As Sam and Anna walked home, the night air was crisp and cool, wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. The streets were quieter now, with only a few distant sounds of the city humming in the background. The sky above them was vast, speckled with stars, and for the first time in a long while, Sam felt… content.
Anna, however, had different plans. She kept side-eyeing Sam, her mischievous grin never fading.
"So…" she finally broke the silence, stretching the word out.
Sam sighed. "Here we go."
Anna snickered. "You love her, huh?"
Sam didn't answer immediately. He simply looked ahead, his hands tucked in his pockets, his mind replaying the warmth of Mahiru's hug, the way her voice softened when she said she loved him. It wasn't just a passing thought anymore. He did love her—more than he ever thought he could love someone.
"…Yeah," he admitted quietly.
Anna gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like she had just witnessed something historical. "Oh my god! My big brother is in love! This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment!"
Sam rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Shut up."
Anna giggled before bumping her shoulder against his. "She's a good one, you know. I can see why you like her."
Sam glanced at her. "You mean you're finally approving of her?"
Anna smirked. "I never disapproved. I just had to make sure she wasn't gonna break your heart like Charoline did."
Sam stiffened at the name. Even though it had been years, hearing it still sent a dull ache through his chest. He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "Mahiru isn't like her."
Anna nodded. "I know."
For a moment, there was silence between them.
Then, in true Anna fashion, she decided to ruin the mood. "Buuuut, she did say 'I love you' first. Should I start calling her the dominant one in the relationship?"
Sam groaned. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."
Anna burst into laughter as they reached home.
—---
Meanwhile, in Mahiru's apartment…
Mahiru sat on her bed, hugging her pillow tightly, her cheeks still burning from what had happened that night. Every time she thought about it, she would roll onto her side, bury her face in the pillow, and let out a muffled squeal.
"He said it back…" she whispered, her lips curling into a giddy smile.
Her fingers gently traced her necklace—the one she had been nervously clutching before she confessed. She could still feel the warmth of Sam's arms around her, the steadiness of his heartbeat when they hugged.
She kicked her feet lightly under the blanket, feeling embarrassed at how excited she was. But how could she not be? The boy she had fallen for, the one who always made her heart race, had told her he loved her too.
She turned onto her back, staring at the ceiling with a dreamy sigh.
"…I love you, Sam," she whispered again, as if testing how it sounded.
Her heart fluttered just the same.
—---
Meanwhile, in Sam's room…
Sam lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind refusing to settle down. His fingers absentmindedly traced the locket around his neck, the one Mahiru had gifted him tonight. It felt… surreal.
She had chosen something so meaningful, something he could carry with him everywhere. He hesitated for a moment before gently opening the locket, revealing the small photo inside.
There they were—sitting together, smiling at each other.
His heart clenched at the sight. It was such a simple moment, yet it held so much emotion.
"She really said it," he muttered under his breath.
And he had said it back.
A small, embarrassed smile crept onto his face as he remembered how tightly she had hugged him. The warmth of her arms, the way she smelled faintly of vanilla, the way she had whispered those three words so earnestly—it was all burned into his memory now.
He turned onto his side, gripping the locket gently as he felt his face heat up.
"I'm really in love with her…" he admitted to himself, feeling both nervous and excited at the realization.
It wasn't just admiration or fondness anymore. It was real.
His heart thumped loudly in his chest as he imagined Mahiru lying in her apartment, maybe thinking about him too. The thought made his smile widen.
As he finally closed his eyes, still holding onto the locket, a peaceful warmth filled his chest.
Tonight had been perfect.
----