Chapter 049
Chapter 49
Sophia opened her locker and stared blankly at her books. Her hands were moving, but her mind was far away. She was somewhere between anxiety and that strange fluttering in her stomach. Not to mention, worry.
The hallway was buzzing like always as the lockers were slamming, footsteps were echoing, and random laughs and voices kept on bouncing off the walls. Everything was just haywire over here.
But all of it faded the moment she saw him.
Caleb.
He was leaning against the wall near the science block, chatting with some guy from their physics class. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world, smiling, his eyes lit up, doing that playful thing where he nudged the other guy with his elbow and laughed at his own joke.
He was acting so normal. Like nothing had happened yesterday. Like he hadn’t asked her out and she hadn’t run away like a total maniac.
Was he pretending it didn’t happen? Did he regret it?
She shut her locker a little too hard, adjusted her backpack strap, and then walked towards him. Her heart was already racing, and she hated that she didn’t know why.
“Hey.” She said, stopping a little distance away from him.
Caleb turned to her with the same warm smile, like the night before hadn’t flipped her whole brain upside down.
“Hey you!” He said, still smiling. “Did you finish that horrible chemistry worksheet? I swear this school is actually trying to make me cry.”
She blinked.
“You’re okay?”
He raised a brow.
“Uh, should I not be?”
She gave him a look.
“You know what I mean.”
Caleb tilted his head.
“If this is about me tripping over the trash can this morning—”
“Caleb.” She cut in gently, her voice low. “Can we talk? Like actually talk?”
That wiped the smile from his face. He looked at her carefully for a second, then nodded.
“Yeah. Of course.”
They walked together, neither of them saying a word until they reached the back of the school near the old art studio. No one ever really came here, so it was quiet, with peeling walls and a bench under a crooked tree. Caleb sat first, patting the spot next to him.
“Come on.”
Sophia sat down, but didn’t face him immediately. She tucked a strand behind her ear, unsure where to start.
Caleb broke the silence first.
“You’re thinking really loud.”
She turned to him slowly.
“I just I didn’t answer you yesterday. And then I ran away like a complete weirdo. So I think we should talk.”
He smiled softly.
“You don’t have to explain. I kinda ambushed you with the whole date thing.”
Sophia bit her lip.
“So, do you like me?”
Caleb rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled under his breath.
“Yeah. I think I kinda do.”
She stared at him.
“But why?”
He blinked.
“You’re asking me why I like you?”
“Yeah.”
He leaned back a little, looking up at the sky for a moment like the answer might be written there. Then he shrugged.
“I don’t have a list, if that’s what you’re asking.” He said. “It’s not like I made a pros and cons chart or something.”
Sophia cracked a tiny smile.
“You would, though.”
“I would.” He admitted, laughing. “But not this time.”
He sat forward again, resting his elbows on his knees.
“I guess I like you because you’re you. You don’t try to be anyone else. You’re strong, even when you don’t feel like it. You stand up for yourself. You care so much, even when you act like you don’t. And when you smile…” He paused and smiled himself. “I don’t know. It feels like the sun decided to show up in the room.”
Sophia blinked fast.
“That’s so cheesy.”
“I know. I warned you.” He teased me. “But it’s the truth. You make people feel seen. You make me feel seen. And happy.”
Her breathing felt forced now.
“I didn’t expect it.” He continued, voice softer now. “It just sort of happened. I started thinking about you more. Not just as my friend. And I told myself I’d keep it in. But then I realised that I didn’t want to.”
Sophia looked down at her hands. Caleb gently nudged her shoulder with his.
“So…” He said. “Do you like me back?”
She stayed quiet for a second too long, and Caleb’s smile faded slightly.
“I… I don’t know.” She said honestly. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot. About you. I’ve been thinking about you more than usual. Which is new for me.”
He nodded slowly.
“But I don’t know what that means.” She admitted. “And I don’t want to say yes and mess things up. You’re my best friend. You mean so much to me.”
Caleb looked at her, nodding.
“Soph, we’re not signing a marriage certificate. It’s just a date.”
She laughed a little, and he gave her that boyish grin again.
“But even if it were more than that.” He continued to say. “You being honest with me means everything. And I meant what I said yesterday, our friendship is more important to me than anything else. So if you’re not sure, that’s fine. We can forget I even said anything.”
“No.” She said quickly. “I mean, I don’t want to forget. I think I want to try. But I’m still figuring it out. Is that okay?”
Caleb smiled and nodded.
“Of course it is. I’m fine with anything.”
There was an awkward pause.
“So, about the date.” She said, looking at him sideways. “Are we still on?”
His eyes lit up.
“Absolutely— as long as you’re in!”
She smiled.
“Yeah. So where are we going?”
He stood and stretched like a cat, hands behind his head.
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” He said, winking. “Just wear something semi casual.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You’re enjoying this too much.”
“Just a little.” He said, grinning. “So, I can hold your hand?”
Sophia scoffed and pushed him off.