The dim light in the room cast soft, flickering shadows against the walls. The only source of illumination was the table lamp, its glow barely reaching the corners of the quiet space. Ayliz sat at her study table, lost in thoughts. Her long, open hair cascaded over her slender neck, falling onto the wooden surface before her. The silence in the room was only interrupted by the rhythmic tapping of her pen against the table—tik tok, tik tok—a sound that seemed to echo the storm raging inside her mind.

She had been staring at the blank pages of her notebook for what felt like an eternity, trying to write, trying to distract herself. But the words refused to come. No matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept circling back to the one thing she didn't want to think about.

Frustrated, she suddenly pushed her chair back and stood up.

"Why does it even matter to me?" she muttered under her breath, her own voice trembling with the weight of her emotions. "Why do I care if Zyran talks to Noor? Why do I feel this strange ache?"

Noor was her best friend. She should be happy for her. But then why did it feel like something inside her was breaking? Why couldn't she pull her mind away from him? His voice, his presence, the way he looked at her sometimes—was she imagining it all?

Ayliz shut her eyes tightly, as if trying to erase the thoughts, but they clung to her like an unwelcome shadow.Now, Noor's words kept replaying in her mind like a tape recorder on rewind.

No matter how hard she tried to push them away, they echoed in her head over and over again. Each sentence, each word, each tiny pause—it was all stuck in an endless loop.

No. She needed to talk to someone. She needed answers.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for her phone and scrolled through her contacts before pressing the call button.

Haya.

Haya wasn't just her best friend—she was her soul sister. The only person who knew her heart even before she did. They had grown up together, played in the same streets, shared the same secrets, and laughed at the silliest things. Even when Ayliz's father got transferred, turning their friendship into a long-distance one, nothing had changed between them. Their bond had remained just as strong.

The phone rang, and within seconds, the receiver was picked up.

"Hello!" Haya's voice was full of excitement, as always. "Ayliz! Calling me this late? What's up?"

Ayliz hesitated. Words formed in her mind but refused to leave her lips.

"Haya..." her voice was barely above a whisper.

Haya's excitement immediately turned into concern. "Wait—what happened? Why do you sound so low? Is something wrong?"

Ayliz bit her lower lip, pacing back and forth in her dimly lit room. How was she supposed to say it? How was she supposed to accept that her heart was betraying her?

"Uh... I..." she fumbled, her voice shaking.

Haya groaned in frustration. "Oh, come on! Stop stuttering and just tell me already!"

Ayliz sighed. Haya was the only person who could scold her like this, and she wouldn't mind.

Taking a deep breath, she finally blurted out the words she had been dreading to say.

"It's about... Zyran."

There was a long pause on the other end. Then, in a sharp tone, Haya asked, "Zyran? The same Zyran who was your tuition mate?"

Ayliz swallowed hard. "Yes... him."

Haya's curiosity deepened. "Okay... so what about him?"

Ayliz felt her breath hitch. Her fingers curled into fists as she tried to gather the courage to admit what she barely understood herself. She walked to the window, staring at the moonlit sky as if searching for answers there.

And then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she confessed everything.

How every time Zyran was near, words failed her. How she couldn't look away from him, no matter how hard she tried. How just hearing his name made her heart race. And worst of all—how Noor had said she loved him.

As the words left her lips, Ayliz felt something tighten in her chest—a silent, invisible storm raging within her.

What was she supposed to do now?

There was silence from the other end of the call.

Ayliz frowned, her heart sinking a little. "Haya? Are you there?" she called out, her voice laced with uncertainty.

A few seconds passed before Haya suddenly screamed in excitement. "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! AYLIZ, ARE YOU IN LOVE?!"

Ayliz blinked rapidly, stunned by her reaction. L-Love?

No. No, it couldn't be.

"Nooo! That's not possible!" she quickly denied, shaking her head even though Haya couldn't see her.

Haya, on the other hand, wasn't convinced. She giggled mischievously and said, "Are you lying to me, or to yourself? Because Ayliz... you're so much in love! And I am so happy for you!"

Ayliz stayed silent, her heart pounding as Haya's words sank in. Could this really be love?

Her cheeks turned warm, a deep blush spreading across them. For the first time, she wasn't just feeling these emotions—she was accepting them. She was finally saying it out loud. She could fall in love.

But then—Noor.

The realization hit her like a cold wave. Her smile faltered. Noor was her best friend.

Ayliz's fingers absentmindedly played with the threads of her nightdress as she hesitated before speaking. "But... Haya, Noor likes him. She's my good friend."

Haya went quiet for a moment, thinking. Then, in a softer tone, she asked, "But does Zyran like Noor?"

Ayliz lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting the fabric between them. "No one knows who Zyran likes," she admitted. "What if... what if he doesn't like me either?"

Haya burst into laughter. "Oh, shut up! My best friend is amazing—how can he not like you?" she teased.

Ayliz's heart fluttered at her words, a shy smile forming on her lips.

"And besides," Haya added, "you and Zyran would make the best couple ever!"

Hearing this, Ayliz felt as if she had grown invisible wings. Her heart soared, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. A soft smile tugged at her lips, one she couldn't hide even if she tried.

For the first time in days, she allowed herself to dream.

Maybe, just maybe, this was love.