The afternoon sun filtered softly through the tall library windows, painting golden patterns across the wooden tables.
It was quiet.
Peaceful.
Pearl liked it.
She sat by the corner table with Mia, books spread open in front of them as they worked on their assignments.
The silence felt calming.
Pearl was reading through her notes when whispers from the nearby shelves caught her attention.
A group of girls stood there, talking excitedly.
And once again—
she heard that name.
Leo.
One girl sighed dreamily.
“Do you know how lucky anyone would be to even be friends with Leo?”
Another giggled.
“He barely talks to anyone.
That’s what makes him even more attractive.”
A third girl smiled proudly.
“Forget all of you.
I’ll be the one who becomes his friend first.”
Pearl lifted her eyes slightly.
The girl speaking was beautiful.
Confident.
Elegant.
Mia leaned closer and whispered,
“That’s Sofia.”
Pearl looked at her.
“Who?”
Mia smiled faintly.
“One of the most popular girls in school.
Right after Leo.”
Sofia crossed her arms and looked at her friends with confidence.
“Watch me,” she said.
“I’ll prove I’m the prettiest girl in this school by making Leo my friend.”
Her friends laughed excitedly.
One of them said,
“If anyone can do it, it’s you.”
Pearl quietly listened.
Mia rolled her eyes and leaned closer.
“She’s dreaming.”
Pearl blinked.
“What?”
Mia whispered,
“Leo doesn’t make friends with girls.
Everyone knows that.
He keeps his distance from everyone.”
Pearl nodded slowly.
But for some reason—
the strange heaviness in her chest didn’t go away.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of her book.
Why?
It wasn’t like she cared.
She had never even seen him properly.
She had never wished for someone like Leo to notice her.
Then why…
Why did hearing another girl talk about him like that make her feel this sad?
Pearl looked down at her book, confused by her own emotions.
Was it jealousy?
No.
That would be ridiculous.
She didn’t even know him.
And yet…
the thought of someone else being close to him made her heart ache in a way she couldn’t explain.
Before she could think more—
The library doors suddenly opened.
A girl rushed inside, breathless.
“Sofia!” she called.
Everyone turned.
The girl grinned excitedly.
“Leo’s coming to the library!”
Sofia’s eyes lit up instantly.
Her friends gasped and fixed their hair quickly.
Mia froze.
Pearl’s heartbeat skipped without reason.
And before anyone could move—
Footsteps echoed outside the library doors
With Love Kiaan