The afternoon sun, slanting through the window, painted Y/N in a golden glow. She sat in her favorite armchair, lost in a book, the pages turning with the quiet rhythm of her breath. Nick watched her from the kitchen, his heart doing a little tap dance in his chest. He loved the way the sunlight made her hair, usually a rich brown, shimmer with auburn highlights. He loved the way her brow furrowed in concentration as she read, her lips moving slightly as if she was whispering the words.
He'd been harboring this crush on her for months now. The kind of crush that made him fumble for words when she was around, that made his stomach do flips when she laughed, and that made him spend hours staring at her, hoping she wouldn't notice.
They were roommates, their lives intertwined in a way that made him simultaneously terrified and exhilarated. They shared meals, watched movies, and sometimes, when they were feeling brave, even ventured out for drinks or dinner. But the line between friendship and something more felt like a fragile, invisible thing, one they were both afraid to cross.
He found himself drawn to her, drawn to the way she could light up a room with her infectious smile, the way she could make him laugh with her quirky sense of humor, and the way she made him feel, well, alive.
The silence in the apartment was broken by the soft click of the book as Y/N closed it. She stretched, a yawn escaping her lips, and turned to look out the window, her gaze following the path of a stray leaf tumbling in the wind.
Nick felt a sudden urge, a desperate need to break the silence, to say something, anything.
'That's your favorite book, isn't it?' he asked, his voice a bit too loud, a bit too eager.
She turned to him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. 'You know me too well, Nick.'
'I try,' he said, his cheeks flushing under her gaze.
They fell into a comfortable silence once more, but this time, the air hung heavy with unspoken words.
He watched her again, captivated by the way the sunlight played on her hair, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled. He had to do something. He couldn't just sit here, let this moment slip away.
He took a deep breath. 'You know,' he began, his voice a little shaky, 'you look like you're glowing in that light.'
She laughed, a light, tinkling sound that filled the room. 'Oh, Nick, you're so sweet.'
He knew he was being ridiculous, but he couldn't help himself. 'I mean it,' he said, his voice gaining confidence. 'The way the sun hits your hair, it's...' he fumbled for words, 'it's beautiful.'
Silence. Then, a soft smile touched her lips, slowly spreading until it lit up her entire face.
'Thank you,' she said, her voice barely a whisper.
He stood up, his heart pounding in his chest. The sunlight wasn't just illuminating her hair, it was illuminating his feelings, his whole being. He had to be honest, he had to break through the fragile barrier between them.
'Y/N,' he said, stepping closer, his voice low and husky. 'I...' He paused, searching for the right words, the words that could express what he felt.
He took another step, the distance between them shrinking. Her eyes, wide with surprise, met his, their gazes locking.
'I think I'm in love with you,' he confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush.
The silence that followed was deafening. He held his breath.
For a long moment, she stared at him, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions that he couldn't decipher. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face, a smile that was filled with warmth and understanding.
'I think I might be in love with you too, Nick,' she whispered, her voice barely audible.
In that instant, the world around them seemed to melt away. All that mattered was the soft glow of the setting sun, the warmth of her hand in his, and the unspoken truth that had finally found its way to the surface. Their friendship, once a fragile thread, had blossomed into something deeper, something stronger, something beautiful. And it all started with the sunlight, painting her in a golden glow, making him finally see the love that had been there all along.
