Friendship, With Conditions
Kaivan lifted his head, meeting her sincere gaze. For the first time in a long while, he felt as though someone truly cared. “I… I’ve just had a lot on my mind, Tania. But I’ll be fine.”
“If something’s bothering you, don’t hesitate to tell me, okay? I’ll be here for you,” Tania said with a warm smile, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat before returning to her seat.
As days passed, Tania’s presence in Kaian’s life grew. They shared stories in the cafeteria, walked home together, even studied side by side in the library. Her attention wrapped around him like a gentle embrace, and Kaivan began to believe he wasn’t alone anymore. Each smile from her sent his heart racing, and hope began to stir in him, that maybe, just maybe, this time love wouldn’t break him.
But reality, cruel as ever, shattered that fragile dream.
One afternoon, beneath the great tree in the schoolyard, Kaivan finally gathered the courage to speak. “Tania, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.
Tania turned to him, her expression tender. “What is it, Kaivan?”
He drew a deep breath, summoning all his strength. “I… I like you, Tania. I don’t know how else to say this, but I feel like you’re the person I’ve been searching for all this time. I want us to be more than just friends.”
Tania went silent for a heartbeat before smiling softly. “Kaivan, I truly appreciate your feelings. But for now, I think it’s best if we stay friends. You’re a very important friend to me, and I don’t want to lose that. But… maybe after we graduate, you can introduce me to your parents,” she added with an ambiguous tone.
Her last words lit a fragile spark of hope in him. Yet as time passed, that warmth felt hollow. Tania’s once tender gestures began to feel rehearsed, false. More and more, Kaivan saw her with Rina and Dandi, laughing together without him.
One evening, suspicion gnawed at him until he could no longer ignore it. He followed, and at the small café they often gathered in, Kaivan found them, Tania, Rina, and Dandi, seated together, laughter spilling freely. He crept closer, listening from outside the window.
“Kaivan’s so easy to use,” Tania said with a laugh. “He’ll buy me anything, probably because he’s never been close to a pretty girl before.”
Rina laughed with her. “He really thought you liked him. Back then, I even had a feeling he was going to confess to me, but thank goodness Dandi showed up, or he might have actually done it.”
Kaivan’s world collapsed. Each word was a blade, carving deep into his chest, tearing apart what little faith he had left. With leaden steps, he turned away, unnoticed. His tears fell unchecked as he stumbled down the street, feeling as though everything, trust, hope, even himself, had been stripped away.
And yet, in the dimly lit corner of the street, someone was watching. A girl with long black hair and eyes that glowed a piercing red. She stood still, gaze sharp and unyielding. But Kaivan, drowning in his grief, never saw her.
Under the city’s thousand glittering lights, Kaivan walked on. His black jacket hung loosely from his thin frame. His face was a mask of cold detachment, but inside, storms raged endlessly. Every step dragged him down, as if the bitter weight of his past clawed at his heels, refusing to let him go.
---
A few days later, Tania stood across the street, greeting him with that sweet smile that once made Kaivan’s heart race. Now, that same smile only left a bitter taste.
“Kaivan! Over here!” she called, waving enthusiastically. The neon lights from the café behind her shimmered against her flowing hair, making her appear radiant.
Kaivan paused, forcing a smile that barely reached his eyes. “Hey, Tania,” he replied flatly, masking the storm inside. He stepped closer, watching how her energy and brightness stood in stark contrast to his own shadowed presence.
They sat together at a corner table, the air filled with the aroma of coffee and the gentle laughter of other patrons. Tania ordered her favorite latte, while Kaivan settled for just mineral water. His hand trembled slightly as he held the glass, quickly hiding it beneath the table. Though they sat face-to-face, it felt as though an invisible wall loomed between them.
Leaning forward, Tania rested her chin on her interlaced hands. “What’s wrong with you lately, Kaivan? You’ve seemed down all the time. You used to be so lively. I liked that Kaivan, the one who always made me laugh.”
Kaivan searched her eyes, hoping to find sincerity there. Yet all he saw was his own uncertain reflection staring back at him. “I’m just... thinking about a lot of things. That’s all,” he muttered.
Tania smiled softly. “Well, whatever it is, I’m here for you. You know that, right? I’ll always be here.”
But behind those words, Kaivan felt something else, something sharp and suffocating. He lowered his gaze, hiding the cracks forming in his expression. Every word she spoke pierced him like thorns sinking deeper into his heart.
A few days after that meeting, Tania invited Kaivan to a luxurious restaurant in the heart of the city. The walls were adorned with tall mirrors and glittering crystal chandeliers that cast a warm glow across the room. A formally dressed waiter guided them to a corner table, setting a mood that felt romantic, though Kaivan’s heart was far from it.
Tania chuckled lightly as she scanned the menu. “Kaivan, look at this. They have wagyu steak that supposedly melts in your mouth! Let’s order that, okay?”
Kaivan only nodded, feeling more like a puppet moving to her strings. When the food arrived, Tania ate with enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling as she commented on how delicious the steak was. But for Kaivan, every bite was tasteless. Eventually, he found the courage to ask.
“Tania… do you really enjoy spending time with me?” His voice was quiet, nearly drowned out by the clinking of silverware around them.
Tania looked up, momentarily surprised, then let out a soft laugh. “Of course, Kaivan! I love having a good meal, especially when it’s with you. Besides, you’re the most special person to me.”
The answer sounded sweet, yet it left a bitter aftertaste in his chest. Tania’s smile looked sincere, but beneath it lingered something Kaivan couldn’t trust. Her words felt like a mask, never revealing what lay underneath.
That night, they walked home together. The night breeze danced through Tania’s long hair, making her appear like a flawless figure beneath the glow of streetlights. But in Kaivan’s eyes, that beauty was veiled in shadows. Each step felt as though he was walking further away, from her, and from himself.
