Later Became Love

They met because their families were already intertwined-dinners, shared holidays, and conversations that never really ended. But it wasn't until then that they actually noticed each other. At first, it was easy-asaran, sabay uwi, inside jokes no one else understood-the kind of friendship that felt too natural to question. Until it didn't. Because somewhere between late-night talks and almost-confessions, things started to shift-quietly, slowly. And the scariest part? It wasn't falling in love. It was realizing they might lose everything if they did. So they stayed where it was safe, where it was familiar, where they were just friends... or at least, that's what they kept telling themselves.