That was the night that would make all the difference. Anxious laughter, unsteady hands, and the electrifying tension of something strictly forbidden yet unavoidable marked the start of the night. Alex and I had always been close. Best friends from childhood, they constantly joke around, tease each other, and violate boundaries that others wouldn't dare.

However, things have changed recently. There was something in the manner he stared at me, the way he stayed a little too long, the gentle touch of his hand against mine.

One evening, while we were sitting on my bed without our textbooks, I whispered quietly, attempting to sound informal, "You've been acting strange.”

His...