Between Us

Chapter 4: Cracks in the Surface

Babe sat slumped in his chair, arms crossed and a frustrated scowl on his face as he stared blankly at the quiet corner of the campus student room. He had come here to clear his mind, to think things through without the constant buzz of the outside world—but his thoughts were anything but clear.

Nana sat across from him, legs crossed casually, watching him with a raised eyebrow. Babe had been quiet for the past few minutes, but the tension in the air was palpable. Nana could practically see the gears turning in Babe's mind, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on him.

"So," Nana finally said, breaking the silence. "Are you going to keep sulking, or are you actually going to do something about this?"

Babe groaned, rubbing his hands over his face. "I don't know, Nana. I'm trying to figure it out, okay?"

"Trying?" Nana gave him a teasing smirk. "Looks more like you're sitting here drowning in your own misery. Very tragic, babe."

Babe shot him a look, but there was no real bite behind it. "It's not that easy. You know that."

Nana sighed dramatically, leaning forward. "I know it's not easy, babe. But that's why you've got to make a move before you completely lose it. You can't just keep pretending everything's fine when you're clearly falling apart."

Babe clenched his fists in his lap, frustration boiling over. "I know that, Nana! But it's not like I can just go up to him and say, 'Hey, I'm in love with you, and it's been killing me!' What if he doesn't feel the same? What if I ruin everything?"

Nana rolled his eyes. "And what if he does feel the same? What if all this time you've been freaking out for nothing?"

Babe looked away, his chest tightening. He hated how logical Nana sounded right now. But the truth was, the fear of rejection was eating him alive, and the more time he spent around Billy, the harder it was to keep his feelings under control.

"I can't lose him, Nana," Babe whispered, voice shaking slightly. "What if telling him ruins everything?"

Nana's face softened, his teasing tone fading for a moment. "Babe... you're not going to lose him. If anything, you're going to lose yourself if you keep bottling this up. You're already cracking under the pressure."

Babe's frustration flared again, but this time, it was directed inward. He knew Nana was right, but knowing didn't make it any easier. The longer he kept his feelings a secret, the heavier the weight became. And with Prae back in the picture, the fear of losing Billy to someone else was starting to suffocate him.

Nana leaned back in his chair, his teasing smirk returning. "You know, if you want, I could totally play matchmaker. I'll just casually bring up the idea of you two being a couple, see how Billy reacts. You know, plant the seed."

Babe shot him a look of pure panic. "Nana, no."

"Oh, come on," Nana grinned, winking. "It could be fun. Plus, I'm great at reading people. I'd know right away if Billy's into you or not."

Babe buried his face in his hands. "I hate you."

"No, you love me," Nana corrected with a playful laugh. "But seriously, babe, you've got to do something. I mean, look at you—you're a wreck."

Babe exhaled heavily, slumping further into the chair. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this up. The pressure was mounting, and he could feel himself starting to crack.

Billy's POV

Billy couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Ever since the last time he and Babe had hung out, there had been this... weird tension between them. Babe was being distant again, acting like everything was fine but clearly not fine.