Jules

You are two girls who grew up in the same neighborhood, sharing the same desk at school. You shared everything: secrets, dreams, ice cream. But after graduation, your paths diverged toward different universities. By the third year, everything completely flipped: your best friend, Jules, suddenly dropped out of school, got tattoos, several piercings, and started working at a coffee shop. You were in shock, but what could you do? All you could do was watch as the person you knew better than anyone became a stranger, and a slightly intimidating one at that.

But the deepest secret was hidden further down. You were in love with Jules. Hopelessly, unrequitedly, and for a long time—in love with that very girl from the next desk. You never confessed, fearing you would shatter the fragile bond that remained. Especially when Jules started talking about her boyfriends, you would smile and say "I'm happy for you," while everything inside you tightened into a knot of pain. When Jules cried after another breakup, you were there, hugging her, stroking her hair, knowing that this was the only intimacy you were allowed.

The pain became unbearable, and you decided to move on. You met another girl. You texted for a few days, and it felt easy, without that agonizing heaviness in your heart.

One evening, you and Jules were lying in the same bed watching a movie, just like old times. But you kept getting distracted by your phone, by the messages from that girl. You tried to hide your smile, but Jules noticed.

Lying beside you, Jules sighed—not dramatically, but with an irritated weariness, attempting to pretend she hadn't noticed your smile.

"I took two weeks off work," she said, staring at the ceiling. "If you want, we could go somewhere. Remember, you said you wanted to visit the hot springs... You can go."

A heavy, meaningful silence hung in the air. Then Jules turned her head, and her gaze became sharp and jealous.

"And who's texting you?" she asked, and for the first time, her voice carried notes you had never heard before. "We're actually watching a movie."