Maybe

Chapter 20 New Rumours

_Nina_

I opened the door and saw Janice, her expression filled with sadness. She quietly entered my bedroom and sat down on the bed, and I joined her. Seeing her like this tugged at my heart; I just wanted to help her feel better.

"It's okay, Janice. You can talk to me. Sharing your emotions might make you feel a bit lighter," I gently encouraged her. She kept her gaze fixed on the ground, nodding in response. Her attempt not to cry was evident as she avoided looking at me.

"Today, we went to the park, everything seemed fine," she began hesitantly. "He didn't bring up the kiss thing, and it was okay until..."

"Until what?" I prompted, wanting her to continue.

"A girl approached him, speaking as if she were his girlfriend. She kissed him on the cheek and said,"

"What did she say?" I pressed for details once more.

"--Hey baby, where were you last night? I waited for you in bed. Why didn't you come? I was all alone at home. She continued with more intimate remarks between them, and I couldn't bear it. I ran away from him; I didn't want to confront him."

"Jane, these things happen. Maybe she was just trying to get a reaction out of you, you know how Emily used to be around Ethan. In high school, it's normal for girls to stir up drama like that and create new rumors."

"I understand, but... He could have stopped her from kissing him—I don't know. My childhood friend Erica mentioned that there's something off about him. They're so popular, and popular guys are never as good as they seem."

Janice tried to process Emily's actions, considering the possibility that she might have been trying to provoke jealousy. High school dynamics often involve such dramas, with girls occasionally creating rumors and trying to garner attention. Despite this, she couldn't shake off the unease she felt about it.

"Why on earth would you believe her? Jake has always proven to be a good person, and Ethan wouldn't be friends with him otherwise; they're practically inseparable. It all adds up. Forget about Ethan for now; we're running out of time before college starts after the holidays."

I spoke as if subtly hinting that I would be leaving after graduation.

"Nina, do you think he likes me?" she asked anxiously.

"I can see it in his eyes," I replied confidently.

"But what if—" she started to say.

"No 'ifs.' If you wait, you'll see he'll come to you, begging," I assured her.

"I can't believe it... He even texted me a few more times, but I didn't respond. Maybe he's trying to fix things so he can take advantage of me again." Her voice trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks. I instinctively pulled her into a comforting hug, gently patting her shoulder. The depth of her love for him was palpable in her emotional turmoil.

"It's going to be okay, just give it some time. You'll see how much he cares for you," I reassured her. "I'm not telling you to go and talk to him yourself. If he truly cares, he'll make it clear."

I knew I wasn't the best at comforting people, but for Janice's sake, I had to try. After a while, her tears subsided and the tension in the room eased. We started playing games to lighten the mood, but suddenly her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she quickly silenced it. "Who was that?" I asked curiously.

"Uh, just a friend, maybe," she replied vaguely.

"Maybe?" I probed gently.

"It's Jake. I just don't want to talk to him right now," she sighed.