The Stranger I Like (1.10)

Eros

 – Deep, passionate love that transcends friendship, bringing souls closer

The night lay tranquil, with stars flickering delicately, as if painting silent stories across the heavens. The sharp winter air grazed my skin, drawing a slight shiver from me. He noticed and stepped nearer, tucking my hands into the comforting warmth of his coat pockets. “You’ll catch a cold,” he said, his voice low and resonant, like a song crafted to soothe every turbulent thought within me.

I looked up at him, the soft glow of the moon casting light on his face. There was a calmness in his expression that made my heart skip a beat. I didn’t realize how long I’d been staring until he raised his brows slightly and asked, “What is it?” tenderly asked like a warm breeze brushing past on a cold evening.

I couldn’t bring myself to answer. Words failed me, lost somewhere in the stillness that enveloped us. My heart quickened, drawn toward him by a pull that was both unfamiliar and undeniable. Gradually, I inched closer, my eyes tracing the shape of his lips, as if they held secrets waiting to be uncovered. The air grew dense, weighted with a quiet anticipation, as if the world around us had fallen silent, holding its breath for what was to come.

His hands, grip secure, moved gently to my waist as I made the first move. A surge of electricity ran through me, and before I knew it, we were closer, the distance between us evaporating. His hands held me with a tenderness that contrasted the urgency in the air. The cold around us seemed to fade as his lips met mine, intense, drawing me into a moment that felt like it lasted forever. His touch was like a blanket in the frigid air, warming me from the inside out. The proximity of his breath was almost intoxicating, each inhale blending with mine, as his nose tip intimately touched creating a sense of closeness that felt almost surreal. The moment seemed endless, suspended in time, but then reality broke through. The buzz of his phone shattered the stillness, pulling me back abruptly. I stepped away, embarrassed and flustered, my cheeks flushing as I tried to avoid his eyes.“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to... I just couldn’t stop myself.”

He looked at me, his lips curling into a small, reassuring smile. “No, don’t apologize,” he said, his tone calm. If anyone should be sorry, it’s me. I should’ve turned off my phone. Nothing should’ve interrupted that moment.”

His words sent a rush of warmth through me. Before I could say anything, he added with a playful look in his eyes, “Although… you were a bit too quick. If you’d given me a few more seconds, it might’ve lasted complete three minutes.”

I blinked at him, deeply confused.

“Three minutes? Were you timing it?”

He chuckled, the sound like a comforting hum that made my heart feel light. “What can I say? Doctors are good at measuring pulse rates,” he teased. “And trust me, I could feel your heartbeat loud and clear when you leaned in.”

My face turned even redder, and I stammered, unable to respond. My words tangled somewhere between my heart and lips. Before I could gather myself, he gently took my hands and placed them over his shoulders. His movements, his touch as if handling something fragile. “I owe you something incomplete,” he murmured, his voice now low and intimate, carrying a promise I didn’t dare question.

I shook my head quickly. “No, you don’t owe me anything,” I replied. “Do it only when you feel like doing, not because it was incomplete.”

He smiled again, this time deeper and without a word, he pulled me close. His hold was gentle and protective, his head resting gently near the curve of my neck. For a moment, everything else faded away—the cold wind, the world around us. All I could feel was the soft cadence of his breath and the heat of his body. It was a feeling of perfect peace, like being enveloped in a cocoon of safety and care.

Then, as if pulled back by some invisible string, I opened my eyes. The sound of water spilling over jolted me to reality. I blinked and found myself sitting in the bathroom, the tap still running.

I stared at the overflowing water, my cheeks warm and my heart still racing. “Of all places to imagine this,” I muttered to myself, turning off the tap with shaky hands.

Even though it wasn’t real, it felt so perfect—so magical. A shy smile crept onto my lips as I whispered, “I wish it could happen… but only if he feels the same.”

You guys be thinking, "Oh, this girl is moving too fast," right? Well, nooo! Not at all, cuties. It's been a Month now. Yup, a whole month,& more, and we're about to hit two months of this beautiful relationship. 

RELATIONSHIP ?! 

Wait, hold up. I mean, Friendship . Don’t be so shocked 😂, friendship is a relationship too, right? So, calm down. It’s crazy though, thinking about how just a little while ago, I was the one secretly admiring him, hoping for a chance to talk. I was all shy and unsure, wondering if he'd even reply to my messages. And now, here we are, Friends, sharing our pasts, routine , & many reels with each other (Darker sometimes 🌝).

I know my boundaries, of course. But well, sometimes I forget them, and honestly, he never stopped me, so... yeah, that’s how I became so bold in my dreams. He’s the reason for all this courage, you know😉. He knows how I feel about him, and the way he reacts to the things I share with him tells me he likes it too. He enjoys the little things I do for him, but he’s not ready to step into the game himself. . It’s like he's happy watching me take the lead, but not ready to join in. 

By this, don’t mistake him as someone who’s toying with my feelings, please. Some of you might think that since he’s aware of the emotions I have for him, yet his actions ignite me to fall for him even more, knowing he won’t accept me. But it’s not like that. The truth is, even if he doesn’t pay attention to me, I’ll still like him just as much as I do now—obsessed in the same way. He’s not playing with my emotions; in fact, he’s been clear from the very beginning. It’s just me who feels so much for him.

I appreciate that he respects my emotions and has never once asked me to suppress how I feel. Instead, he encourages me, praises me, and appreciates my efforts, making me feel valued. We’re not strangers anymore—we’re friends. And friends can share emotions, right?

Yes, it’s true that the specific person I call my friend means much more to me than just a friend. But if I were to hide all my feelings just to preserve this friendship, wouldn’t that filtered version of myself be dishonest? I don’t want to just act like we’re “just friends” while secretly liking him. When I know for certain that I like him—a lot, not just a little—then, as his friend, I want him to know that.

But I’ve never put any pressure on him to feel the same way I do. That would make it conditional, wouldn’t it? Loving someone isn’t about asking for love in return; it’s about giving love freely. Being the one who gives feels far better than being the one who receives.

When we only know someone from a distance, it’s better to let them be. If they truly want you in their life, they’ll eventually include you—sooner or later. I’ve always believed in this. And it’s true; we can never bind someone to be with us. That’s why I end up creating my own stories in my head. It gives me peace. Maybe not in reality, but at least I’m happy in the universe I’ve created in my mind.

And you know what? I’m happy. Really happy. Because when my words can make him blush, that’s more than enough for me.