Ethan's POV
The decision had been swirling in my mind for days now. It was like this weight, both exciting and nerve-wracking, had settled deep in my chest. I had made up my mind. There was no turning back now. I was going to tell Ella how I truly felt, everything. From the moment I first saw her when we were little, to now, nothing had ever changed. My heart had always belonged to her.
I sat on my bed, phone in hand, typing out a text. First to Khian.
"Hey man, can we meet at Coffee Code later? I need to talk to you about something important."
I stared at the screen for a moment before pressing send. Khian had been my best friend for so long, and I knew I couldn’t do this without talking to him first. Ella was his little sister after all, and I needed his blessing. 
Next, I sent a text to Lily.
"Lily, I’ve got a plan. Meet me at Coffee Code? You’ll want to hear this!"
Her response came almost immediately, filled with excitement and curiosity. Typical Lily.
"Of course! See you there, can’t wait!"
After that, I sent one to Sophie.
"Sophie, I’m putting together something important. Meet us at Coffee Code?"
She was always quick with the replies.
"You know I’m down, just make sure there's food! And what’s this about?!"
I chuckled to myself before sending the last text to Katherine, knowing she’d also want to be there.
"Kathrine, I could really use your help with something. Coffee Code later?"
She replied with her usual calm tone.
"I’m in. See you there."
---
Later that afternoon, I walked into Coffee Code. The familiar smell of coffee and pastries hit me, calming my nerves a little. I spotted Khian first, sitting at a booth in the corner, and then Sophie and Lily right beside him, already chatting away.
I walked over, my heart pounding. As soon as I sat down, Sophie immediately started.
"So, what’s this all about, Ethan?" she asked, grinning. "You look like you’re planning something huge."
Lily, sitting next to Khian, leaned forward with an eager smile. "Yeah, spill it! You’ve got us all curious on our way here."
Before I could reply, Sophie got me interrupted. “On your way, Lily? Or on your way WITH Khain?” She teased. We all glance at the two, Sophie pointing and signaling us to something, hands of Khian wrapped with Lily. 
Oh, this is way more interesting. All of us laugh except the two.
And as I glanced at Khian again, who was sitting quietly but still blushing, waiting for me to start. I took a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly as I placed them on the table.
"I... I’ve decided I’m going to confess my feelings to Ella," I said, the words finally leaving my mouth.
Sophie’s eyes widened, and she leaned back with a dramatic gasp. "Oh my god, it’s happening!" She clapped her hands, grinning ear to ear. And shaking Kathrine while the girl tried to drink her coffee. 
Lily was beaming too, her face lighting up with happiness. "Ethan, that’s amazing!" she said. "I always knew it! You two are meant for each other."
I turned to Khian, the most important person to hear this from. He looked at me for a moment, his expression serious but calm. 
"You sure about this?" Khian finally asked, his voice steady. "Ella’s been through a lot. I just want to make sure you’re ready to take care of her heart."
I nodded, meeting his gaze. "I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Khian. I’ve loved her since we were kids. I just... I want to do this the right way. But I need your blessing."
For a moment, there was silence between us. Then, slowly, Khian’s face softened, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He reached across the table, patting my shoulder.
"You’ve got it, man," he said. "You’ve always been there for her, and I trust you with her heart."
The relief that washed over me was indescribable. I hadn’t even realized how much I needed to hear those words until that moment.
Sophie, of course, couldn’t help but tease. She nudged Lily with her elbow. "Speaking of hearts, what’s going on between these two, huh?" she said, pointing at Khian and Lily. 
Lily’s face turned a deep shade of red again, blushing like a tomato. "Sophie!" she squealed, covering her face with her hands. 
Sophie just grinned, leaning in. "Come on, we all want to know what we missed. You two have been getting awfully close lately. You want me to remind you when I saw both of you having your own world outside the hospital hall?" she squish challenging Lily.
Khian chuckled, shaking his head. "What can I say?" he said, his hand gently squeezing Lily’s. "Some things just happen naturally."
Lily, still red, glanced up at Khian, giving him a shot glare. It was a sweet moment, and it made me feel even more thankful to have these people around me.
"You guys are too cute," Sophie said, laughing. "Honestly, it’s about time."
While they were talking, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. These people, Khian, Lily, Sophie, Katherine, they had always supported me, always been there through everything. Now, they were here to help me plan one of the most important moments of my life.
"Thank you, guys," I said, my voice quieter. "I don’t think I could do this without you."
Lily reached over, giving my hand a squeeze. "You’ve got this, Ethan. Ella’s been waiting for this just as long as you have."
I smiled, feeling more confident than ever. "I want to do it at the park," I said, the plan finally coming together in my head. "The place where I first met her. It feels right."
Khian nodded, his expression softening. "That’s perfect, man. She’ll love it."
As we continued to talk and plan, I couldn’t help but imagine what the moment would be like. The park, the sunset, the look in Ella’s eyes when I finally told her how I felt. It was going to be perfect. I just had to make sure everything went according to plan.
Wait for me, Ella.