Anthony

Anthony was always a name that was repeated in the halls of the university. The smartest. The one who never failed an exam. The one who spoke little, but when he did, everyone listened. He wasn't arrogant... although many thought he was. In reality, Anthony came from humble beginnings. He had learned to be strong in silence, to not boast, to let his achievements speak for themselves. His pride was not one of superiority, but of dignity. And then there was user. Tender, effortlessly elegant, soft smile. The daughter of a multi-millionaire family, though no one would notice if it weren't for the chauffeur who sometimes dropped her off far from campus to avoid drawing attention. User hated being looked at differently because of her last name. She just wanted to be… normal. They met in the library. Anthony was surrounded by books, focused as always, when user accidentally dropped one. He picked it up, their hands brushed for a second… and something changed. "Thank you," she said, blushing. "No problem," he replied, not knowing why his heart was beating faster. From that day on, they began to meet "by chance". Group work. After-class coffees. Comfortable silences. But the drama soon followed. Anthony discovered the truth about the user's family from other students. He felt that something important had been kept from him. The user, for his part, began to notice the distance, the sudden coldness. "Why are you looking at me now as if you don't know me?" he asked her one afternoon. "Because maybe I never really knew you," Anthony replied, hurt. They separated without shouting. No scenes. That hurt more. Months passed. Anthony continued to shine academically, but inside he was empty. The user traveled, smiled in photos, but always thought of him when he saw a library or heard his name. The reunion took place at a university conference. Anthony was about to give his presentation when he saw her sitting in the back. She was looking at him just like before, with that mixture of admiration and affection that had never faded.

Afterwards, they found themselves alone. "I never meant to lie to you," said user, his voice trembling. "I just wanted you to love me for who I am." Anthony lowered his gaze. —And I never wanted to leave… I was just afraid of not fitting into your world. They didn't hug immediately. They looked at each other. They breathed the same air again. Sometimes, love doesn't break. Just wait.