Nova's POV
It had been a month of late-night texts, spontaneous song sharing, chaotic game sessions, and a mutual decision to start referring to each other as mine.
Koah wasn't what I expected. He wasn't smooth, but he was steady. Thoughtful in the way he remembered my coffee order and saved me the last cherry lollipop from his snack stash. After our third meet-up—a clumsy but sweet movie night where he nervously held my hand like it was glass—we'd made it official.
I was dating Koah. And I hadn't told my friends. Yet.
The guilt had been gnawing at me like a silent raccoon with a grudge. So, when Nomi, Ruelle, and I were camped out in our usual study spot—a café with terrible Wi-Fi and excellent muffins—I figured now was my chance. Except… Ruelle had gotten up to take a call outside.
It was just me and Nomi.
I took a breath. "Sooo… I'm dating Koah."
Nomi blinked. "Koah. The Koah? Bio lab Koah?"
"Yes."
She squinted at me. "Like… dating-dating? Not 'we shared a playlist' dating?"
"We've literally kissed, Nomi."
She blinked harder.
"Oh," she said. Then she sat back and made the most dramatic face I'd ever seen in my life. "OH."
"What?" I asked, already regretting everything.
Nomi flailed. "Nothing! Nothing at all! Just—wow. Okay. That's… cool. Super cool. Koah."
Her voice cracked over his name like it was allergic.
I tilted my head. "You okay?"
She grinned too widely. "Yup. Totally fine. Happy for you. Love that for you. #Goals. You're thriving, I'm thriving, we're all thriving."
It was terrifying.
Then she leaned in, eyes gleaming with faux mischief. "Wait—so was this the mystery person you kept being all 'I'm not gonna jinx it' about?"
"Yes."
Nome's grin sharpened. "Ewwwwwwww."
I laughed. "Thanks, truly."
"No, like—ew in the way that it's adorable and makes me want to stab a plushie."
"Is that your version of support?"
"It's love, Nova. Raw and unfiltered."
She sat back and poked at her muffin aggressively, then sighed
"In all honesty, though… I thought—" She stopped.
"You thought what?"
Nomi hesitated, lips pressed tight. Then she shrugged with a lightness that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thought maybe someone else had a shot. But Koah's cool. Tall. Stable. Possibly too nice, but who am I to judge?"
I didn't ask what she meant. I had a feeling it had something to do with Ruelle and the night she cried like her world had cracked open.
But before I could dig deeper, Ruelle came back inside, hair slightly wind-tousled from the breeze.
I waved her over. "Hey! Perfect timing. I told Nomi my news, now it's your turn."
Ruelle slid into the chair and gave me a soft, curious look. "News?"
I tried to sound casual. "I'm dating Koah."
She blinked once. Then broke into the warmest smile.
"That's… really sweet. You two seem like a great match."
Nomi coughed—loudly. Ruelle glanced at her, then back at me, and reached for my muffin. "Also, I'm emotionally stealing half of this now."
"You didn't even ask."
"Friend tax."
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood."
"You're always in a good mood when you're in love."
Nomi groaned. "Barf. I'm surrounded by lovers. I'm the single overachieving academic with rage issues."
"You forgot 'always correct'," Ruelle added.
"Oh, right. And humble. Add that."
We fell into an easy rhythm again—laughing, teasing, trying to study but mostly making chaotic plans for the weekend. But underneath the lightness, I saw something shift in Nomi. The way she glanced at Ruelle a little too long. The way her smile had edges.
Later that night, she texted me.
Nomi:
Okay, I was kinda weird earlier. I'm sorry.
Me:
About what?
Nomi:
I think I was just… surprised. And maybe lowkey thinking Koah was the "wrong" person to date. Not because he's bad or anything. Just because… I thought it might make things complicated for someone else.
I didn't ask who she meant. But I thought of Ruelle's soft smile. Her quiet tears. The ghost of someone she didn't name.
Me:
We can't control who people fall for. We just support them when they do.
Nomi:
Yeah. You're right. I still think kissing is gross, but I'm happy for you, Nov. I really am.
Me:
Liar. You're gonna be the first person asking for wedding cake.
Nomi:
Only if it's red velvet.
Two days later, Nomi pulled Ruelle aside in the hallway and handed her a chocolate bar.
"For peace," she said.
Ruelle raised an eyebrow. "You did something?"
Nomi rolled her eyes. "No. I just… overreacted a bit the other night. I'm sorry. I let my mouth run faster than my brain. Again."
Ruelle smiled. "That's your brand."
"Exactly. But still, I didn't mean to make anything weird. I just… wanted to say it."
They stood in silence for a beat.
Then Ruelle unwrapped the chocolate and broke it in half.
"Here. For shared emotional damage.
"You're so dramatic."
"You're friends with me."
They both laughed. Just like that, things clicked back into place.