The third wheel

The confession

It was a typical Friday afternoon, and we were lounging in our usual spot—a grassy hill behind the school where we could see the city skyline in the distance. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in soft hues of orange and pink. Jun, as always, was full of energy, sprawled out on the grass with his head resting on Haruki's lap. Haruki absentmindedly played with Jun's hair, brushing it back as he stared off into the horizon.

I sat a little ways off, leaning against a tree, trying to finish up some homework. But as usual, I found myself distracted by the sight of Jun and Haruki. They were so effortlessly in sync with each other, like two halves of a whole. It was hard not to feel like a bit of an intruder in moments like these.

Jun must have sensed my eyes on them because he suddenly sat up and flashed me a mischievous grin. "Tatsuya, you've been staring at us a lot lately. Got something on your mind?"

Haruki glanced at me too, his expression calm but curious. "Is there something you want to talk about?"

I swallowed hard, caught off guard by their attention. I'd been doing my best to keep my feelings under wraps, but it seemed like I wasn't as subtle as I thought. "No, it's nothing. Just... thinking."

Jun tilted his head, eyes narrowing playfully. "Thinking about what? Or who?"

I could feel my face heating up. "It's nothing! I was just spacing out."

But Jun wasn't one to let things go easily. "Come on, Tatsuya! We're your best friends. If there's something going on, you can tell us."

Haruki nodded, his voice soft and encouraging. "We're here for you, no matter what."

For a moment, I considered just brushing it off like I always did. But there was something in the way they looked at me—something so earnest and sincere—that made me feel like I couldn't keep hiding forever. Maybe it was time to stop running from my feelings.

I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to speak. "Actually... there is something I need to tell you guys."

Jun's grin faded slightly, replaced by a look of genuine concern. He scooted closer to me, his usual playfulness replaced by a rare seriousness. "What is it, Tatsuya? You know you can trust us."

Haruki remained quiet, his eyes steady on mine, silently urging me to continue.

I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. But I knew I couldn't back out now. "I've been feeling... kind of lonely lately. Watching you two together, it just... makes me realize how much I want something like that. But I don't know if I'll ever find it."

Jun's eyes softened, and he reached out to place a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Tatsuya... you'll find someone, I know you will. You're a great guy."

Haruki nodded in agreement. "There's someone out there for you, Tatsuya. And when you find them, they'll be lucky to have you."

I forced a smile, appreciating their words even if they didn't fully ease the ache in my chest. "Thanks, guys. But it's not just that. It's also... I've been struggling with how close we all are. I love being your friend, but sometimes... it's hard watching you two be so happy together. I feel like I'm intruding."

Jun's expression shifted to one of guilt, and he immediately pulled me into a tight hug. "Tatsuya, you're not intruding! We want you to be part of our lives. You're our best friend, and we love you."

Haruki placed a hand on my back, his touch warm and reassuring. "We never want you to feel like you don't belong with us, Tatsuya. You're just as important to us as we are to each other."

I closed my eyes, leaning into the comfort of their embrace. "I know. And I'm really happy for you two. It's just... I'm trying to figure out where I fit in all of this."

Jun pulled back slightly, his eyes shining with determination. "You fit right here, with us. We're a team, remember? No one gets left behind."

Haruki nodded, his voice gentle but firm. "You're a part of our lives, Tatsuya. And we wouldn't have it any other way."

Their words wrapped around me like a safety net, catching me before I could fall too far into my own insecurities. It wasn't easy being the third wheel, but moments like this reminded me that I wasn't alone.

"Thanks, guys," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I really needed to hear that."

Jun grinned, his usual playful energy returning as he ruffled my hair. "Anytime, Tatsuya! And don't forget—you'll always have us, no matter what."

Haruki smiled softly, nodding in agreement. "We're always here for you."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the grass, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. Maybe I didn't have everything figured out yet, but I knew one thing for sure: I had two incredible friends who would stand by me no matter what. And for now, that was enough.

"Come on," Jun said, pulling me to my feet. "Let's go get some snacks. I'm starving!"

Haruki chuckled, rising to join us. "You're always starving, Jun."

"Hey, can't help it! Growing boy and all that," Jun shot back with a laugh.

I couldn't help but smile as I followed them down the hill, feeling lighter than I had in days. Maybe being the third wheel wasn't so bad after all—not when I had Jun and Haruki by my side. And who knew? Maybe one day, I'd find someone who'd make me feel the way they made each other feel. But until then, I was content to just be part of their world, taking things one day at a time.