The university campus, buzzing with graduation preparations, seemed to be a world apart from the emotions stirring within Mei. Everywhere she turned, students walked with light steps, laughing and snapping photos to capture their final days. But Mei felt anything but light.
Her thoughts kept returning to the images of Liam and Eva together, the way they had begun spending more time alone. Eva's light laugh, how it seemed to echo around them, especially whenever Liam was close by. And then there was Liam. He hadn't noticed, had he? The subtle changes, the way Mei lingered for just a moment longer when their eyes met, or the ache that had begun to spread in her chest.
Yet, she wasn't certain if she had the right to feel this way. After all, Liam had always been her best friend. There had been no promises between them—just the unspoken understanding that they were always there for one another. But now, something unspoken was starting to crack.
Mei sat on the grassy knoll overlooking the university pond, watching as the sunlight shimmered off the water's surface. She had come here to clear her mind, but it only seemed to deepen the questions. Why couldn't she just be happy for Liam? For them? And yet, it wasn't that simple.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Eva.
"Mei, come to the garden! Liam's about to show us something amazing! You won't want to miss it!"
Mei hesitated. Every part of her wanted to avoid this, to walk away from the situation before her heart shattered. But she had never been one to run from her feelings, even when they were uncomfortable. And so, with a resigned breath, she stood up and made her way to the garden.
When she arrived, the scene unfolded like something out of a storybook. Liam was in the middle of a small crowd, laughing and adjusting a small, delicate drone with Eva by his side. Eva's excitement was contagious, her smile so wide and bright that Mei almost had to look away.
"Mei! Over here!" Eva waved her over, motioning for her to join them. The moment Mei approached, Liam turned to her with that familiar warmth in his eyes.
"You made it! You have to see this. I've been working on this project all semester," Liam said, holding up the drone. "It's finally ready to take flight."
Mei forced a smile, even as her heart felt heavier than ever. "Looks great, Liam."
She tried to sound enthusiastic, but even she could hear the strain in her voice. And she wasn't the only one. Liam's brow furrowed for a split second, just enough for her to notice. He always could read her better than anyone else.
"Are you okay?" he asked, lowering his voice as Eva's attention shifted elsewhere.
Mei opened her mouth to respond but found the words lodged in her throat. Was she really going to tell him now? In front of everyone? She shook her head, giving him a tight smile. "I'm fine. Just… tired."
Liam didn't seem convinced, but he didn't press further. Instead, he gestured toward the drone. "Watch this."
The drone lifted off the ground with a soft hum, rising gracefully into the air. It danced through the sky, its movements so smooth and controlled that it seemed like an extension of Liam's hands. Mei couldn't help but be impressed. It was a small reminder of why she had always admired him—not just for his talent but for his quiet confidence.
But as the drone flew higher, so did the distance between them. And when Liam and Eva exchanged another smile, Mei felt like she was sinking.
She turned her gaze away, blinking back the moisture that threatened to spill from her eyes. Maybe she was too late. Maybe Eva was everything Liam needed now.
When the demonstration ended, the small crowd clapped and cheered, but Mei barely registered the sound. She felt disconnected, as if she were standing on the outside of her own life, watching it slip away.
"Mei?"
Liam's voice pulled her back. He had broken away from the group and was standing beside her, his eyes filled with concern. "You sure you're okay? You've been quiet."
Mei swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. This was her moment. She could tell him now. She could lay everything bare, risk it all. But as she opened her mouth, the words turned to ash.
"I'm happy for you, Liam. You and Eva… You look really good together."
She wasn't sure where those words came from, but once they were out, she couldn't take them back. Liam blinked, clearly caught off guard.
"Mei, what are you—"
Before he could finish, Eva called out from behind them, interrupting their moment. "Liam! We need to get some photos before the sun sets!"
Mei took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. "Go. I'll catch up with you guys later."
Liam hesitated, looking torn between staying with her and going to Eva. But in the end, he nodded, giving her one last glance before turning to join Eva and the others.
As Mei watched him walk away, something inside her cracked. Maybe this was the moment she had been dreading all along—the moment when she realized that some things, once broken, couldn't be fixed.