It was early morning, and the air outside was crisp with the first signs of fall. The leaves on the trees swayed gently in the wind, and the university campus buzzed with students preparing for the end of the semester. Inside the library, Eva sat at a table with her books spread out in front of her, but her mind was far from her studies. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Liam—his smile, his laugh, and the way he made her heart race whenever he was near.
She closed her book with a sigh, her mind replaying their recent interactions. Liam had been distant lately, or at least that's how it seemed to her. He was always surrounded by friends, always busy, and Eva couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them.
Just as she was about to get lost in her thoughts again, a familiar voice interrupted her.
"Hey, mind if I sit here?"
Eva looked up and saw Liam standing there, holding a cup of coffee and looking as effortlessly handsome as ever. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Of course," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. She moved some of her books aside to make room for him.
Liam sat down across from her, taking a sip of his coffee before leaning back in his chair. "How's the studying going?"
Eva shrugged. "It's going. But honestly, I can't focus."
Liam raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips. "Why not? Something on your mind?"
Eva hesitated, not sure if she should say what she'd been thinking. She glanced around the library, making sure no one was within earshot. "Actually, yeah. There is something I've been meaning to talk to you about."
Liam's expression shifted, his smile fading slightly as he leaned forward. "What's up?"
Eva took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she gathered the courage to speak. "I feel like... I don't know, like something's changed between us. I mean, we've been friends for a long time, but lately, it feels different. I can't help but wonder if—"
Before she could finish, Liam reached across the table and took her hand in his. His touch was warm and reassuring, and Eva's words faltered as her heart began to race.
"I've been thinking the same thing," Liam said softly. "Things have changed. And I think it's because I've realized something... something I've been trying to ignore for a while now."
Eva's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "What do you mean?"
Liam's gaze was intense, his eyes locked on hers. "Eva, I think I'm falling for you."
For a moment, Eva couldn't speak. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her mind raced with a thousand thoughts. She had imagined this moment so many times, but hearing Liam actually say the words felt surreal.
"You... you're falling for me?" she repeated, still trying to process what he had just said.
Liam nodded, his thumb gently brushing over her hand. "Yeah. I didn't want to complicate things between us, but I can't hide it anymore. I like you, Eva. A lot."
Eva's heart swelled with emotions she couldn't even name. This was what she had been waiting for, but now that it was happening, she didn't know what to say. She had always cared about Liam, but hearing him confess his feelings made everything feel so real, so intense.
"I... I don't know what to say," she finally whispered, her voice shaky.
"You don't have to say anything right now," Liam said gently, letting go of her hand. "I just needed to tell you how I feel. And whatever happens next, we'll figure it out together."
Eva smiled, her heart full as she looked into Liam's eyes. "Thank you for telling me," she said softly. "I've been feeling the same way... I just didn't know how to say it."
Liam's smile returned, and for the first time in weeks, the tension between them seemed to lift. They sat there in silence for a moment, both of them lost in their thoughts, but there was a sense of relief in the air, a feeling that something important had finally been said.
As they sat together in the quiet library, Eva felt a sense of calm wash over her. She didn't know what the future held for them, but for the first time in a long time, she felt hopeful. Whatever came next, they would face it together.
And that was all that mattered.