-Flashback to sophomore year-

"Forget about television protagonists," (f/n) stated, as she finished her Latin homework. "You two are more romantically dense than anyone else on the face of the earth."

I groaned, and put my head in my arms. It's been a month since I received the haiku, and for some reason, I've been getting conflicting feelings about Ray. "God, this makes it all so difficult!"

"You don't need to solve everything, (y/n)," she answered. "Besides, what will you gain from figuring out what kind of person he is?"

"It won't hurt to be able to at least know his motivations," I admitted, looking up at her. She laughed and shook her head. "Is that so wrong?"

"Yes, yes it is," she said humorously. "How about you take a break, and let things simmer? You don't need to be a genius to figure that out."

"And just what are you implying?" I asked her, sitting up in my library chair. I already packed my things, so all I was doing was waiting for (f/n) to complete her assignments.

"Give him a chance. Not all things result in the way you think they will," she replied. "You can't predict the future, so who knows how it'll end?"

-The present-

(f/n) was right. I don't and will never know how it'll end. But not learning makes the whole situation more complicated than before.

Although now, having relationships besides being rivals seemed possible. Even attainable.

"What am I to you?" he asked carefully. The sun was already setting, so we needed to get back. My sister is probably wondering where I am right now.

I thought about what I should say. "You're my friend. What else would you be?"

He looked back and came back to the bookshelf. He seemed to be studying me. I kept my face as still as a stone in a zen garden. "Why?" I questioned.

"Because you don't act like we are sometimes," he mumbled, staring straight into my eyes. I replied calmly, knowing that I can end this discussion here and now.

"Oh really? How so?" I inquired. I walked to the side of the window, where he was originally standing. "If you mean like friendly competition, then I understand what you mean."

I looked out the glass panes, and onto the streets. The council room was located on the second floor of the main school building, where the teachers' lounge was located. Classes were held in the West Building, which was a separate structure.

I saw cars drive by, and I wondered when my parents would be coming home. I spent almost all of January without them and had to provide for Lily myself.

Our parents went on business trips quite often, for weeks at a time. So Delilah and I took care of her when they were away. But even when they came back, they got so busy managing the company that Lily learned to take care of herself. Sometimes, I feel sorry for her, since my little sister didn't have a childhood to call her own.

"I don't mean like opponents or anything," Ray responded. How long did my mind wander again? "I meant actually the opposite."

"To which you're saying?" I prompted, glancing back at him. We really should head back.

"Look, I know we have a silent agreement to never bring this up," he started. No, stop talking. I don't need this to happen now. My life is already way too busy for this to stress over too!

"But there were times where we conversed differently from what we're like in a classroom," he explained quietly. He couldn't meet my eyes. "I don't think I need to elaborate on what I'm alluding to. You should know."

And I did. I certainly knew. Ray was thinking back to those times where we didn't argue incessantly. Not as friends, but there were definitely incidents that weren't just typical small talk.

"Oh yeah, you're right, those moments," I added. Please let this conversation end now. It's too late for this. The sun already set and now the sky's lavender. I don't even know why I admitted to even remembering the odd scenarios Ray and I were miraculously found in.

Being mendacious, I was fine with that. I could lie through my teeth at any given point. But not to him. At first, deceiving him was as easy as counting to ten. Now, it's like I couldn't even speak a half-truth, better yet a little white lie.

"So (y/n), why is that?" he asked suddenly facing me. He crossed his arms as he walked and stood across me beside the window. "And be honest."

His expression wasn't of concern, or worry. It was calm, placid blankness. Like the eye of a hurricane. And it scared me. Ray's eyes didn't have the twinkle I loved noticing, nor did he wear the playful beam that was so contagious it made me grin myself.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said stiffly. I screwed up, I can already tell. He raised an eyebrow, observing my slip-up.

"But didn't you just say that you knew what I was referring to?" he answered. "Pretty suspicious if you ask me."

I took a deep breath. "We're just friends, it's not like any of this would matter anyway."

"What a shame," Ray replied. He sighed and uncrossed his arms. "But you could be wrong. You don't know the future."

My eyes widened. That phrase again. (f/n) once stated that to me, saying that being knowledgeable can come in handy, just not when it comes to romance. And now he's saying it too. I gazed down, thinking of what I should say.

I don't know why, but I suddenly felt angry. Ray could find more things about me that I didn't even realize. Was he really that good at reading people? Or was I just not as reserved and cautious I thought I was?

Now talking to him makes me question my feelings even more. Each moment I had with him either allows me to think that he's a good person or believe he does it out of malice. It bothered me how disagreeing, how awkward, how good-natured, how weird we were around each other.

Another thing, he was always one step ahead of me, and I detested it. Whether it was academics or cooking, or whatever I loathed how every time I felt like I needed to prove my worth, or outshine him somehow.

But at the same time, a part of me valued him. Even if we may never see each other's perspectives, at least we both helped in benefitting the other person with learning to understand the psychology of one's self. And it was infuriating.

"If we're just friends, then why do you care and concern about me so much?" Ray asked. His eyes slightly narrowed.

"Shut up!" I said. He was pissing me off like he always did. Just when I thought he was just a little more decent, it all fell apart. Like it always did. "We're nothing else."

His face held no expression as he took my hand. "Really? So we're not classmates, acquaintances, or even more?"

"I-I don't know, so please, please just stop," I urged. He nodded as he looked to the floor, before walking away.

"I'm sorry, I crossed the line, didn't I?" Ray answered, his back facing me. He was on his way out the door when suddenly, my voice took over my mind. I couldn't stop it. Maybe because I was holding back for so long, or because I could tell this was how it will finish.

"I hate you!" I exclaimed, having him turn around. "I hate how frustrating, how annoying, how confusing you are! I hate how when I think I know something about you, it always becomes the opposite. I hate how you're always good at everything, and I hate how everyone adores you. But most of all, I hate how you somehow made me fall for you without even trying!"

He walked back and tilted his head to the left. "(y/n)?"

I could feel tears spring in my eyes, and it was like my mouth was moving on its own. It was instantly creating the words that I suppressed deep down, that I tried so hard to ignore.

Maybe it was this discussion we had, that caused it to develop like this. Just where did I go wrong that led me to where I am right now? Was it earlier, during the meeting? But then I remembered it wasn't. It occurred all the way back on that rainy afternoon, back in second year.

"Why did it have to be like this? Why?!" I asked. He didn't seem perplexed, but his face showed surprise. I don't understand, all you do is piss me off and tease me. If I didn't go on that stupid camping trip, this wouldn't have happened. If I didn't go to the Christmas party, this wouldn't have happened. God, if I never joined the student council, this wouldn't have happened!"

I didn't even know till now. That small interaction was the turning point. Nothing would have emerged if he didn't walk home with me that day. (f/n) was correct again, the future is unforeseeable. Never in my life did I think this would take place. However, it did.

It's like what Gilda said at lunch. You'll know when it's time, she told me. I just didn't expect that "time" would be now!

I was screaming now. Ray's expression changed, for now, the sides of his mouth risen into a small smile.

"Why does my heart have to race when we have a simple conversation? Why are your eyes so easy to get lost into? Why is it that whenever you look at me my mind goes blank? I said as my head thumped his chest. My voice was breaking. "Ray, why did it have to be you?"

His eyes sparkled. "I don't know (y/n), but you tell me."

I looked to the ground in defeat. "You win, Ray. Congrats."

I guess I lost.

He put his hands on my shoulders and looked at me straight in my eyes. I looked at the red carpet below us. The room was silent, with only the ticking of the wooden clock above us. Ray just stared at me, not muttering a word. This was too embarrassing to handle.

"I apologize, I should get go-" I said, about to take my leave when I unexpectedly felt a pair of lips against mine. I couldn't think correctly right there; it was like my body lost all function. Funny, I can't believe how Ray even claimed my second kiss.

I felt him smile before he straightened up.

"You didn't even get to let me answer," he murmured as he tenderly pushed a strand of my hair behind my right ear. "Always thinking of yourself, (y/n)."

"You're so conceited," I whispered as he leaned in once more. I felt his hand touch the side of my face. It was warm and comforting. "I despise you."

Part of me wanted to run out, and continue our compromise of never speaking about what comes between us. But another part of me wanted to break the contract permanently. So for the first time in my life, I didn't listen to the voice in my head, that always tells me to turn away from my heart.

"You're the arrogant one," Ray replied softly. He embraced me as I buried my face in the scarf I gave him three weeks ago.

"You jerk," I responded, my voice shaking.

"You moron."

"You idiot."

He kissed my cheek tenderly before answering,

"But I'm yours."