We Were Meant to Be

69 | a beginning for another

Maya looks surprised by Ash's finding but then shakes her head in denial. "It's nothing." She sighs, but there's something in her reaction that tells me more. It's like she's getting tired of it.

"Come on." Ash elbows her on the stomach, teasing her. "That's not the first time he did that."

I watch my two best friends intently, secretly happy that the topic isn't about me and Aiden anymore. I honestly don't know how to explain it to them.

Maya smiles sadly. That makes me wonder how she feels about that guy.

Maya is pretty, kind, and adorable. Since I stepped into this university, I've already noticed two guys who like watching her when she's alone and not looking, but strangely, they never make a move.

There's also this one guy, our classmate, who is super nice to her. One time, he asked Maya out and we were excited because it was going to be Maya's first date. In the end, we got disappointed because he apparently invited the entire project team to celebrate their assignment mark.

Maya resumes her steps while Ash keeps persuading her, "Maybe you should toss him a smile. Or say hi for the first time?"

Maya shakes her head again. "He's just not that into me. If he was, he would approach me, or do something about it."

Ash sighs. "Okay. I've noticed that he's been watching you for months, but maybe he just needs a boost. Like, a green light?"

Maya stops walking again, now rolling her eyes. "It's not months." She huffs. "I've been experiencing this my whole life. I thought that some guys were interested in me, but it never happened."

She speaks as if it's no big deal, but somehow, I can hear her disappointment and it breaks my heart.

Before Ash can speak another word, Maya cuts her off, "Can't you see it? 19 years. I've been living my life for 19 years, but until today, I have never received any confession from a guy. Not even a single one. None of them even said that they liked me. They gave me the impression that they were into me, but I was the one who read the signs wrong."

Both Ash and I are at a loss for words.

We didn't expect that Maya, who rarely shared about guys, would suddenly blurt out her feelings like that.

Another sad smile touches Maya's lips. She shrugs. "I guess I just have no charms." She chuckles to lighten the atmosphere. "And I've accepted that fate."

"Maya--" Ash follows her when Maya walks out the door.

I can't stop thinking about what Maya said. I imagine being in her position, but I may not understand what she has been going through because I had guys confessing to me before.

I was aware that they liked me, and they did tell me about their feelings, which I refused mostly because I feared Dad's disapproval.

My heart sinks so low for Maya. To have guys giving you hope only to be crushed with nothing, absolutely nothing, must be disheartening.

I've overheard a group of our girl classmates chatting during lunch about how pretty Maya is. They think that Maya is one of the cutest girls on our faculty, and I totally agree. So what the hell is wrong with all the guys who are not brave enough to step up their game?

Ash switches the topic to the food we're going to eat in the cafeteria, and I smile in relief as I see them hooping their arms around each other's shoulders.

Not long after we step out of the classroom, a voice calls, "Maya."

I watch as Kai strides toward us. He hurries as soon as he spots Maya. He says hi to me and Ash, but when his eyes return to Maya, he goes silent.