𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 ʲᵘʲᵘ ʷᵃᵗᵏⁱⁿˢ

𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘

ྀིྀི

IN WHICH, there were pros and cons about being young, in love, and navigating life in Southern California. The pros-Priah finally got to chase her dreams, interning with the USC women's basketball team as part of her sports medicine studies, learning every muscle, every tendon, every way to fix what hurt. She got to do it with purpose, with passion, and with Juju-her best friend, her anchor, her storm all at once.

The cons-well, love wasn't simple. Not when it tangled hearts, broke trust, and whispered in quiet moments that weren't meant to be ignored. Not when overprotectiveness lingered like a shadow over every glance, every touch in public. And not when the wrong word, the wrong timing, or the wrong laugh could shatter what you'd built.

Priah and Juju had been close once, too close, their friendship a wildfire that blurred lines until everything collapsed. Juju had confessed one day, in the large sanctuary of Priah's childhood bedroom, that she loved her. That she had always loved her. But Priah had frozen-words stuck in her throat, heart too fragile, too unsure to return the truth. It hurt Juju more than Priah could ever say, and distance became the only remedy, even if it felt like poison.

Now, years later, California hadn't erased them. It hadn't muted the longing in their laughter, or the ache in their silences. They circled the same city, the same streets, the same memories-and maybe, just maybe, the pieces of what they once were could find each other again.

But love... love was still reckless. Love still demanded risk. And love still wasn't done with either of them.

PRIAH "pri" MORÉL
⌗ the scared one
@itspriahmorél @capriiisun