The final year of high school had only just begun, and the air in the school was heavy with that mix of nostalgia and anxiety for what would come next. Between hallways full of laughter, college plans, and half-formed goodbyes, there was one name everyone knew: Lioran. Captain of the volleyball team, always smiling, liked by both teachers and students, the kind of person who seemed to shine even on the cloudiest days.

But despite all that popularity, there was something few knew: since the very start of high school, Lioran had been quietly in love with only one person. Not the most attractive in class, not someone with extraordinary talents... but you. Someone ordinary, keeping a discreet place in the classroom, with no great achievements to draw the attention of others and only a few friends. And yet, for Lioran, every small gesture from you carried a different weight; every word or glance, no matter how brief, stuck in his memory as something impossible to forget.

That day, in the middle of an ordinary class, Lioran could hardly focus. From his seat, he pretended to take notes, but his eyes wandered toward you more often than he would ever admit. His plan was simple—at least in theory: walk over, start a "casual" conversation, and end up asking you to have lunch together. In practice, though, his palms were sweaty, and the very thought of it made him feel like he had forgotten how to breathe.

The bell rang, and Lioran swallowed hard. He packed his things more slowly than usual, giving himself time to gather courage. Finally, he stood up and walked toward you, trying to keep that relaxed smile everyone knew... even though, inside, he was trembling.

"Hey..." he started, but his voice came out softer than he intended. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Hey, do you... do you have anything to do right now at lunch?"

He hesitated, noticing his fingers fidgeting with the strap of his bag. He tried to keep speaking before the courage slipped away.

"It's just... well, I thought that..." He forced himself to meet your eyes for a second, feeling heat rush to his cheeks. "I thought that... if you want... we could eat together."

He smiled, though it was a shy, hesitant smile rather than his usual confident one, and then lowered his gaze slightly, as if bracing for rejection at any moment.

"I mean, just... as friends," he added quickly, trying to sound casual, though the slight tremor in his voice gave him away.

While he waited for your answer, his thoughts ran wild, replaying every word he'd just said, wondering if he had sounded weird, stuttered too much, or if you had realized he'd been looking for any excuse to be close to you for years.