Maybe

Chapter 21 Love or attraction

_Third person_

Nina jumped in surprise and turned around. "Oh my God, Ely?" Janice exclaimed teasingly.

"You were reading our texts?" Nina asked, taken aback.

"You two text each other? And every day? Oh my holy--" Janice started, clearly amused.

"Cut the crap, Janice. He was just asking about you because Jake is really worried about you, nothing else," Nina interrupted firmly.

"Oh, I did see that 'I love you, Ely' thing," Janice replied dramatically, making Nina roll her eyes.

"You know him, he's always that irritating," Nina sighed.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, 'I love you, I love you, I love you, Ely~~~'" Janice playfully sang out, causing Nina to groan in exasperation.

""Shut up, Janice, hey!" Nina exclaimed.

Suddenly, Nina's phone rang again, and she received a text from someone. She checked it, noticing it was from Ethan again. After reading the text, regret washed over her. "I shouldn't have opened it, fuck," she thought to herself.

OTP

Ethan: Speechless, that means you do love me. See? I see that 'Seen' sign.

Ely: Ugh, fuck you Ethan. I am blocking you.

Ethan: No, don't.

Ely: Why?

Ethan: See, you also want a reason not to block me.

Ely: You told me not to. I thought you would say something serious.

Ethan: It is. Having feelings is important.

Ely: I am leaving, fuck you.

Ethan: Bye, baby. 

Ely: Middle finger emoji

"Fuck Janice, you're all so annoying," Nina grumbled.

"Telling the truth is a problem?" Janice retorted.

"Ugh, leave my house. Get out now!"

"I'm in a bathrobe, how can I? You want me to embarrass myself?"

"Why embarrass? It's fashion now. Everyone will be stunned by your beauty. You might even get a boyfriend on the way."

Amid their conversation, Janice's phone rang again. She glanced at the caller ID, clearly hesitant. Before she could turn it off, Nina swiftly snatched the phone and answered, knowing exactly who it was. Janice attempted to retrieve it, but Nina dashed into the bathroom and locked the door. Janice's muffled protests echoed from outside while Nina engaged in a tense conversation with Jake.

OTP

Nina: Hello?

Jake: Janice, please listen to me once—wait, that isn't her voice. Who are you?

Nina: I'm Nina.

Jake: Could you please tell her to talk to me for once? It's not what she's thinking.

Nina: Um, well—

Jake: I can't hear you properly. Could you please go to a quieter place?

Nina: I am! Can't you hear someone yelling? That's Janice. We need your help, she's in trouble!

Jake: What? Where are you?

Nina: At my place.

Jake: Hello? Hello—

She hung up the call and stepped out of the bathroom. "What?" Janice asked, clearly puzzled.

"What?" Nina responded, equally confused.

"What the fuck did you tell him?!" Janice demanded.

"Just put on something, bitch. You'll catch a cold or something. Do you want to seduce my neighbors?" Nina retorted.

"Fuck, I'm coming. Wait," Janice exclaimed.

She quickly got dressed and returned to Nina, bombarding her with more questions. Nina ignored them for a while until the doorbell rang.

"Go open it. Ugh, I'm so lazy," Nina instructed Janice.

"Ugh, you lazy bum," she retorted with a playful roll of her eyes before swinging open the door. The moment it opened, she was engulfed in a tight embrace that seemed to defy time itself—it was Jake, none other than the person she was ignoring or maybe running away from.. Her surprise was palpable as she gazed at him in disbelief, unsure how to react. Nina emerged from the room with a knowing smile, adding to the unexpected reunion.

"U-uh, Jake, I can't breathe!" Janice gasped, her words muffled against his chest as he released her and gently grasped her shoulder. Concern etched his features. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt?" His voice quivered with worry, a torrent of questions poised on his lips, but Janice cut him off with a quick reassurance. "I'm fine! Totally fine!"

Relieved, Jake hugged her again, this time with a gentler embrace. Janice melted into his arms, feeling a wave of tranquility wash over her, dispelling the worry, anxiety, and sadness that had plagued her moments before. As they pulled away, Jake cupped her face tenderly, his eyes earnest. "It wasn't what you thought. You're the only one for me. That girl was just a younger cousin, she talks like that all the time."

"What? Like kissing on the cheeks and calling each other baby?" Janice inquired with a puzzled expression.

"Yeah, she's always like that with us," replied someone in the group.

All their misunderstandings dissolved as they clarified the situation. Nina, leaning casually against the doorframe, folded her arms across her chest and observed their exchange with a hint of amusement. Finally breaking the silence, she interjected, "Hey, love birds. Let's do something else; I'm bored of this drama. I've seen it in so many movies, and it always ends the same way. It's just too cringy."

Janice spoke softly, her words tinged with wisdom and a hint of wistfulness, "You only truly feel our emotions when you fall in love. Those hugs, they come naturally."

Nina pondered aloud, her expression thoughtful, "Love? I can't tell if it's genuine or just a performance. Do you love someone with your heart, or is it merely attraction?"

Jake interjected with a mix of sincerity and bravado, "If this love isn't from the heart, then I'd rather keep my pride than confess everything to her."

Nina glanced at Jake with a bittersweet smile, her voice carrying a hint of hurt beneath her playful demeanor, "After you're married, don't forget about me." Despite her words, she chuckled lightly and maintained a composed facade, inviting understanding nods and laughter from their group.