To love from a short distance is to love someone who is within arm's reach yet so far. To love someone you can't quite have. Someone who's just supposed to be a friend. But oh, how can you stop a heart from falling in love? Sure, there are other boys a lot better looking than he was, but still—he was different. A patient and respectful person. The type of guy you could annoy relentlessly, but who would never lash out at you. Gentle and soft. A guy who never acted upon his emotions. Someone warm, a comfort when life gets rough. The listener to endless yelling sessions; the one who understood me without me needing to explain. An intelligent and humble person. Even though I was the top student in our class, I always came to him for help with certain subjects. He was the one who'd teach math concepts I didn't understand without making me feel stupid. Well, he did make me feel stupid one day. Stupidly in love. I never thought I'd fall in love with the guy I promised not to admire. Maybe I was just in denial from the beginning of our friendship. After all, it slowly built over time. And so, I confessed but forced a rejection from him. I just didn't want to fall in love anymore—even though it was already one of the best experiences I've had. I know I am afraid of losing him—but it was better for him to at least know than to never know at all. Turns out, he felt the same but did what I did: hide and run away from the feeling. I pleaded for him to reject me. I didn't want to hurt myself anymore, so he did—even if he was feeling conflicted with my sudden confession. What if I had just told him sooner? Would I have had the chance to be that person like I view him to be? Sure, it hurts, but it's for the best. What has been done is done. It's too late anyways. He already likes someone else. He decided to move on. I wanted the same thing, but it does hurt a little to see him fall in love with someone else who isn't me. I wonder where this will take us in the future. Will we drift apart, or keep our friendship like nothing secretly developed between us? But for now, it's my choice whether to keep moving forward and meet new people, or stay and love patiently from a short distance. - ms. kae /ᐠ. .ᐟ\ [11.03.25]