Mei stood frozen by the library entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. The sight of Liam and Eva together had always stirred something inside her, but today it felt different—sharper, more painful. She wasn't sure if it was the way Liam smiled at Eva, or how close they sat, but a knot tightened in her stomach. She had come this far, and she couldn't walk away now.
She stepped inside, her footsteps soft on the polished floor as she approached their table. Liam noticed her first, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. "Mei! You're just in time. Eva and I were finishing up our research. Want to join?"
Mei forced a smile, her voice steadier than she felt. "No, I just came to talk to you."
Eva glanced between them, her expression unreadable but polite. "I should head out anyway," she said, standing up and packing her things. "I'll see you both later."
As Eva walked away, Mei's eyes followed her, feeling the unspoken tension settle in the air. Liam, oblivious as always, turned his full attention to Mei, the warm glow of the library light reflecting off his face. "What's up?" he asked, his casual tone at odds with the storm raging inside Mei.
Mei took a deep breath, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her notebook. You can do this, she told herself. It's just Liam. It's always been Liam.
"I wanted to talk to you about something... important," she began, feeling her voice waver slightly. "Lately, I've been feeling... different, about things. About us."
Liam's brow furrowed in confusion. "Different how?"
Mei's heart raced. She could still turn back, laugh it off, pretend it was nothing. But something about the way Max had looked at her earlier—his knowing smile—pushed her forward. She couldn't ignore these feelings anymore, not with graduation looming, not with the risk of everything slipping away.
"I—" She hesitated, trying to find the right words. "Liam, I've always cared about you as a friend, but lately... it's been more than that."
Her confession hung in the air between them, fragile and uncertain. Liam blinked, clearly taken aback. Mei watched as realization slowly dawned on his face, his expression shifting from confusion to something softer, though still unreadable.
"Mei..." Liam's voice trailed off, and for the first time, he looked unsure, like he didn't know how to respond. "I didn't know you felt that way."
Mei nodded, her heart sinking slightly at the sound of his voice. She could sense hesitation there, and it stung more than she had anticipated. But she wasn't going to let herself regret this moment. At least now, she'd know where they stood.
"I just needed to tell you," she said softly, "before everything changes after graduation. I didn't want to leave without you knowing."
Liam looked at her, his eyes searching hers for what felt like an eternity. "I care about you too, Mei. You're one of my best friends, and I don't want to lose that. But I've never really thought of us like... that." He paused, his expression gentle but firm. "I don't want to hurt you."
The words stung, even though Mei had prepared herself for this outcome. She smiled tightly, fighting back the disappointment that threatened to overwhelm her. "It's okay. I just needed to say it."
Liam reached out, touching her arm gently. "I'm glad you told me. I don't want anything to change between us."
Mei nodded, though she knew things would inevitably change. How could they not? But she wasn't angry. It was just the way life unfolded sometimes—messy and complicated, full of feelings that didn't always align.
"I should go," Mei said, her voice quieter now, her heart heavy. "I have some studying to do."
Liam gave her a soft, reassuring smile. "Yeah, me too. We'll talk later, okay?"
As Mei turned to leave, she felt a mix of relief and sadness wash over her. She had done what she came to do, and even though it hadn't gone the way she hoped, there was a certain peace in the honesty of it. She had said what needed to be said, and now she could move forward—no more lingering doubts, no more what-ifs.
Outside, the evening air was cool and crisp, a gentle breeze brushing against her skin as she walked back toward her dorm. Mei lifted her head to the sky, watching the clouds drift lazily across the darkening horizon. She had always known that love was never simple, and tonight had proven that.
As she walked, she found herself thinking of Max's words again. "You'll regret it if you don't say something." And for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel the weight of regret pressing down on her. She had been brave. She had spoken her truth.
And that was enough.