The atmosphere in the shared apartment was calm but charged with unspoken energy. The exams were over, yet the tension of unresolved feelings seemed to hang over the group like a quiet storm. Liam was in the living room, sorting through some notes, while Emily, ever the opportunist, seized the moment to sit beside him.
"Still revising, Liam? I thought the genius didn't need to study after acing everything," Emily teased, her tone light and inviting.
Liam looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Old habits, I guess. There's always room for improvement."
Emily leaned closer, her shoulder brushing his lightly. "Well, maybe you could teach me a thing or two about staying so focused. You're like a machine sometimes."
Her words carried an undercurrent of admiration, and Liam felt the warmth of her presence more keenly than he expected. "I'm not a machine, Emily," he said with a soft chuckle, looking back at his notes.
"Could've fooled me," she quipped, her voice dropping slightly. "You work harder than anyone I know. Honestly, it's... admirable."
Liam glanced at her, his eyes searching hers for sincerity. She wasn't joking this time, and her expression was softer than usual. For a moment, he felt disarmed.
"Thanks," he said finally, his voice quieter.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Avery and Lily were sharing a quiet snack. Avery leaned against the counter, watching Lily fumble with her chopsticks.
"You know," Avery started, her tone casual but pointed, "Emily's been spending a lot of time with Liam lately."
Lily looked up, tilting her head in confusion. "Well, yeah. She likes hanging out with him. So what?"
Avery smirked. "You really don't see it, do you? That girl's got her sights set on Liam. And if you don't step up, she's going to steal him right out from under you."
Lily laughed, brushing off the comment. "Emily's just being friendly. Liam wouldn't fall for something like that."
Avery's expression grew serious. "You're underestimating her, Lily. Emily's not just being friendly. She's making a move, whether you see it or not."
Lily shrugged, though her smile wavered slightly. "Liam and I are just friends. He's not going anywhere."
"Keep telling yourself that," Avery muttered, shaking her head.
Later that evening, Emily found Liam in the small study corner they'd set up in the apartment. He was focused on a book, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Hey," she said softly, sliding into the chair opposite him.
"Hey," he replied, glancing up briefly before returning to his book.
She hesitated, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "Do you ever think about... what you want, Liam? Beyond grades and expectations, I mean."
Her question caught him off guard, and he closed the book, giving her his full attention. "What do you mean?"
Emily bit her lip, her usual confidence faltering. "I mean, do you ever think about what makes you happy? Not your parents, not your teachers—just you."
Liam leaned back, her words striking a chord. "I guess I don't think about that much. There's always something else to focus on."
Emily nodded slowly, her gaze steady. "You should. You deserve to be happy, Liam."
The weight of her words settled between them, and for a moment, Liam felt a flicker of something he couldn't quite name.
Before he could respond, the door creaked open, and Avery poked her head in. "Hey, Liam, Lily's looking for you. She wants to go over something."
The moment shattered, and Emily leaned back, forcing a smile. "Guess duty calls," she said lightly.
Liam stood, hesitating for a second. "Thanks, Emily. I'll... think about what you said."
As he left the room, Emily exhaled slowly, her resolve hardening. She couldn't wait much longer.
In her room, Lily was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Avery's words echoed in her mind, but she shook her head.
"Emily and Liam," she muttered to herself, laughing softly. "That's ridiculous."
But as she thought about how much time Emily had been spending with Liam lately, a small, nagging doubt crept into her heart. She pushed it away, determined not to let it bother her.
Later Emily sitting by herself in the quiet living room, a look of determination on her face. She knew what she wanted, and she wasn't going to let fear hold her back any longer.
"Tomorrow," she whispered to herself. "Tomorrow, I'll tell him."