. I didn't judge you for who you are. I just walked away from Aaron when he needed me most. And that's something I can't forgive myself for."
Oli lowers his gaze, unable to look me in the eye. I know I hurt him deeply, and I know my mistake was huge.
"Violeta, it wasn't just that. You left when Aaron needed you the most, and I was left alone to support him. It doesn't bother me that you knew about my orientation before Aaron did. What hurts is that you chose to walk away instead of staying and helping me hold him up."
Aaron looks at both of us, trying to understand the magnitude of what has happened. Finally, he takes a breath and turns to Oli.
"Oli, no matter what happens, you'll always be my friend. But I know we need to talk about this, about how you feel, and how we're going to get through all of this together." Then he turns to me. "And Violeta… I know things have been hard between us, but if we're going to fix this, we all have to be honest with each other."
POV Oli
Aaron's words should comfort me, but the truth is that it still hurts to think about everything Violeta did to Aaron. However, seeing the genuine expression on her face, I feel like maybe—just maybe—it's possible to leave all this behind.
"Violeta…" I begin, unsure of how to continue. "I know you made mistakes, but so did I. Leaving Aaron alone was… the worst thing you could have done. But what hurts me the most is that I felt so alone in all of this when I didn't have to be."
Violeta looks at me, and I can see the remorse in her eyes.
"I know, Oli. I abandoned you too, without realizing what I was doing. But I'm here now, and I want to help you be who you really are, without fear, without hiding."
I remain silent for a moment, processing her words. After everything we've been through, I want to believe her. I want to believe that she's truly changed.
"Thank you, Violeta. Maybe… maybe we can try to fix this, but only if we're honest with each other. Can we do that?"
She nods again, and so does Aaron, his gaze full of determination.
"Yes, Oli. We all need to be honest. It's the only way to move forward," Aaron responds, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I realize that although the road ahead won't be easy, I don't have to walk it alone. With Aaron and Violeta by my side, maybe I can finally be honest with myself and with them.