'I found myself missing her every hour, and what made it worse was that it caught me off guard. I would catch myself aimlessly walking around, trying to forget her, not for any particular reason, but out of habit. There were moments when I wanted to share something with her or hear her voice, only to realize that she was no longer mine. And every time, without fail, it felt like the wind was knocked out of me.
I know I'm supposed to move on, I know I'm supposed to forget her. But I know I'm not supposed to stay up too late. And I know I shouldn't be drinking. But none of that changes the fact that I still love her. I still want her back. I would do anything, absolutely anything, just to have her back.'
I am already convinced that this diary is all about expressing his unsaid feelings towards his ex. 
Sometimes, I can't help but feel like it was destined for me to find this diary, as a reminder to let go of my feelings for Liam. No matter what, he will never like me back. Everything he shows me is just superficial. He's only being kind because we're friends.
——–
I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock. I realized that I dozed off last night while reading Liam's diary. I put the diary aside and got out of bed to get ready for school.
 
Mom wasn't home, so our driver would be taking us to school. I was about to get into the car while waiting for Briana when Liam suddenly messaged me, saying he was outside the gate. What could he be doing there, and if he had something to say, why didn't he just wait until school later?
 
I went outside, and there he was leaning against his car. I raised an eyebrow at him. "What's your deal? Aren't you going to school yet?!"
He walked towards the passenger seat door and opened it. "Get in. Let's go to school together." He ordered me.
I furrowed my brow at his words. What's gotten into him? Now he wants us to go to school together. I want my feelings for him to disappear, but it seems like that won't happen with the way he's acting. I really wish we could go back to the days when he was distant whenever we were together.
 
"Someone will drop us off. Thanks anyway." I turned around and was about to go back inside when he said something that made me pause.
 
"Are you going to ride or do you want me to carry you to my car?" he threatened.
 
"As if you can this time," I retorted.
 
He started walking towards me. He seemed determined to do it again. This guy is really getting on my nerves!
 
"Fine, whatever. I'll ride," I muttered as I walked towards his car. He laughed after he got inside. "You just like being scared, don't you?" I just rolled my eyes in response. I messaged our driver to let them know that he doesn't need to wait for me because I'll be going to school with Liam. 
"By the way, where's your sister?" I changed the topic.
 
"Still sleeping. Looks like they got really tired from their trip last night. What did you do to her that you're so close now?"
 
"Nothing. We just found out that we both love K-pop."
 
He sighed at my words. "What's so special about them that you both like them so much? I'm even more handsome than them."
 
I laughed at what he said. "You look so highly of yourself, don't you?" He just grinned in response.
We remained silent for a few minutes until I couldn't help but ask again.
 
"Can I ask another question?"
 
He glanced at me briefly and then shifted his gaze back to the road. "Aren't you asking already?" He teased.
 
"You're such a pain in the ass. Stop being sarcastic!"
 
He laughed. "Fine, what is it?"
 
"I was just curious, where's your dad?" His expression suddenly changed when I said that.
 
"Don't you know yet?" He raised an eyebrow at me.
 
"How would I know if you don't say anything?" Is he crazy? That's why I'm asking.
 
"Even if I don't say anything, you'll still find out." He said seriously, staring at the road.
 
"What are you talking about?"
 
"Never mind. Where's your dad?" I fell silent at his words.
 
I forced a smile at him. "Tell me where your dad is first before I tell you about mine."
He parked the car. "I think now is not the time for us to talk about that." I didn't wait for him to open the door for me. I got out when he was getting out.
 "I'll just tell you when you find out about it." I've been confused about what he's been saying since earlier.
 
"How would I know if you don't tell me? And what are you saying, 'when I find out?' You're so confusing to talk to sometimes."
 
"You know what, let's just go to the classroom." He suddenly pulled me and walked arm in arm with me. What's happening with this guy? I know we're close now, but I'm surprised by the things he's doing.
"Liam, please stop holding my arm. Everyone is whispering and looking at us! They might think something." I whispered to him as we walked. I tried to remove his arm from my shoulder, but he was so strong.
 
"Don't mind them. They know we're friends, right? It's not forbidden for friends to walk arm in arm." He replied, looking straight ahead, ignoring the people around us.
 
I could do nothing but look at the ground as we walked.
 
As we entered the classroom, we were immediately greeted by curious stares. What's wrong with these people? Liam isn't even holding onto me anymore.
 
"Do I have something on my face?" I asked him.
 
"No, you don't. How about me?"
 
"Nothing either. Why is everyone staring at us?"
 
He just shrugged. We sat down in our seats, close to where Ken and Sophie were sitting.
The two of them looked mischievously at us.
"Why are you looking at us like that?" Liam asked.
 
"Just admit it, are you two together now?" Sophie said, leaving both of us dumbfounded.
 
"What are you talking about?" I asked them in confusion.
 
Ken suddenly faced his phone. Liam quickly grabbed it and looked at the screen.
 
There was a new post on Buzzworthy Scoop, and to our surprise, it was a picture of the two of us. What's even more shocking is that the picture was just taken earlier. We were walking in the hallway with Liam's arm around me. Wow, gossip spreads so fast! We didn't even realize someone had taken a photo of us.
 
'What's the deal with the connection between Mira and Liam, the two Senior High students? They seem to have a close bond in this photo, and while we know they are part of the same group of friends, is there something more than just friendship between them?
 
Speaking of which, Liam's diary was still missing. According to a so-called reliable source, its whereabouts remain unknown, and it is still missing to this day'.
 
I bit my lip in frustration because of the caption. I knew this would happen. And whoever that reliable source is referring to the diary, they're not that reliable because they don't know that I have it.
I quickly grabbed my phone and looked at the comments.
 
'Bitch, Liam is mine!'
 
'Wow! That was fast. I thought the girl just had a crush on Liam.'
 
'I didn't know Liam was into that kind of type.'
 
'He's just passing time with her.'
 
'They don't match. We're a better fit!'
 
'Such a flirt!'
 
All the comments seemed to be directed at me. It would have been nice if they were saying something positive, but they weren't. I stopped reading the comments because they were piercing through me.
 
"Well, Liam can be theirs then! Let them have him.excusesso annoying, as is Liam even wants them. I'm aware that I'm not his type, but are they aware of that? So frustrating!"
 
I turned off my phone and looked at Liam. "I already told you not to wrap your arms around me!" I exclaimed, hitting his arm.
He let out a sigh. "Just let them say whatever they want. It's not true anyway." The way he said it, it seemed like he didn't care at all. Well, he's used to being the subject of gossip on that page.
 
"Ah, so you two really aren't a thing?" Ken said, sounding somewhat disappointed. Actually, both Ken and Sophie seemed to be disappointed.
 
"That was just a stupid rumor. I just walked arm in arm with her."
 
"Why did you even do that?" Sophie asked, curious.
 
"I just felt like it. We're friends, so I don't think there's anything wrong with that."
 
"As if! You can't even walk arm in arm with me. Your excuse are so lame!" Sophie retorted.
 
"There's Ken, why don't you walk arm in arm with him?" Liam didn't wait for Sophie to reply and shifted his gaze to me. "Mira, do you have a crush on me? That's what the comment said."
 
I immediately froze and looked at Sophie and Ken, who were clearly surprised by Liam's question and trying to hold back their laughter. I just raised an eyebrow at them and turned my gaze back to Liam. "N-no! Why would I have a crush on you? Your face is so annoying!"
He was about to speak, but we were all interrupted when Ace and Briana entered the classroom together.
 
I saw Sophie smirk. "So they're really together now." She whispered.
 
"Did Briana put a spell on him?" Ken commented from behind us.
 
We were even more taken aback when they both walked towards us. Ace sat next to Liam, while Briana approached Sophie.
 
"Can we talk?" She asked softly.
 
It seemed like this was the conversation that Ace and Briana had last night. I couldn't believe that Briana was actually going to do it.
 
Sophie looked at me and then turned her gaze back to Briana. "About what?" She said, sounding annoyed.
 
"Can we talk outside?"
 
From the look on Sophie's face, it seemed like she had no intention of talking to her.
 
I held her arm. "Go on, Sophie." I insisted.
 
"Fine." She muttered as she stood up and headed outside. Briana followed her immediately.
 
I just hope Briana doesn't have any ill intentions.
 
"Do you think their conversation will go well?" I asked Ace.
 
"I'm hoping. I hope it goes smoothly."
 
"Wait, what's going on?" Ken asked, confused. Oh right, he doesn't know anything.
 
We explained everything that happened last night to Ken. "Ah, I see. So why weren't you there? Shouldn't you have been there too?"
 
"Maybe the conversation would have gotten even more chaotic if I were there. It's better for me to let them talk first before I talk to Sophie alone."
 
The three of us just exchanged glances at Ace's answer.
Sophie's POV
 
I crossed my arms and looked at her. "What do we need to talk about? Do you want me to congratulate you because you've succeeded in stealing Ace?" I said, trying to show her that I'm unaffected. I wanted to show her that I'm okay, that I'm not hurt, that I don't care.
 
I was surprised when Briana suddenly knelt in front of me.
 
"Sophie, I'm sorry."
 
What is she doing? Is she playing another one of her dramas?
 
The students whispered and stared at us in the school garden. I felt someone taking a picture of us. If I know, I'll be included in the post on Buzzworthy Scoop just like Mira.
 
I know she wants to make me look like the bad one and herself look pitiful. I don't know why she's doing this, but it annoys me.
"Can you not, Briana? Stop making everyone think you're pitiful. Stand up! Don't kneel in front of me because I know you're just putting on a show again!"
 
She didn't listen to me and continued kneeling.
 
"I'm sorry, Sophie. I'm really sorry." She repeated. Damn it, what else can her sorry do?
 
I was so frustrated that I couldn't believe she was actually apologizing to me now. I had no choice but to match her level. I sat in front of her so it wouldn't look like she was kneeling to me. "Briana, what the heck! I don't have time for your freakin' game! Just say what you want to say. Curse at me, laugh at me, insult me because Ace is now yours!"
She looked at me. Tears suddenly streamed down her face, surprising me. Oh crap, she's even crying. So what should I do? Do I need to comfort her now? "I'm sorry. What you saw at the ball, that was just a misunderstanding. I didn't intend to kiss him. I was feeling miserable that night and mistakenly thought he was my ex." I laughed at what she said. Did she really think I would believe her? Of course not. Do I look like a fool to her? I removed her hand that was holding onto me.
 
I stood up again, and so did she, then she faced me. "You think I would believe your lies? I know the truth, Briana! You really planned to kiss him and he wanted it too! You'll never fool me!"
 
I was about to leave, but she grabbed my arm, making me stop. "Just hear me out, please." I closed my eyes. Briana is so different now. It's hard to believe her actions towards me. She's so far from the Briana I know.
 
"I know I've told you before that I would take Ace away from you. I understand it's difficult to believe, but I've come to realize that I was wrong. I've realized that I shouldn't sabotage relationships just because I have feelings for someone. I've done that in the past with Mira and your brother, and I regret it deeply."
I didn't speak and just let her talk. I observed her as she spoke. I wanted to think that she was just lying, but that's not what I saw because she seemed serious with every word she uttered.
 
"I should be content with the closeness we share now. There's nothing I can gain from stealing him from you. He loves you, Sophie. Ace loves you so much, and from what I see, he can't live without you anymore. Please believe me, Sophie."
 
I don't want to. I don't want to believe her.
 
"If everything you're saying is true, why did you change your mind so quickly? Why is it so easy for you to say all of this to me now?"
 
She forced a smile and said, "I used to think that I liked him because of who he is, but it turns out that's not the case. As time went on, I realized that I only liked him because he reminded me of my ex. They were so alike. And when I saw my ex again for the second time, that's when I realized that I still love him. Believe me, Sophie. Everything I'm saying is true."
It seemed she noticed that I still didn't believe her, so she spoke again.
 
"Ace asked me to talk to you. You can even ask Liam and Mira. He came to my house just to talk to me. Do you think I would agree to what he wanted if I just wanted to ruin your relationship? No. I agreed because I wanted things to be okay between you two. If it weren't for me, neither of you would be hurting right now."
 
I suddenly cried after that. I don't know why, but I just let Briana hug me. I do hate her and I don't want to believe her, but she got me. I know this time that everything she said to me is true.
 
After our conversation, I stayed where we talked earlier. I just needed some air and time to think.
 
"Hey, can we talk?" I didn't need to look back to know who it was. I just let him sit beside me. "Sophie, I'm sorry."
 
Finally, I have the guts to face him. "The misunderstanding between us was my fault, Ace. I should have listened to you and not let assumptions get in the way. I'm sorry, too."
 
He embraced me tightly, and I couldn't hold back my tears once again. "I thought I was going to lose you. I was filled with fear, Sophie. It made me realize how much I love you and how much I need you in my life."
 
I was unable to respond as my tears began to flow, pouring down uncontrollably. My emotions made it impossible for me to find the right words to say.
 
He let go of the embrace and faced me. "I'm so sorry for causing you that pain. I never want to be the reason for your tears. I love you more than words can express. Please, forgive me. Let's give our relationship another chance.
 
I looked into his eyes and all I could see was sincerity and the love he has for me. I couldn't help myself but kiss him. It's the only best response I can give him.
 
In that moment, all doubts and fears faded away, replaced by a sense of hope and a deep bond between us.