Title: "Five Years, Still Crushing"
Have you ever had a crush that lasted so long, it became part of your personality?”
Because I have.
Five years.
Five whole years of watching from the sidelines — while he lit up the court, the halls, the hearts of literally every girl who breathed the same air.
Jonley.
Basketball star. Campus royalty. The kind of guy who could make you forget how to speak in complete sentences just by walking past.
And me?
Invisible.
Just the girl who sat quietly in the back, pretending to read a book while secretly memorizing the way he ran his fingers through his hair after a game.
But college changed something.
And today?
He looked at me.
Not once. Not by accident. But again and again. From across the court, through the crowd — like he was searching for something, and I was the answer.
Raven, my best friend, nudged me with a smirk.
> “You’re dying inside, aren’t you?”
Yes. Yes, I was.
And then, right when I thought I could sneak away and pretend it was all in my head… he was there. At the gate. With his friends.
Waiting.
And when I tried to walk past him like the shy little ghost I’d always been?
He grabbed my hand.
I froze. My heartbeat? Gone. Brain? Gone. Dignity? Gone.
The other girls stared, whispered, glared.
He pulled me closer.
And I had one question in my head:
Was this real — or was five years of crushing finally making me hallucinate?
---
His fingers were still around my wrist. Warm. Firm. My heart nearly tripped over itself.
“Uh... Jonley?” I stuttered.
He didn’t say anything at first. Just looked down at me with those unreadable, sharp eyes. The world felt like it paused—like even the noisy traffic outside our college gate went mute for a second.
“You walk past me every day,” he said, voice low and steady. “But never once looked at me properly.”
I blinked. Wait... what?
My brain went static. My heart? Dancing salsa.
He let go of my wrist slowly, like I was something fragile. “You act like you don’t see me,” he added, almost like a challenge.
Something inside me snapped. Nerves? Burned. I raised my chin, met his gaze with a newfound boldness.
“Well, maybe you just weren’t worth looking at before.”
His brows twitched. One heartbeat. Two.
Was that... was Jonley blushing?
I saw his Adam's apple bob as he looked away, stuffing his hands in his pockets like a shy boy caught stealing glances.
Ohhh, this power… I liked it.
“Anyway,” I smiled sweetly, “thanks for the hand grab. Real smooth, Mr. Popular.”
I turned to walk away, swinging my hips just slightly. But before I could take three steps—
“Wait.”
His voice again. Rougher now.
I turned.
He stepped closer this time, less shy, more intense. He leaned down to my ear.
“You’ll look at me tomorrow, right?”
I bit my lip, holding in the grin.
“Depends. Impress me.”
He smirked, and I swear the tension could set off fireworks.
And from across the street, I could see Raven watching everything like she was watching her favorite drama episode. Girl had popcorn in her soul.
After that kiss in class? Oh, he was wrecked. Fully flustered, jaw clenched, hands twitching like he didn’t know whether to hold me close or back away and pray for strength.
Too bad for him — I wasn’t done.
After class, I accidentally brushed past him again, way too close. He froze like a short-circuited robot. I could practically hear Windows XP crashing in his brain.
Later, in the quiet library corner where no one goes?
I found him.
Leaning against a shelf, hoodie half-zipped, scrolling his phone like he wasn’t waiting for me. I strutted up — yes, strutted — and stood right in front of him.
> “You avoiding me, cold boy?” I teased, one hand on my hip.
He didn’t answer.
He just looked at me.
Then his hands moved — smooth but not subtle — first to my hips. Tight grip. Then slid up my back, slow like molasses. I gasped — just enough to make him smirk.
But two can play this game.
I leaned in, let my hand slide down his chest, slow and confident, until I traced lazy circles on his waistband. His smirk wobbled.
> “You okay?” I whispered. “You look like you're overheating.”
> “I’m trying to behave,” he muttered, lips inches from mine.
> “That’s adorable,” I said, voice honey-sweet. “But boring.”
He growled under his breath and pulled me closer. My back hit the shelf with a gentle thud, his hands trailing down — hips, thighs — and that’s when I tilted my head, eyes all innocent.
> “You really can’t resist me, can you?” I whispered.
His ears turned bright red.
BOOM. Victory.
> “You’re evil,” he muttered.
> “And you love it.”
--------
It was just another usual day. I was late to class, tripping over my own feet, clutching my books and iced coffee like my life depended on them. Raven walked beside me, trying not to laugh.
“What if he asks you to prom?” she whispered.
I scoffed. “Jonley? The guy I’ve crushed on since high school? Yeah right. He probably doesn’t even—”
> “Hey.”
I froze.
I turned.
And there he was, standing in the hallway like he owned the universe. Hands in pockets. Cold. Effortless. Dangerous smile.
> “You free Saturday night?”
“For?” I blinked.
“Prom.”
Just like that. No roses. No speech. Just confidence.
I tried not to melt. “Are you asking me?”
He leaned a little closer, voice low. “I don’t ask twice.”
Raven behind me? Screaming internally.
Me?
I smirked. “Well, lucky for you... I say yes the first time.”
He raised a brow, surprised. I winked, walked off, hips swaying just enough to mess with his head.
Behind me, I heard Raven whisper, “Girl, you just cooked him alive.”
---
The gymnasium had never looked so magical. String lights twinkled above our heads, the scent of roses and punch in the air, and everyone dressed like they’d stepped out of a teen movie.
I wasn’t expecting him to be early. But there he was.
Jonley — tall, brooding, ridiculously handsome — leaning against the wall like the world was his and we were just guests in it. His tie slightly loosened, his sleeves rolled, and his cold eyes locked on me the moment I walked in.
I didn’t even get the chance to blink.
He walked right up to me, slid one hand into his pocket, and said, “You look... annoying.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
He smirked. “Annoyingly hot.”
My jaw dropped. Raven beside me coughed on her punch. “Did he just—?”
Jonley didn’t wait. He held out his hand like it was obvious. “Dance with me.”
People stared. I stared. But my feet moved before my brain did.
On the dance floor, his hand found my waist and mine rested on his chest, feeling how fast his heart was racing. He might’ve looked calm, but I knew better. Especially when I leaned up and whispered, “Nervous, Jonley?”
He looked down at me, eyes flaring. “You’re dangerous.”
“I’ve been in love with you for five years. Thought it was about time you noticed,” I teased.
“I noticed,” he admitted. “Especially that one time you thought you were alone and started talking to your reflection—calling yourself a ‘future basketball wife’.”
My eyes widened. “You WHAT—?!”
He laughed. “You also once tripped while stalking me during practice, landed on a bench and pretended to be asleep.”
“I WAS RESTING MY EYES!” I cried.
More laughter. A few students even turned to look.
Then suddenly, the music changed.
And so did everything else.
Jonley stepped back, fished something from his pocket, and just like that—got down on one knee. In front of everyone.
I froze.
“Five years,” he said, “and I kept telling myself you were just a phase. That you’d forget me. But you never did. And the truth is—I never forgot you either.”
He held out a ring. Not real gold. Not even silver. Just something shiny and sweet. But it felt more valuable than anything else.
“I know this is crazy, but… will you be my prom date and my girl?”
I gasped dramatically. “No.”
He blinked. “Wait—”
“I mean, I should say no. Right?” I teased, walking in circles around him, smirking. “Make you suffer for five years of radio silence. For watching me embarrass myself and not doing anything.”
Raven was choking with laughter.
Girls glared. Teachers paused.
Jonley’s ears went red. “Okay, I deserve that.”
“But…” I finally stopped. “You’re lucky I like crazy.”
I grabbed his collar, pulled him up, and kissed him right in front of the entire gym. Cheering erupted. Someone screamed. Raven sobbed fake tears.
He whispered against my lips, “I’m never letting you go now.”
And I whispered back, “Good. ‘Cause I’ve got so much teasing to make up for.”
---
THE END
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