The arrival of Nish was just the spark Raya needed to brighten her routine, and his stay turned into a week filled with excitement and laughter. Nish, being the cheerful and energetic cousin he was, wasted no time in creating plans with Raya. From movie nights to exploring the city, and even impromptu hangouts, their days together felt like an adventure.
That Saturday, Raya invited Jake, Lili, Raiza, Kren, and Josh to join her and Nish for a movie night at her house. It was supposed to be a casual, fun day, but Jake seemed quieter than usual. Nish, unaware of Jake's feelings, stayed close to Raya, sometimes even leaning in to whisper a joke or comment, making her laugh every few minutes. Every time Jake looked over, there was Nish, always close by, sharing moments with Raya that he hadn’t shared before.
When Nish playfully rested his arm around Raya’s shoulders during one of the movie scenes, Jake couldn’t hold back anymore. He cleared his throat, grabbing the popcorn bowl a little too aggressively, and said with a forced smile, “So, Nish, how long are you staying again?”
“Just a week,” Nish replied, grinning as he tossed some popcorn into his mouth. “But I’ll be around enough to make sure my dear cousin here isn’t lonely.”
Raya laughed, but she noticed Jake’s tight-lipped smile. She nudged him lightly. “Hey, you okay?”
Jake shrugged. “Yeah, of course. Just… interesting seeing you with your new best buddy, that’s all.”
Raya frowned, sensing something in his tone, but before she could respond, another movie scene drew everyone’s attention back to the screen.
Throughout the week, Raya’s life seemed to balance between school, studies, and hanging out with Nish. When she’d come home from school, she’d find him waiting, eager to start their plans for the day. Sometimes they’d hit up her favorite street food stalls, chatting over plates of spicy noodles and fried snacks. Other times, they’d play video games or swap stories from childhood.
Jake, however, kept his distance at school, though he couldn’t help sending her messages asking, “So, hanging out with Nish again ?
Raya knew something was off, but every time she tried to bring it up, Jake brushed it off, changing the topic or acting busy. The more he withdrew, the more Raya felt a strange pang in her chest, unsure of what to say to make things right.
During breaks in classes, her friends would tease her about Nish, nudging her with knowing glances as they asked, “Is he single?” or “He seems pretty into you!” Raya laughed it off, explaining that Nish was just her cousin, but Jake always seemed tense whenever he heard the conversation.
Towards the end of the week, Raya found herself buried in homework and assignments. Nish noticed her stress and offered to help, setting up a study session one evening. Jake, learning about the study session, invited himself over, casually dropping by with a stack of study materials and snacks as if it was nothing unusual.
The three of them worked on their assignments, though Jake’s gaze lingered on Nish every now and then. Nish, oblivious to the tension, kept cracking jokes, leaning over to check Raya’s notes and making comments that made her laugh. Jake’s jaw tightened each time, and finally, when Nish went to get some water, he leaned over to Raya.
“So… seems like you two are having a blast, huh?” he muttered, trying to sound casual.
“Yeah, he’s fun to have around,” she replied, sensing his tone.
Jake hesitated, looking down at his notebook. “I just… I dunno, I guess I’m not used to sharing you with someone else.”
Raya felt her heart skip a beat but quickly brushed it off. “Jake, he’s just my cousin. You don’t need to worry.”
Jake gave a half-smile, looking away. “I know, I know… it’s just…” He stopped, his words trailing off as Nish returned, oblivious to the moment they’d just shared.
On the last day of Nish’s stay, Raya and her friends decided to throw him a small farewell . They all went to a local park, enjoying a picnic under the warm sun. Nish, ever the entertainer, kept them laughing with his dramatic impressions and exaggerated stories, while Jake remained unusually quiet.
When it was time for Nish to leave, he hugged Raya tightly, ruffling her hair as he said, “Keep being awesome, okay? And don’t let anyone give you a hard time.”
Jake watched their exchange with a bittersweet look, not saying much but nodding as Nish gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. With a final wave, Nish was gone, leaving an empty feeling in the air.
That night, as Raya lay in bed, she couldn’t shake the strange mix of emotions swirling in her mind. She thought about the week she’d spent with Nish, the laughter, the moments of tension with Jake, and the lingering feeling that something had shifted. As she drifted off to sleep, she realized that her life was becoming more complicated than she’d anticipated, and part of her wondered if things would ever go back to the simple friendship she had with Jake before Nish arrived.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Tomorrow
Fanfiction"Raya, why dream so big? Do you think anyone will really notice you?" Raya glanced at her BTS poster, a quiet determination in her eyes. "It's not about being noticed. It's about proving to myself that I'm capable. They may be stars, but they're als...
