"Her Secret, His Smile"

Ana admired something about King that she couldn’t easily explain. He lived without worrying about tomorrow, enjoying the present as if the future didn’t exist. To her, that felt… freeing. Interesting. Different from the way she lived her own life—always carrying the weight of her painful past.

And so, despite her hesitation, Ana made a choice. She would speak with him. She would love him.

She gave him her number, but not without a condition.

“I won’t call you,” she said, her voice low but firm. “You have to call me. This is my number.”

King chuckled, his confidence flowing through every word. “Alright. I’ll call you tomorrow. Here’s mine too.”

“Okay… bye.”

“Bye,” he replied casually, almost carelessly.

But the next day, Ana waited and waited. Her heart leapt at every vibration of her phone, but no call came from King. She clenched her fists, whispering to herself, Why hasn’t he called me? Against her own rules, she pressed his number. The line rang once—and then she cut it off, her chest tightening with nervousness.

A moment later, her phone buzzed.

Sorry, I’m at work. I’ll call you later.

Ana exhaled softly and typed back.

“Okay… sure.”

King smirked at his phone. She’s already missing me.

For Ana, this was different. This was her first attempt at love, her first risk. She didn’t know how boys thought, how romance worked—but she wanted to give her best.

That night, her phone lit up again. King was calling

With trembling hands, she answered.

“Hi.”

“Now only I have free time,” his voice was calm, smooth. “So I thought I’d call you.”

Ana smiled faintly, even though he couldn’t see her. “Okay.”

“Sorry for calling this late,” King added.

“It’s fine… no problem,” she reassured him quickly.

“Then tell me,” he teased, “why did you ask me to call?”

Ana hesitated, her heart racing. “I… I forgot to ask you something.”

“Yes?”

“Are you single… or committed?” she whispered.

“Of course I’m single,” King said with confidence. “I

Don’t love anyone. I had too much pain in my past. What about you?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” Ana admitted softly.

“That’s good to hear,” he replied, his voice lighter now.

Ana bit her lip, debating within herself. Should I tell him? Should I risk it? Then, with a deep breath, she let out the secret she had carried for years.

“Do you know one thing? You were my first crush in college.”

There was silence, then King’s surprised laugh. “What? Really?”

“Yes,” she confessed, cheeks burning though he couldn’t see her. “Back then, I thought you were my senior… and that you already had a girlfriend.”

“No,” King said firmly. “I was single. And I wouldn’t have spoken to you, even if you had tried. I only

Focused on my studies. And for your correction—we’re the same age.”

Ana’s voice softened. “I know. I didn’t try to speak to you. It was just… a crush. Nothing big.”

King chuckled again, but this time there was warmth in it. “Still, I’m happy to hear that from you.”

Ana fell silent, unsure of what to say.

“So what about now?” King asked suddenly, his tone playful yet curious. “You don’t still have a crush on me?”

Ana froze. Her heart thudded loudly. “Yes… but now we’re adults, right?”

“So what?” King pressed. “Tell me, Ana. Which year was it?”

“The first year of our college,” she answered softly. “That was the first and last time I saw you. After that, I thought… it would never happen between us.”

“It will,” King said firmly, his voice smooth and confident. “Let’s try. Not a serious relationship… just a date.”

Ana’s lips parted, her breath shaky. Her heart wanted to say yes, but her mind held her back. She closed her eyes, whispering gently—

“Let me… think about that.”

And in that moment, her journey began.

TO BE CONTINUED .....

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