The morning sun filtered through the classroom windows as Raya took her seat, her gaze drifting toward the door, waiting for Jake to walk in. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed between them. When he finally arrived, he didn’t meet her eyes. Instead, he walked past her, barely offering a nod.
At first, she tried to brush it off, thinking he might be having a rough day. But as the day went on, Jake continued to keep his distance. By lunchtime, she felt the knot in her stomach tighten. Her friends, Lili, Raiza, Kren, and Josh, noticed her quietness as they gathered in their usual spot in the courtyard.
“Hey, you okay, Raya?” Lili asked, nudging her.
Raya sighed. “It’s Jake… He’s been acting weird ever since Nish came "
Raiza raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Jealous, maybe?” she teased.
Raya laughed it off, though the thought lingered in her mind. “No, it’s not that. I mean, we’re just best friends… right?”
Kren grinned, leaning in. “Maybe he doesn’t see it that way. You know how guys are; sometimes they don’t even realize they’re crushing on someone until they get a little jealous.”
Raya rolled her eyes, trying to hide her unease. “It’s not like that. Jake and I are just friends. We’ve always been.”
Josh, who had been listening quietly, shrugged. “Friends or not, sounds like you two need to talk it out.”
“Yeah,” Raya agreed, though she felt a nervous twist in her stomach. She resolved to talk to him, to clear the air and make things right.
Later that day, Raya wandered into the school library, hoping for some quiet time. She walked through the rows of shelves, running her fingers along the spines of books, when she spotted Jake sitting alone at a table, his gaze fixed on a book but his mind clearly elsewhere.
Taking a deep breath, she walked over and sat across from him, waiting for him to look up. When he didn’t, she cleared her throat.
“Jake?” she started gently. “Are you avoiding me?”
He glanced up, a flicker of emotion crossing his face before he looked away. “I’m not avoiding you.”
Raya sighed, her frustration mounting. “You haven’t talked to me all day. You’ve barely looked at me since Nish left.”
Jake closed his book, finally meeting her gaze. “I don’t know, Raya. Maybe I just needed some space.”
She frowned, sensing there was more beneath his words. “Space from what?”
Jake hesitated, his jaw tightening as if struggling to hold back something he’d been keeping inside. “It’s just… you and Nish. You looked so happy with him, and I realized… maybe I’m not just your friend.”
Raya felt her heart skip a beat, her eyes widening. Before she could say something , Jake’s restraint snapped. He leaned across the table, his hand reaching out to gently cup her cheek as he closed the distance between them. Before she could process what was happening, his lips met hers, a soft but intense kiss filled with emotions he could no longer hide.
The library fell away, the world blurring as Raya felt the warmth of his touch, her mind struggling to catch up with her heart. But as the reality of the moment sank in, she pulled back, her eyes wide with confusion and shock.
Without a word, she stood up, her heart racing as she hurried out of the library. Jake sat there, watching her leave, his own heart heavy with the weight of what had just happened.
For both of them, it was a moment that had changed everything, and neither of them knew if things would ever be the same.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Tomorrow
Fanfic"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...
