Ethan's heart was racing as he walked Liam back to his dorm. He wanted to say something, to confess his feelings, but the words wouldn't come out. He was afraid, afraid of rejection, afraid of ruining their newfound friendship.
As they reached the door of Liam's dorm, Liam turned to him, his eyes searching Ethan's.
"Ethan," he said, his voice soft. "I... I have something to tell you."
Ethan's heart sank. He knew what was coming.
"I'm seeing someone," Liam said, his voice barely a whisper. "I met her at a party last week, and we just clicked."
Ethan felt a sharp pang of disappointment, a feeling of emptiness that spread through his chest. He had known, deep down, that Liam was seeing someone, but hearing it confirmed, hearing it from Liam's own lips, was like a punch to the gut.
"Oh," was all Ethan could manage.
Liam looked at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and sadness. "I'm sorry, Ethan. I didn't want to hurt you, but I didn't know how to tell you."
Ethan nodded, his throat constricted with emotion. He couldn't bring himself to say anything else. He turned and walked away, the sound of Liam's footsteps fading behind him.
YOU ARE READING
Maybe This Time
Short Story"Maybe This Time" is a heartwarming story about two young boys, Ethan and Liam, whose friendship blossoms into a love that they are too afraid to acknowledge. Their journey is a poignant exploration of first love, the complexities of coming to terms...
