Days passed, but the heaviness in Mei's chest only deepened. Graduation was just around the corner, and while everyone else was caught up in the whirlwind of celebrations, Mei felt like she was watching from a distance. Her friends were excitedly planning their futures—internships, job offers, trips—but all she could think about was how things had changed between her and Liam.
She replayed their conversation from the garden over and over in her mind. She had lied to him, told him she was happy for him and Eva. But each time she saw them together, a little more of her heart chipped away. There was no denying it anymore. She was in love with him. And she was losing him.
"Mei?"
She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. Max stood in front of her, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his eyes narrowed with concern.
"You've been staring at that textbook for, like, an hour. Are you studying or trying to break the world record for zoning out?"
Mei sighed and closed the book. "Sorry. Just… distracted."
Max raised an eyebrow, then pulled up a chair across from her at the library table. "I know that look. It's about Liam, isn't it?"
Her head jerked up in surprise. "What? No, it's—"
"Don't even try it," Max interrupted, leaning forward with a knowing smirk. "I've seen you two since freshman year. You're not fooling anyone."
Mei looked down at her hands, the weight of her feelings making it impossible to deny any longer. "It's just… things have changed. He's spending all his time with Eva now, and I don't know where I fit in anymore."
Max let out a low whistle. "Yikes. Well, that's a tough one."
His casual tone made Mei want to scream, but she bit her lip and waited for him to continue.
"Look," Max said, his expression softening, "I've known Liam a long time. He might be spending more time with Eva, but that doesn't mean he's forgotten about you. You're important to him. Always have been."
Mei swallowed hard. "It doesn't feel that way anymore. And I don't know if I should even say anything. What if it makes things weird between us?"
Max leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. "Here's the thing about feelings, Mei. They're messy. You can't always predict how someone's going to react. But if you keep them bottled up, you'll end up regretting it. Trust me on this."
Mei frowned, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. Part of her knew Max was right—keeping everything inside was only making her feel worse. But the fear of losing Liam completely was overwhelming. She had no idea how he would react if she told him the truth.
Before she could respond, Max leaned forward again, this time with a mischievous grin on his face. "But hey, if you don't want to confess your undying love, there's always Plan B."
Mei raised an eyebrow. "Plan B?"
Max winked. "Make him jealous."
Mei laughed despite herself. "That's ridiculous."
"Is it though?" Max's grin widened. "Guys like Liam don't always realize what they've got until someone else is interested. All you need is a little push, and suddenly he's seeing you in a whole new light."
Mei shook her head, but the idea had planted a small seed of curiosity. "And who exactly would make him jealous? You?"
Max clutched his chest dramatically. "Why, I'm honored you'd consider me! But no, I'm thinking someone with more… flair. You know, really up the stakes."
Mei rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help smiling. Max always had a way of making her laugh, even in the worst moments. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."
Max shrugged, standing up from the table. "Suit yourself. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me."
As Max walked away, Mei's smile faded. The truth was, as much as she joked about it, there was no easy solution. She couldn't just ignore her feelings anymore, but confessing to Liam seemed impossible.
She gathered her things and headed toward the dorms. The late afternoon sun was dipping low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the campus. As Mei walked, she thought about what Max had said—about regret. Was she really going to let her fear stop her from being honest with Liam?
The thought made her chest tighten. If she said nothing, she could keep pretending that everything was fine. But how long could she keep lying to herself? She needed to talk to Liam. Even if it hurt. Even if it changed everything.
That evening, Mei stood outside Liam's dorm. The sky had darkened, and the cool night breeze brushed against her skin, making her shiver. Her hand hovered over the door for what felt like an eternity before she finally knocked.
Liam answered almost immediately, his face lighting up when he saw her. "Mei! Hey, what's up? Come in."
She stepped inside, her heart pounding in her chest. The familiar sight of his dorm—posters on the walls, books scattered on the desk—gave her a small sense of comfort, but it did nothing to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
Liam sat down on the edge of his bed, motioning for her to join him. "Everything okay?"
Mei took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had practiced this moment in her head a hundred times, but now that it was here, the words wouldn't come.
"I need to tell you something," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam's brow furrowed, concern flashing in his eyes. "What's going on?"
She swallowed hard, her throat tight. This was it. She couldn't turn back now.
"I… I've been feeling a lot of things lately. And I've been trying to ignore them, but I can't anymore."
Liam's expression softened, but he said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
Mei closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her courage. When she opened them again, she met his gaze directly.
"Liam, I'm in love with you."
The silence that followed felt like it stretched on forever. Liam's eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked completely stunned. Mei's heart raced, every second feeling like an eternity.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost uncertain. "Mei, I… I didn't know."
Mei felt her chest tighten even more. Of course, he didn't know. She had been hiding her feelings for so long that even she hadn't fully realized them until recently.
"I didn't mean to make things complicated," Mei said quickly, her voice trembling. "But I can't keep pretending everything's the same when it's not."
Liam stood up, pacing the small room, running a hand through his hair. "I just… I don't know what to say."
Mei's heart sank. She had known this would be difficult, but the uncertainty in his voice made her stomach churn.
"I just needed you to know," she whispered, her eyes dropping to the floor. "I couldn't keep it in anymore."
Liam stopped pacing, turning to look at her. There was something in his eyes—a mix of confusion and regret. Mei held her breath, waiting for his response, but all he could manage was a quiet, "I'm sorry, Mei."