They were best friends for years, sharing every secret-except one. When Felix finally confesses his feelings, Josephine lets him down with a gentle lie: she's not interested in men. Heartbroken but determined to keep their friendship, Felix tries to...
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Felix stood in front of his mirror, nervously adjusting the collar of his shirt for what felt like the hundredth time. His heart was pounding so loudly it drowned out the faint music coming from the speaker on his nightstand. Tonight had to be perfect—every detail just right, every word flawlessly delivered.
He inspected himself in the mirror, frowning as he buttoned the top of his shirt and then immediately undid it again. "Too formal," he muttered, then turned to his closet, pulling out another shirt only to throw it back in. His mind raced. What if this wasn't enough? What if she thought this was too much? What if she was too far in with her feelings with Ryan that she didn't want to do anything with him? No, no. He's known her way longer than Ryan. He knew that she'd pick him over Ryan. His palms were already sweating as he glanced at his watch, realizing he only had twenty minutes until Josephine would be knocking at his door.
Orson, lounging casually on Felix's bed and scrolling through his phone, glanced up with a smirk. "Dude, you're going to burn a hole in that carpet with all your pacing."
Felix gave him a sharp look. "Shouldn't you be leaving? I really need you out before she gets here."
Orson chuckled and stretched lazily. "Relax, lover boy. I'm leaving now. Don't forget to breathe, though, alright? You look like you're about to pass out. I don't think she'll take you passing out while confessing "romantic"."
Felix shot him a glare as he slipped into his shoes, desperately trying to keep his nerves from boiling over. "I just... I need everything to be perfect. You know this is my one shot."
Orson nodded, a look of genuine encouragement softening his usual teasing expression. "You've got this, man. She already adores you, Felix. Trust me."
Felix managed a weak smile. "Thanks...for everything."
Orson grinned, giving him a thumbs-up as he finally headed out the door. The house fell silent a few minutes later, and Felix took a deep breath, turning his attention to the kitchen. He'd set the table earlier, arranging candles and dimming the lights just enough to make everything feel warm and inviting. The pasta dough rested on the counter, ready to be rolled out, and the ingredients for the sauce were carefully prepped and waiting in neat little bowls. He'd even practiced his timing, so everything would be served hot and perfect.
He put on a playlist of their favorite songs, quietly humming along as he began boiling water and chopping basil. Every few minutes, he'd check the time on his phone, mentally rehearsing what he would say. "Just tell her how you feel. She deserves to know," he whispered to himself, though his stomach twisted with anxiety.
The sound of a door bell jolted him out of his thoughts. "She's here," he murmured, feeling a fresh wave of panic surge through him. He checked his shirt one last time, smoothed his hair, and took a shaky breath before answering the door.
Josephine stood on his doorstep, looking beautiful and radiant as always. She wore a soft, casual sweater with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, giving her an effortlessly charming look. Her eyes widened as she took in his appearance.
"Felix... are you dressed up?" she asked, a slight laugh escaping her. "Why are you so fancy?"
He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, no reason," he replied, gesturing for her to come inside. He shut the door, his fingers trembling slightly as he led her into the kitchen.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "No reason, huh? I don't think I've ever seen you look this polished—not even on graduation day."
"Well," he stammered, clearing his throat as he turned to check on the sauce. "I just... thought tonight should be special, you know? I mean, since it's just us."
Josephine smiled, glancing at the setup, the soft lighting and candles casting a gentle glow around the room. "Well, you've certainly outdone yourself," she said, taking a seat at the table. "Everything looks amazing."
Felix took another deep breath, trying to settle the thudding of his heart. He could feel her watching him as he moved around the kitchen, pouring the wine and starting to plate the food, each movement practiced but strained as he fought to keep his nerves in check.
When he finally sat down across from her, he could barely bring himself to meet her gaze. She took a sip of her wine, watching him with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Felix, you're acting a bit more weird than normal. What's going on? You silly goose?"
He opened his mouth to respond, but his mind went blank. All the things he'd rehearsed suddenly vanished, leaving him staring at her in a mixture of awe and fear. How was he supposed to tell her that she was everything to him? That he couldn't imagine his life without her?
"I'll be right back, I need to go to t-the bathroom." Before Josephine could object, the next thing you knew Felix was hiding in the bathroom with the door locked.
"One breath. Two breath. Three breath." Felix kept saying this to himself, hoping that it will calm him down. He felt like an idiot hiding out in the bathroom, but he knew it was necessary. He didn't want his confession to be ruined from his sweaty palms and sweaty forehead.
——
After a couple of minutes, Felix came out of the bathroom a bit more refreshed than earlier. As he walked out he saw Josephine sitting in her chair with her arms crossed looking at him eye to eye.
Josephine tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "Okay, seriously. What's the matter with you. Why did you run to the bathroom? And then what is with all of this fancy food and clothes? This is way too fancy for just a casual dinner." she asked, setting down her fork. "You look like you're about to explode."
He laughed nervously, looking down at his hands. "I, uh... I wanted tonight to be special. Because... because there's something I need to tell you."
Her gaze softened, and she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Just say it. Go on, Felix. Just say what you need to say."
Felix took a deep, shaky breath. This was it. There was no turning back now. He didn't want her to think he was a coward. He needed to be more confident to stand up against Ryan.
Felix walked towards Josephine and grabbed her hands in his hands and Josephine gave him a confused look.
"I've... I've liked you for a really long time, Jo. More than liked you, actually," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've loved you, for years. Ever since high school, when you first talked to me. I kept waiting for the right moment, the perfect time to tell you. But it never came. I kept thinking maybe you'd just... realize it one day."
Her eyes widened, her mouth slightly open as she stared at him in stunned silence. Felix felt his pulse quicken, his stomach churning as he continued, his words tumbling out in a flood.
"I know we've been friends for so long, and maybe this is too much for you. But, Jo... I can't keep it in anymore. Every time I see you, every time I hear you laugh, it just makes me want to be closer to you. And when you're with... when you're with Ryan or when you had your hookups in college, it killed me inside because I want to be the one who makes you smile. I want to be the one who's there for you, through everything."
He took a shaky breath, reaching for her hand across the table, his gaze intense as he looked into her eyes. "You're my best friend, Jo. But you're also so much more than that to me. I love you. I love you so much it hurts, and I can't imagine my life without you."
The room fell silent, Felix's words hanging in the air as he waited, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. He'd laid it all out, every vulnerable feeling he'd kept hidden for years. He watched her, his breath held, hoping that somehow, she'd feel the same way.
