۫꣑ৎ "I wish you were a girl," ˖⋆࿐໋

- School ☆

Sahal's POV:

I could hardly breathe as I walked through the halls of our middle school, the steady rhythm of my heart clashing with the hurried footsteps of students rushing to their next class. Today was different, heavier somehow. I’d been trying to ignore it for weeks, but now it was undeniable: my feelings for Reza were more than just friendship. It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Every time I looked at Reza, my heart skipped a beat. His laughter, that infectious sound that made everyone around him smile, was a constant reminder of how much I wanted to be near him. But in my world, loving him the way I did was something I couldn’t express. I wasn’t even sure how to put it into words myself. I wished, more than anything, that it wasn’t a sin to love him.

I stared at Reza from across the classroom. He was animatedly discussing a new game with some classmates, his eyes sparkling with excitement. How could someone so amazing be someone I wasn’t allowed to love? I wanted to be the one to make him laugh, to be the one he confided in. But I couldn’t. I was terrified of what my feelings would do to our friendship, and even more terrified of what others would think.

Reza's POV:

It had been a regular day, full of classes and the usual jokes with friends, when I noticed Sahal’s silence. He had always been a bit reserved, but today he seemed especially distant. He was always kind and thoughtful, but recently, I’d sensed something different in the way he looked at me. I couldn’t quite place it.

I tried to shake off the nagging feeling in the back of my mind as I finished up a conversation with a few friends. As I looked over at Sahal, my heart ached slightly. I couldn’t figure out why, but there was something I needed to say, something I needed to understand.

During lunch, I caught Sahal sitting alone, staring into his tray of food with a look I couldn’t interpret. I walked over and sat next to him. "Hey, Sahal. You seem a bit off today. Everything okay?"

His eyes met mine, and I saw a flicker of something—an emotion that I didn’t fully understand. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just... tired,” he replied, though his voice carried a weight that made me doubt him.

Sahal's POV:

The tension in my chest grew as Reza sat down beside me. I wanted to tell him everything, but the words felt like they were trapped inside me. I glanced at him, wishing I could confide in him without fear.

“It’s just… sometimes I wish things were different,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I wish loving you wasn’t something I had to hide.”

Reza looked at me with confusion, his brow furrowed. “What do you mean, Sahal?”

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling slightly. “I mean… sometimes I wish you were a girl. So I could tell you how I really feel.”

Reza’s eyes widened in shock. “Sahal, I—”

Reza's POV:

My mind raced as Sahal’s words sunk in. He wished I were a girl so he could tell me his feelings. The confession was a lot to process, and I wasn’t sure how to react. I wanted to comfort him, but I wasn’t sure how to bridge the gap between his feelings and my own.

“Sahal,” I started, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t know you felt that way. I don’t know what to say.”

He looked down, a deep sadness in his eyes. “You don’t have to say anything. I just needed you to know.”

The silence between us was thick and heavy. I couldn’t deny that I felt a pang of sadness for him, for the struggle he was facing. But what could I say or do that could make this easier?

Sahal's POV:

Reza’s reaction was gentle, but it did little to ease the ache in my heart. I knew he was trying to understand, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was losing something precious. The silence stretched between us, and I felt a tear slip down my cheek before I quickly wiped it away.

“I’m sorry for springing this on you,” I mumbled, standing up. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward.”

“Wait, Sahal,” Reza said, reaching out to grab my arm. “It’s not awkward. I just… need time to think about this.”

I nodded, my heart heavy but a small sense of relief washing over me. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be the end of our friendship. But for now, all I could do was wait and hope that time would bring clarity to both of us.

Reza's POV:

As Sahal walked away, I watched him go with a heavy heart. His confession had opened a door to a complicated reality that I hadn’t fully prepared for. I wanted to support him, to be there for him, but I needed to figure out what this meant for both of us.

In the days that followed, I found myself thinking about Sahal more and more. I wanted to be a good friend, and I wanted to help him feel less alone. It was clear that his feelings were real, and I respected him too much to ignore them. I just hoped that in time, we’d both find a way to navigate this new, uncharted territory together.