Just as he was about to exit, thinking he was disillusioned in the thought she’d actually turn back to look at him, he noticed her head turn.
That’s when their eyes met. And she smiled.
For the first time, the hope bloomed into something ablaze. More than a small flame. The hope of something more.
“Do you think you’ll make a move?” Jae asked when Seth came over.
They were both trying out the new, multiplayer shooting game that's made its rounds on social media.
“Because you both have been spending quite a lot of time together.”
The question made Seth’s heart accelerate. It’s all he thought about. The possibilities, the what-ifs. Yet…
“I don’t know. I want to…but I want her to want to,” Seth responded. He put down the controller, and leant against Jae’s futon, “Like God, more than anything. But I’m scared of pushing her, or confusing her too much. Especially after Carlos.”
Jae quirked a brow.
“ComeonSeth. If someone likemecould get someone like Anya to agree to be my girlfriend, then surely you could win Nina over again, too. That girl was literallyobsessedwith you in high school.”
“Maybe. But I just want to take it slow with her. Make sure everything isright,because when it comes to her….she deservesright.She deserves perfection. She deserves everything good, and nothing less.”
To that, Jae sighed, as he loaded up another round.
“I get you. But also, sometimes you’ll never know until you make it happen. I hope the best for you bro, I do.”
There were moments where Seth believed they could possibly be more.
Moments where Nina’s gaze would linger, and there’d be a quiet flicker in her eyes.
Moments where their hands would brush when they walked home from the train station.
Jae’s words lingered in Seth’s brain for the rest of July, a fog that he couldn’t get rid of.
You won’t know until you make it happen.
29
Now
Seth: What are you doing today?
Nina: Gonna go to the shops just to pick up a book I preordered! How about you?
Seth: Hmm I was going to sit and do nothing…but watching you pick up a book sounds much more fun
Nina: Oh you don’t need to, really!
Seth: Were you going with Elena or Veronica? Or Celine?
Nina: No….
Seth: Then may I have the privilege of accompanying you?
Nina: Only because you are furiously begging me…
The conversation with Jae the night before had boggled Seth’s thoughts. Seth thought he could be content with just being Nina’s friend, with just beingtherebefore.
But it would no longer do, if he didn’t at least try to see if there was a possibility.
