sex, love or friendship

I had to choose

Everything had been going pretty well so far. I had started visiting David more and more often, and he remained as kind and respectful towards me as ever. As we had agreed, we didn't engage in anything sexual. Our encounters were limited to watching movies together, cooking, or sometimes participating in activities with Max and Yuri. But deep down, a small voice wondered how long this situation could last.

None of my friends had any idea what was going on with David. I had become increasingly secretive towards them, making up excuses to avoid them coming over or to decline their invitations. I would feign illness, urgent assignments, or imaginary commitments, all to spend more time with David. And of course, it weighed on me. I felt a slight guilt about how I was handling things, a dull guilt that settled in me, especially because I had no one to confide in about what I was experiencing with David. I was afraid my friends wouldn't understand, that they would misjudge this ambiguous relationship, or that they would try to dissuade me.

Yet, I felt so good with David that I couldn't bring myself to stop everything now. Every time, I found excuses to go see him. After all, why worry? We weren't doing anything wrong. We were just spending time together, sharing intimate moments, hugs, and kisses. Nothing more. However, if I were to be honest with myself, I had to admit that part of me was being cowardly.

Alex had returned from his visit to his parents, and to this day, I still hadn't talked to him about how I felt about him. He seemed absorbed in his plans for university, and that suited me just fine. I used his busy schedule as an excuse to postpone that difficult conversation again and again.

I knew that sooner or later, I would have to face reality. But for now, I preferred to take refuge in the comfort of my secret meetings with David, telling myself that it couldn't last forever.

*****
I had just stepped out of the shower after a long day. Classes had been relentless, and I could feel the fatigue in every muscle of my body. Being a day student, I couldn't wait to slip into my cozy pajamas and crawl into bed. Once dressed, I made my way to my room, appreciating the soothing silence of the evening.

Barely had I lain down when my phone started vibrating. Curious, I grabbed it and saw that I had received a message from David.

"So, what did you think of the movie last night?" he asked.

A mischievous smile spread across my lips. I quickly typed a reply, intending to tease him a bit:
"Cool."

I knew that this simple and innocuous word would undoubtedly pique his curiosity. A few seconds later, his reaction appeared on the screen.

"Just cool? I went to great lengths to find that movie, just to please you. ☹️"

I couldn't help but laugh softly. It was exactly the reaction I expected. With a touch of playfulness, I replied:
"It's okay, I was just teasing you. The movie was excellent. Can I call you?"

The response came quickly:
"Yes, of course 😊"

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of hearing his voice. Without hesitation, I prepared to dial his number. But just as my finger slid across the screen to make the call, the phone suddenly rang. To my surprise, it was an unexpected call from my aunt.

***
The next morning, I received a message from my aunt with her address so we could meet up. A wave of excitement washed over me. It had been years since we last saw each other, and I had no idea she lived in the same city where I was studying. The idea of seeing her again after all this time filled me with joy, mixed with a hint of nervousness.

I made my way to her home, and once I arrived in front of the door, I took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. Moments later, the door opened, revealing my aunt's smiling face. Seeing her, emotions immediately surged within me. She took me in her arms with a warmth that reminded me of how much I had missed her. I hugged her back tightly, as if trying to make up for all the lost time.