Her Unrequited Love Unspoken Connections

Episode 2: Unspoken Connections

Thalia

(typing) Hey, Payne. Can we meet up for lunch today?

Payne

(typing) Of course! Is something up?

Thalia

(typing) Yeah, I need to talk.

Thalia

(thinking) I can't keep my feelings bottled up like this.

At the café, Thalia sat across from Payne, the aroma of coffee filling the air.

Payne

(concerned) Ali, you seem really tense. What's going on?

Thalia

(nervous) I... I spent time with the guy from the rooftop last night.

Payne

(interested) Wait, the mysterious one who yelled at you during the storm?

Thalia

(nodding) Yeah, it's strange, but he's not so bad.

Payne leaned forward, intrigued by Thalia's revelation.

Payne

(teasing) So, did you discover his hidden identity?

Thalia

(chuckles) Not yet, his features are hidden in the shadows

Thalia

But there's something about him... something that makes me feel understood.

Payne

(smirking) Sounds like you've found yourself a secret ally.

Thalia's cheeks turned slightly pink at the thought.

Thalia

(blushing) It's not like that, Payne.

Payne laughed, a knowing glint in her eyes.

Payne

(playful) Whatever you say, Ali. Just remember, secrets have a way of coming out.

Lunchtime passed by, and class hours have began

Preparing for their P. E class, Thalia stood at the edge of the school field, her gaze fixed on Jaehan as he chatted with his friends. Her thoughts drifted between her unspoken feelings and the memories of their shared past.

Thalia

(Why is it so hard to tell him? What if it ruins everything? We've been friends for so long, and I don't want to risk losing that.)

Thalia

(Maybe it's better to keep things the way they are. Our friendship is too precious to gamble with my feelings.)

As she continued to watch Jaehan, lost in her thoughts, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.

？？？

(curious) Staring at my cousin, huh?

Startled, Thalia turned around to find someone standing there, a mischievous smile on their face. She blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Thalia

(surprised) Oh, I... uh.

The stranger's gaze was playful and curious, as if they were trying to figure something out.

？？？

(smirking) Seems like you've got something on your mind.

Thalia

(nervous) It's nothing, really. Just... lost in thought.

The stranger's eyes held a hint of amusement as they studied Thalia

？？？

(teasing) Hmm, lost in thought while gazing at Jaehan. Interesting.

Thalia

(blushing) No, it's not like that. He's just a friend.

The stranger's smirk persisted, as if they were enjoying this little game of words.

？？？

(playful) Friends don't usually get stared at like that.

Thalia

(nervous) Well, it's not what you think.

With a chuckle, the stranger's teasing seemed to intensify.

？？？

(teasing) Relax, I'm just messing with you.

Thalia's cheeks remained flushed as she tried to find her footing in the conversation.

Thalia

(nervous) Right, well, thanks for the... chat.

As the stranger turned to leave, Thalia couldn't shake the feeling that they had a deeper understanding of her thoughts than she expected.

Thalia

(thinking) Who was that? And why did they seem to see right through me? Is there something about me that's so obvious?

Later that day, Thalia found herself walking through the school hallway, lost in thought about the encounter with the mysterious stranger. Her mind replayed their conversation, wondering about the person who seemed to know more than they let on.

Thalia

(thinking) Who could that person be? And why were they so interested in why I was looking at Jaehan?

As Thalia turned a corner, she nearly collided with Payne, who had a concerned expression on her face.

Payne

(concerned) Hey, Ali! You look like you're in another world.

Thalia

(shaking her head) Sorry, Payne. I'm just... thinking about something.

Payne

(curious) Is it about that mysterious person you were talking to by the school field earlier?

Thalia

(surprised) How did you know about that?

Payne chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Payne

(playful) Rumors spread quickly, you know. So what's the scoop?

Thalia hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal.

Thalia

(careful) Not much, really. Just a casual conversation.

Payne raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying Thalia's attempt at downplaying the encounter.

Payne

(teasing) Casual conversation? The kind that has you lost in thought all day?

Thalia

(blushing) Okay, maybe it was more than just casual. But I have no idea who the person is.

Payne grinned, clearly enjoying Thalia's flustered state.

Payne

(amused) A mysterious stranger, huh? Sounds intriguing.

Thalia

(sighs) I just can't shake the feeling that they saw right through me.

Payne's expression softened, and she placed a reassuring hand on Thalia's shoulder.

Payne

(supportive) Whoever they are, Ali, maybe they're just perceptive. And maybe it's time to be a little more honest with yourself.

Thalia

(thoughtful) I know, Payne. It's just... complicated.

Payne gave her a knowing smile before her expression turned mischievous again.

Payne

(teasing) Well, just remember, I'm always here to listen to your confessions, rooftop or not.

Thalia rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Thalia

(playful) Thanks a lot, Payne.

As they continued walking together, Thalia couldn't help but feel grateful for her friend's support and the unexpected encounter that had set her thoughts in motion.

Thalia arrived home, her thoughts still swirling with the events of the day. She pushed open the front door and was immediately greeted by the sound of her sister's voice.

Althea

(sarcastic) Look who decided to grace us with her presence.

Thalia turned to see her older sister, Althea, standing in the hallway with a smirk on her face. Althea's tone was dripping with sarcasm, a familiar sensation that Thalia had grown accustomed to over the years.

Thalia

(weary) Hi, Althea.

Althea

(mocking) "Hi, Althea." How original.

Thalia's shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of her sister's words already beginning to take their toll.

Thalia

(weary) Can we not do this right now?

Althea stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she appraised Thalia.

Althea

(mocking) Oh, what's the matter? Did someone finally notice you at school? Or did you trip and fall in front of everyone again?

Thalia

(defensive) Leave me alone, Thea.

Althea

(smirking) Oh, don't be so sensitive, Thalia. You're the one who keeps embarrassing herself.

Thalia's fists clenched at her sides, her sister's words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit.

Thalia

(struggling to stay composed) Just... let me go to my room, okay?

Althea

(taunting) Off to dream about your precious Jaehan? Or maybe your rooftop friend?

Thalia's cheeks burned with a mixture of anger and humiliation.

Thalia

(voice shaking) You have no idea what you're talking about.

Althea's laughter echoed through the hallway as Thalia hurriedly retreated to her room, the weight of her sister's hurtful words lingering long after she had shut the door behind her.

Thalia sat on her bed, her heart heavy with the weight of her sister's hurtful words. She stared out the window, lost in thought about the events of the day—the unexpected encounter, the supportive words from Payne, and now, the harsh reality of her home life.

Thalia

(thinking) Why does Althea always have to be so cruel? And why does her opinion matter to me

As the evening sky darkened, Thalia's phone buzzed with a new message. She picked it up and saw a text from Payne.

Payne

(text) Hey, Thal. I know today was tough. Just remember, you're stronger than you think. And you deserve to be happy.

Thalia's lips curled into a small smile as she read Payne's words of encouragement. In that moment, she realized that despite the challenges she faced, she had people in her corner who believed in her.

Thalia

(thinking) Maybe it's time I started believing in myself too.

With a renewed sense of determination, Thalia set her phone aside and leaned back against her pillows. The events of the day had left her with a mix of emotions, but one thing was clear—change was on the horizon.

As she closed her eyes, her thoughts unexpectedly drifted back to the stranger she had encountered by the school field. A hint of curiosity tugged at the edges of her mind, and she couldn't shake the feeling that their paths might cross again sooner than she thought.