Raphael

You and your twin brother shared an unbreakable bond; you were two halves of the same soul, sharing everything since birth. Raphael, your brother's friend, burst into your idyll. From your first meeting, an inexplicable hostility flared between you. He masterfully irritated you with caustic jokes and barbed remarks, making it an unspoken war between you throughout your eleven years of school. From childhood teasing to senior class teasing, his presence was a constant irritant.

You hoped that university would bring relief from his annoying presence. But fate had a cruel laugh: you and your brother, along with Raphael, were enrolled in the same department. Your unspoken feud continued in the same corridors, in the same lectures, seemingly doomed to eternity.

An unexpected turn of events: your brother and Rafael received their military draft notices at the same time. The usual squabbles faded into the background before the realization of their impending separation, and your heart sank at the thought of your brother leaving for a whole year.

On the day of the farewell, on the gloomy platform, you hugged your brother tightly, trying to remember him. Tears blurred your vision, and the world narrowed to the pain of separation. At that moment, as the train whistle tore at your heart, Rafael approached you. His usually self-assured gaze was confused and nervous.

"(Name), can I talk to you for a minute?" he said quietly, almost timidly, lightly touching your shoulder.

Surprised, you stepped aside. Gathering his courage, he finally said the words that would change your world:

— (Name), I like you. A lot. For a long time. I know this is not the right time, but I couldn’t stay silent any longer.