Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

65. The Biggest Mistake

I stood there, my heart racing. My mind was a blur. What could he possibly see in me? I wasn't the kind of girl guys asked out -- I was just... Sarah. Quiet, focused on studies, always trying to meet my parents' expectations. Ryan, on the other hand, was confident, always surrounded by people. I didn't get it. Why me?

A thousand questions ran through my mind, but before I could ask a single one, he cut me off. "You have three seconds to answer," he said, "One... two..."

Panic set in. "Okay," I blurted out, cutting him off before he could reach three.
I didn't say "yes" because I was overwhelmed by some deep romantic feelings. No, I said it because I was scared -- scared of losing him, scared of losing the only friend who made me feel something different.

That day was special, though. It was the day I realized just how much I needed him in my life. But it was also the day I made the biggest mistake of my life ... falling for his words.

Things started to feel a bit odd between us after that confession. Ryan seemed unsure how to act, and I felt this strange awkwardness hanging in the air. We decided to go to the cafeteria, trying to smooth things out. He ordered the food, and after we ate, he went ahead and paid the bill. I was fumbling with my purse, knowing full well the meal was more than I would have chosen for myself.

"Why'd you pay for everything?" I asked, a little surprised.

Ryan shrugged, his tone casual but confident. "Because that's what a guy's supposed to do for his girl. Have you ever seen your friends paying the bill when they're out with their boyfriends?"

His response caught me off guard. I understood his point, but something didn't sit right with me. "I get what you mean, but..." I reached over, taking his hand and pressing my cash into it. "I don't like this. It's not your money -- it's your parents'. They worked hard for it. Even when you do start earning, it should be your choice. I don't expect anyone to pay for me, not even you. Only my parents can do that."

He looked down at the money in his hand and chuckled, shaking his head. "So, does that mean you don't want gifts either? No expensive surprises like the other girls get?"

I smiled, meeting his teasing tone. "Nope. I'll buy my own gifts, thanks."

Ryan leaned back in his chair, still grinning. "Wow, your future husband is going to be the luckiest guy ever. No pressure to buy you fancy things just to keep you happy."

We were still awkward around each other, speaking less and avoiding eye contact. At that age, everything felt intense and fragile -- one wrong step and you could lose control, lose yourself. I knew all too well how our parents would react if things spiraled out of control between us.

But finally, things returned to normal, thanks to the upcoming quiz contest. Ryan approached me, trying to sabotage my quiz notes because he hadn't prepared his own. He'd spent his time glued to the T20 cricket matches instead.

He gave me his most charming smile, attempting to win me over with his usual cuteness. "Sarah," he began, his voice soft but persuasive, "girlfriends are supposed to support their boyfriends, right? Some even sacrifice their lives for love."

I couldn't help but smirk. "I can sacrifice my love, but I won't back down in the contest. And I'm definitely not helping you win."

His face twisted in frustration. "I don't need your pathetic victory. I can win on my own. All I need are your notes, that's it." He muttered under his breath, "You'd never make a good girlfriend anyway."

I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I think to be a 'good partner,' one of us would have to either give up trying or, well, die. But we both know, neither of us is willing to surrender or lose. That's not who we are."

I handed him my notes, meeting his eyes with a confident smile. "I'll help you, but remember, I'm not backing down. See you at the battlefield."

As I started to walk away, he called out, "And what about you?"

I glanced over my shoulder, giving a slight nod.

He smiled faintly. "I don't want to compete against a weak opponent."

I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "You'll never see any weakness from me, Ryan."

His grin widened, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. Just before he could walk away, I stopped him. "Ryan," I said, my voice softer this time. He turned to face me, eyebrows raised, giving a casual "Yeah?"

"Let's keep things the way they are, okay?" I said, trying to sound as light as possible. "I don't want things to get awkward between us."

He nodded, his expression softening as he gave me a warm smile.

********************************************