almost trilogy #1
Hara Sloane Ynares--a smart, strong-willed girl who always stood her ground--never expected to fall in love with her boy best friend. She was proud, guarded, and used to being in control of her emotions.
At first, she denied it. She told herself it wasn't real, that it was just a passing feeling. But every time he showed her kindness, every time he chose to stay when he didn't have to, she felt her walls slowly breaking.
Her feelings for him were like Gerberas-gentle yet resilient. They bloomed quietly, even without sunlight. They glowed in the dark, even without being seen. She loved him in silence, with everything she had, even when he kept his distance. Even when he made her feel like she was asking for too much.
Now she wonders: if Gerberas are left unwatered, will they wither away just like her love might? Or will they continue to bloom, even in the middle of a storm, even when it hurts, even when it's slowly dying?
"We said goodbye for the sake of growing up. But growing up didn't mean moving on."
At Rosebridge University, Mirabel and Caden meet again-not as lovers, but as best friends carrying unspoken history.
They broke up in high school when Mirabel's grades slipped, and she blamed the distraction of love. Caden let her go, believing they'd find their way back someday. But now that "someday" is here, everything is more complicated than he ever imagined.
She's stronger. He's quieter. And their hearts? Still speaking the language of "what ifs."
But in between stolen glances, late-night talks, and buried memories, their story is far from over. Because sometimes, letting go was never the end. It was just the pause before everything changed.