A notification popped up on Ria's phone, the familiar chirp interrupting the post-workshop chatter. It was a picture message from an unknown number, captioned "Back in town! Guess who?"
Intrigued, Ria opened the image. A shock of blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a mischievous grin stared back at her. A name surged through her memory, a name that hadn't surfaced in years: Ethan.
"Ria?" Kai's voice broke through the fog of her surprise. She looked up to see him gazing at her phone, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features.
"It's... it's Ethan," Ria mumbled, her voice barely a whisper. "He's back from Canada."
Ethan had been her best friend growing up, a kindred spirit who shared her passion for art. They'd built sandcastles together, dreamt of artistic futures, and promised to stay connected – promises that life, with its inevitable separations, had slowly eroded.
Kai chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. "Ethan, the childhood friend you used to talk about all the time?"
Ria nodded, a knot of apprehension tightening in her stomach. She didn't know how to feel. Excitement at reconnecting with her old friend warred with a newfound fear of jeopardizing the fragile trust she'd built with Kai.
"What's he doing back?" Kai asked, his voice casual.
Ria shrugged. "The message just said he's in town."
The bell for practice echoed through the gym, shattering the awkward silence. Relief washed over Ria. For now, at least, the conversation was tabled.
The following days were a whirlwind. Ethan, ever the charmer, bombarded Ria with messages and calls, his infectious enthusiasm sparking a sense of nostalgia. They met up for coffee, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they reminisced about old times and shared their dreams for the future. He was just as handsome, perhaps even more so, and his playful demeanor brought a smile to Ria's face.
Meanwhile, basketball practice became strained. Brock, emboldened by the workshop and a newfound respect for Ria, had relaxed his hostility. However, a subtle tension now existed between Kai and Ria. Kai's smiles seemed strained, his jokes less frequent.
One evening, torn between meeting Ethan and attending Kai's game, Ria texted Kai, explaining her dilemma. His reply was curt, a simple "Have fun." The lack of his usual enthusiasm stung.
Later that night, as Ria cheered for Ethan at a local art competition (he'd become a talented photographer), a pang of guilt gnawed at her. She glanced at her phone, devoid of any messages from Kai. Was he playing badly? Was he even thinking of her?
Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was a photo from an unknown number. A crowded gym, the familiar blue and gold of Kai's jersey in the foreground, but the focus was on a girl with long, flowing brown hair, her arm wrapped around Kai's waist, both laughing as they watched the game.
Jealousy, cold and sharp, twisted in Ria's gut. Who was this girl? And was this the reason for Kai's distance?
The night ended on a sour note. Ethan, sensing her withdrawal, pressed for an explanation. Ria, overwhelmed and confused, blurted out everything – her relationship with Kai, the workshop, and now this mysterious new girl.
Ethan's expression hardened. "Kai? Isn't that the guy you used to complain about always being glued to you during practice?"
Ria's heart sank. She realized that the way she'd portrayed Kai to Ethan, in the early days of their renewed friendship, might have been colored by teenage angst. Had she misjudged Kai all along?
The following morning, a text arrived from Kai. "Meet me at the park, usual spot. We need to talk." His words hung heavy in the air, a silent plea for a chance to explain. But as Ria stared at the message, her mind a tangled mess of emotions, another message popped up, this time from Ethan. "Let's blow off your art stuff today. I found a hidden gem of a coffee shop you have to see."
Ria's gaze darted between the two messages, a difficult choice looming before her. On one hand, Ethan offered a familiar comfort, a chance to escape the whirlwind. On the other, Kai's plea for a conversation thrummed with a raw vulnerability she couldn't ignore.
Taking a deep breath, Ria typed a response to Kai, her fingers trembling slightly. "I'll be there," she wrote.
The park bench, usually a haven for whispered secrets and stolen kisses, felt cold and unforgiving as Ria sat down. The gentle rustle of leaves in the cool autumn breeze seemed to mock her anxiety. Minutes ticked by, each one stretching into an eternity. Just as doubt began to gnaw at her, Kai emerged from the trees, his face etched with a mixture of worry and determination.
"Ria," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "Thank you for coming."
Ria nodded, unable to trust her voice yet. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words.
"About the picture," Kai finally blurted, frustration tinging his voice. "That's Arah. She's... a friend. A teammate's little sister, actually. We were just hanging out at her brother's game last night."
Ria felt a flicker of relief wash over her, quickly replaced by a surge of guilt. "Oh," she mumbled, the inadequacy of the word hanging in the air.
Kai sighed, his gaze dropping to his shoes. "Look, I know things have been... weird lately. And I'm partly to blame. When you were talking about meeting Ethan, I... well, I didn't handle it well."
He looked up, his eyes searching hers. "The truth is, Ria, seeing you with him... it made me jealous."
Ria's breath hitched. Jealousy? The very concept, coming from Kai, felt surreal. "But... I thought you didn't like me being at practice," she stammered, confused.
A smile, hesitant but genuine, tugged at the corner of Kai's lips. "Maybe that was my clumsy way of trying to protect... well, protect you from Brock and the others. And maybe," he added, his voice dropping to a whisper, "protect myself from developing feelings I shouldn't have. Yeah, I told you before that we'll just stay as friends because of mom...But we know that we love each other, right?"
Ria's heart pounded in her chest. The unspoken words hung between them, a silent confession mirroring the one swirling in her own heart.
"But then," Kai continued, his voice gaining strength, "the workshop changed things. Seeing you stand up for yourself, seeing the way you connected with everyone... it was amazing, Ria. And it made me realize... I really like you. A lot."
A blush crept up Ria's cheeks. Suddenly, the awkwardness of the past few days melted away, replaced by a warmth that radiated from within.
"I like you too, Kai," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "Maybe more than I should."
A smile bloomed on Kai's face, as bright as the autumn leaves swirling around them. He reached out, his hand hovering over hers. Just as he was about to close the distance, a loud, boisterous voice shattered the tender moment.
"Ria! There you are!"
Ethan emerged from the trees, a wide grin plastered on his face. He stopped short, his gaze flicking between Ria and Kai, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.
"Kai, right?" he said, extending a hand. "Ria's told me a lot about you... maybe not everything though."
Ria's stomach lurched. The weight of her earlier conversation with Ethan and the unspoken confession hanging in the air with Kai threatened to suffocate her.
Kai, ever the quick thinker, shot Ria a reassuring smile before shaking Ethan's hand. "Nice to meet you, Ethan. Ria's told me a lot about you too." His voice held a hint of challenge, a subtle reminder of the unexpected love triangle that had just emerged.
Ria stood there, caught between the past and the present, the familiar comfort of her childhood friend and the blossoming connection with Kai. A million questions swirled in her mind. How would she explain the situation to Ethan? More importantly, what did she truly want? As the tension hung heavy in the crisp autumn air, Ria knew one thing for certain – her heart, once thought settled, was about to embark on a whole new game.