The exam week had settled into a steady rhythm — long hours of study, quick breaks filled with nervous laughter, and late-night messages exchanged between Nina, Pim, and Fah. Despite the pressure, the trio clung tightly to the fragile threads of their friendship, each moment together a small sanctuary amid the chaos.
---
The Library Late Night
It was past ten when Nina found herself alone in the library, the space dim except for the soft glow of desk lamps. Her eyes traced over the notes but her mind wandered elsewhere — to Pim's shy smiles, to the moments of closeness they shared, to the unspoken tension that filled every glance.
A soft voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Nina?"
She turned to see Pim, her hair pulled back in a loose braid, eyes bright despite the late hour.
"Hey," Nina said softly, closing her notebook.
"I couldn't sleep," Pim admitted, settling beside her. "Can we talk?"
Nina nodded, heart pounding with anticipation.
---
Confessions in the Quiet
They spoke in whispers, the quiet library a cocoon for secrets long buried.
"I'm scared, Nina," Pim confessed. "Scared that if I say what's really in my heart, I'll lose you."
Nina reached out, taking Pim's hands in hers. "You won't lose me. We'll face it all together."
The words hung between them like a promise, fragile but fierce.
---
Fah's Growing Distance
Meanwhile, Fah sat alone in the art room, her sketchbook open but her pencil untouched. The space felt colder, emptier. The vibrant friendship she once shared with Nina and Pim now felt like a delicate thread stretched thin.
Mint sat beside her. "You've been quiet lately."
Fah sighed. "I don't know where I fit anymore."
Mint's gaze was steady. "Maybe it's time to be honest — with yourself and with them."
---
The Unexpected Meeting
The next day, Nina bumped into Fah by the school's entrance, the weight of unspoken words heavy between them.
"Fah," Nina began cautiously. "Can we talk?"
Fah looked up, surprise flickering in her eyes. "Yeah."
They found a quiet spot beneath a maple tree, leaves fluttering in the breeze.
"I know things have been... complicated," Nina said carefully. "But I don't want to lose you."
Fah's voice trembled. "I care about you both, but it hurts. I feel like I'm fading away."
Nina reached out, her fingers brushing Fah's. "You're not alone."
---
The Trio Reunited
Later that evening, Nina, Pim, and Fah met on the rooftop, the city lights twinkling like scattered jewels.
They sat in a circle, hands linked — a silent vow to face the tangled web of feelings together.
No words were needed. The promise was clear.
---
A New Beginning
The night air was cool but carried warmth — the warmth of friendship, of love, of hope.
The gap was still there, but with every shared moment, every honest confession, it became smaller.
Together, they were ready to cross it.