The Depth of Love

Chapter 13: The Confession

Kai couldn’t take it anymore. His feelings for Rina had grown too strong to keep inside, and the weight of his emotions was becoming unbearable.

He knew he’d have to confess—regardless of the outcome. Even if she didn’t feel the same way, he had to be honest with her.

After pacing his room and overthinking every word, he finally took a deep breath and opened their chat. His hands shook as he typed his confession.

Kai: Hi, Rina! I just wanted to tell you… well, that you're the one I like. I know this is random, but I just can’t keep it to myself anymore. This confession is only me expressing my feelings, and I don’t expect you to feel the same. I really hope we can stay friends after this—things don’t have to get awkward, I promise.

The second he hit send, Kai’s heart raced faster than ever before. He locked his phone, tossed it on his bed, and buried his face in his hands.

He couldn’t bear to look at her reply; the waiting felt like an eternity. Minutes passed, but they felt like hours.

Unable to handle the tension, he decided to leave his room and distract himself. He paced around, ran his hands through his hair, and tried to think of anything except her reaction.

What would she say? Would she reject him gently, or would she laugh it off?

Finally, he gathered enough courage to check his phone. The notification was there—Rina had replied. He opened it, bracing himself for the worst.

Rina: Of courseee

Rina: Thanks for telling me!

Rina: Study first!

The words blurred in Kai’s vision as he read her reply. His heart plummeted, and he felt a pang of disappointment. He wasn’t even sure why he was so crushed; he knew Rina was focused on her studies, and he hadn’t expected anything to come of his confession. But reading her response, a simple “study first,” shattered him.

Kai: Thank you!

Rina quickly reacted to his message with a heart emoji. Seeing that little reaction only made his heartbreak more.

After a long moment of staring at the chat, Kai’s hand trembled as he closed his phone. He hadn’t expected her to return his feelings, but he also hadn’t expected the ache that now filled his chest.

With a heavy sigh, he lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the weight of his unrequited feelings.

Trying to ease the pain, he decided to reach out to his best friend, Haruto.

Kai: Hey, Haruto, I finally told Rina how I feel.

A few seconds later, Haruto’s reply came.

Haruto: Whoa! You actually did it? Man, that’s brave of you. So… how’d it go?

Kai took a shaky breath and typed back.

Kai: I couldn’t keep it in anymore. She’s been sending mixed signals, but she also keeps saying ‘study first,’ so it’s confusing. Anyway, I finally told her. Here, I’ll show you what she said.

Kai attached a screenshot of his conversation with Rina and waited, his hands trembling as he relived the painful confession.

Haruto’s reply took a little longer this time, but finally, the message popped up.

Haruto: Cheer up, man! You took a big step, and that’s what counts. Who knows? Maybe her feelings will change over time. At least you were honest.

Kai: Thanks, Haruto.

As Kai read Haruto’s encouraging words, he felt a wave of mixed emotions—relief, sadness, and even a hint of hope.

But deep down, the ache in his chest persisted, lingering as a reminder of what he couldn’t have. He tried to convince himself that he’d done the right thing by confessing, but it didn’t make the pain any easier to bear.

Kai lay in bed, still thinking about her reaction. His mind kept replaying her words, wondering if he’d misread things.

He remembered all the moments they’d shared, all the laughs, the hints, the teasing. He had thought maybe, just maybe, she felt the same way.

But it was clear now—she was focused on her studies, and his feelings were just an unrequited hope.

As he closed his eyes, memories of Rina flooded his mind. He thought of all the times she’d smiled at him, the laughter they’d shared, the way she teased him.

He had cherished each of those moments, reading into them, letting himself believe they meant something more.

But now, as he lay there, he realized that those moments might have only held meaning for him. She was just being friendly, and he’d misread everything.

The ache in his heart deepened, and a single tear slid down his cheek. He whispered to himself, “Why does it hurt so much?” In the silence of his room, he felt the full weight of his emotions.

Suddenly, he found himself scrolling back through their old messages, reading each conversation, each joke, each shared moment.

Each word was a reminder of his feelings for her, feelings she didn’t share. The realization made his chest feel heavy, almost suffocating, but he couldn’t look away.

He kept rereading the messages, clinging to the memories, even though they only brought him more pain.

Finally, exhaustion overtook him, and he closed his eyes, letting the tears flow freely. His mind drifted into sleep, but the pain lingered, leaving him wondering if he would ever be able to move on.

As he drifted off, his last thought was of Rina’s laugh, her smile, and the words “study first” echoing in his mind.

He wondered if he’d ever be able to let go of her. He wondered if he’d always carry this weight in his heart, hoping for something that might never come.

In the quiet darkness, Kai asked himself, Should I confess my feelings again someday? Would it be worth it to hold onto hope? Or is it time to let go?

As sleep finally claimed him, one question lingered: could he really keep pretending, or would his unspoken feelings push him to the edge all over again?