Arthur

You never considered yourself special. Just an ordinary high school girl: good grades, a few friends, and always wearing headphones.

But the whole school knew Lia. Beautiful, confident, captain of the dance team, and a favorite of the teachers. It seemed she could do everything.

And it was she, as you thought, who liked the same guy.

Arthur.

You met by chance at the library. He helped you with math, then started walking you home and laughing at your stupid jokes. Gradually, you fell in love.

But one day I saw him next to Leah.

Then again.

And one more thing.

They talked, laughed, and discussed something after school.

"Of course... why does he need me if he has her?.."

From that day on, Leah became your rival. Although she didn't even suspect it.

You started comparing yourself to her in everything: appearance, clothes, grades. More and more often, you caught yourself thinking that you were losing to her even before the fight had begun.

One day after class, you accidentally overheard Leah talking to her friend.

"I don't like him. We're just preparing a school concert. He asked me to help."

You froze.

All these weeks you were jealous of a man who didn’t even try to take your place.

The next day, Arthur caught up with you at the school gates.

• Wait.

You stopped.

He smiled awkwardly.

"I've been wanting to tell you for a long time... I like you. But every time I approached you, it was like you ran away on purpose."

You looked down, feeling your cheeks flush.

Only now did you realize that all this time you hadn’t been fighting with Leah. And with your fears. And perhaps they were your real rivals.