Chapter 87 Nothing Simple
Mia's POV
I climbed the stairs to my apartment with a beautiful smile that I could not seem to shake. Babe. Just thinking of him calling me that made me giggle under my breath. It was such a simple word, but coming from him, it felt like a treasure, something I wanted to replay over and over in my mind.
As soon as I stepped into my room, I closed the door behind me, leaned against it for a moment, and then flopped onto my bed. My body felt pleasantly sore, a quiet reminder of the night we had shared. More than that, I felt complete.
I stared up at the ceiling, my lips curving into a soft smile as every moment replayed in my head. The way he looked at me. The way he touched me like I was precious. The way he made me feel safe. I had given myself to him fully, without regret and without fear, because I loved him.
I had always promised myself that I would never give away my first time for the sake of curiosity or fun. It had to be with someone who truly mattered, someone who would hold my heart gently. And last night, with Liam, it had been exactly that.
My eyes fluttered shut, the echo of his voice saying I love you still warm in my ears. I hugged my pillow and let myself drift into sleep, already counting the hours until I could see him again.
A soft knock pulled me back to the present. Before I could even stand up, the door opened and Josh walked in, a wide grin already on his face like he had been waiting for this moment all day.
"Girl," he said dramatically as he dropped onto my bed beside me, "you are not getting away without telling me everything about your latest date with Liam."
I laughed, trying to hide my face with a pillow, but it was useless. My cheeks were already burning. "Josh," I warned, though my voice was weak and amused.
He gasped and clutched his chest. "Do not Josh me. I saw that glow the moment you walked in. That is not a normal glow. That is a I am in love and I had the best night of my life glow."
I groaned, but I could not stop smiling. "Okay, fine," I admitted softly. "I did it with him. And it was... really amazing." I paused, my face heating up even more. "I did not even know it could feel that wonderful."
Josh squealed and bounced on the bed, nearly knocking me over. "Oh my God, I knew it. I knew it. I could feel it in my gay soul."
I laughed with him, covering my face as he leaned closer. "Was he sweet?" he asked gently. "Because if he was not sweet, I swear I will personally fight him."
"He was," I said quickly, my voice softening. "He was so gentle. He made me feel safe. Like I was precious."
Josh's teasing expression melted into something warm and sincere. "That is exactly how it should be," he said. "I am so happy for you, Mia. You deserve that kind of love."
I smiled at him, my heart feeling full. "I really am happy," I said quietly. "I did not think it would feel like this."
Josh wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me into a tight hug. "Welcome to being in love," he said with a grin. "Now rest, because tomorrow I am demanding more details. With snacks."
I laughed, leaning into him, grateful for the kind of friendship that felt just as safe as love.
I did not receive any messages from Liam that night. I stared at my phone longer than I wanted to admit, hoping his name would light up my screen. In the end, I was the one who sent the message.
Goodnight.
Not long after, he replied and reminded me that he would pick me up the next morning. That alone was enough to make me smile as I set my phone down. After everything we had shared, things felt different now. Deeper. It felt like a part of me belonged to him in a way I could never take back, and strangely, that thought did not scare me at all.
I fell asleep with that feeling wrapped around my heart.
The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual, my excitement refusing to let me rest. I got ready carefully, checking the time more than once as I waited in the driveway. Every passing minute made my anticipation grow. I kept glancing down the street, expecting to see Liam's car any second.
But instead, a familiar vehicle pulled up.
My smile slowly faded when I realized it was Daniel stepping out of the car.
"Good morning," he said gently as he approached me. Then he hesitated, studying my face. "Are you disappointed that it's me picking you up and not your boyfriend?"
I did not answer right away. I did not have to. The way my expression fell, probably told him everything he needed to know.
Daniel sighed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I figured," he said, offering a small, understanding smile. "He asked me to take you today. He said he had something important to deal with."
That explanation eased my confusion a little, but the disappointment still lingered in my chest. I nodded and forced a smile, climbing into the car beside him.
As we pulled away from the driveway, I tried to push the feeling aside. Still, I could not help wondering what had kept Liam away, and why the thought of not seeing him that morning made my heart ache more than I expected.
Something had changed between us. And now, even a small distance felt heavier than it should have.
Liam did not text me the whole day, and I tried not to let it show how much that bothered me. Instead, Daniel and Dina stayed close, making sure I was never alone for too long. They walked me to class, waited with me during breaks, and filled the quiet spaces with conversation so I would not have time to overthink.
Something else felt strange too. The Golden Girls had stopped harassing me completely. No whispers. No mocking smiles. No sudden bumps in the hallway. It was such a sharp change that it made me uneasy. I kept wondering what had suddenly gotten into them.
By lunchtime, Dina and Daniel decided to head to the cafeteria to buy food. They promised to meet me later at my favorite spot near the garden, the place where I could usually breathe a little easier.
Left alone for the first time that day, I found myself humming one of Liam's favorite songs as I walked down the hallway. The melody comforted me, even as my thoughts drifted back to him. I was so distracted that I barely noticed someone stepping into my path.
I stopped short, almost bumping straight into Stacy.
"Well," she said calmly, her tone surprisingly even. "I have been wanting to speak with you, Mia."
Gone was her usual arrogance. Her posture was straight, her expression controlled, almost rehearsed.
"I get it," she continued before I could say anything. "Liam likes you. And there is nothing I can do about that." She paused, then lifted her chin slightly. "But I want to remind you of something. Liam is mine."
My chest tightened.
"Whatever you have with him right now is temporary," she went on, her voice steady and confident. "I promised Liam that I would support your relationship for the time being."
I blinked, unsure how to react.
"But you must keep it a secret," she added quickly. "Have you ever thought about how I feel?" Her words came faster now, sharper. "I was expected to marry Liam. My parents raised me believing I was destined to be his wife. And now I am the one left heartbroken because of you."
She did not give me time to respond.
"I was in his life first, Mia," she said firmly. "You should put yourself in my shoes."
I stood there, stunned, trying to process everything she was saying.
"Enjoy every moment while it lasts," Stacy finished, her voice softening again. "And one more thing." She looked at me closely. "I told your ex best friends to leave you alone. And as you can see, they listened."
She gestured down the hallway, where the Golden Girls were nowhere in sight.
When she walked away, I stayed frozen in place.
I did not know how to feel. Part of me felt relieved that the bullying had stopped. Another part of me felt unsettled knowing it had happened because of her command. I did not know whether I should be grateful or upset, comforted or disturbed.
All I knew was this. Nothing about this felt simple anymore.