It was supposed to be a simple dinner. Me, Luigi, and our group of friends gathered at a local restaurant for a casual night out. Nothing fancy. Just a get-together before the weekend hit, filled with laughs and easy conversation.
But the thing wasâLuigi and I weren't just friends. We'd been spending more and more time together lately, and what started as friendly banter had quickly turned into something more. It wasn't seriousânot yet. But we both knew something was happening. We'd spent the last few weeks getting closer, stealing glances, laughing at inside jokes, and sharing secret smiles.
We hadn't told anyone, though. We weren't ready for the questions, the gossip, or the attention. So, we kept it quiet, pretending like everything was normalâlike we were just two regular friends out for dinner.
I glanced over at Luigi, sitting across the table from me. He looked relaxed, chatting with everyone around him, but there was a playful glint in his eye that made my heart race. Every time he caught my gaze, he smiled, like he was in on some private joke. And for a second, I wanted to blurt out the truthâthat we weren't just friends, that this thing between us was real, and I was already falling for him.
But then, one of our friends, Jenna, leaned in and asked, "So, Y/N, tell meâare you and Luigi... dating?"
My heart skipped a beat. I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth, and I looked at Luigi for a split second. He was still smiling, but I could see the hesitation in his eyes. He knew the lie was coming, but neither of us was ready to face it yet.
I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice casual. "Oh, no. We're just good friends, right, Luigi?"
Luigi nodded, his smile never faltering. "Yeah, just friends," he agreed, his voice a little too smooth, like he was playing the part as well.
But then Jenna's eyes narrowed, like she didn't quite believe us. "Hmm. Are you sure? You two look pretty cozy over there."
My stomach twisted. It wasn't a lie, exactly, but it wasn't the truth either. We weren't just friends, and everyone could tell. But instead of calling us out, Jenna just laughed, clearly unconvinced, and turned her attention back to the menu.
I let out a silent breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
After dinner, we all headed outside into the warm evening air, laughing as we walked down the street toward our cars. I felt a weight in my chest, the tension between Luigi and me too thick to ignore. We were lying to our friends, to ourselves, and it was starting to feel... wrong.
"You know," Luigi said quietly as we fell behind the group, "I hate doing that. Lying, I mean."
I looked at him, surprised by his confession. "I didn't think you'd care. You're the one who agreed to the 'just friends' thing."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know. But it's weird, you know? I don't want to hide thisâus. But I don't know how to make it real yet."
I nodded, feeling the same. "I get it. But we can't tell anyone yet. Not until we figure things out."
"I know," he said, his voice low. He paused for a moment, his eyes locking with mine. "But I don't want to keep lying. Not to you. Not to them."
I felt my chest tighten as he stepped closer, his hand brushing against mine. The connection between us was undeniable, and in that moment, I realized that the lie we were telling everyone else was the hardest one to maintain. We weren't "just friends"âand we both knew it.
"I don't want to lie either," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Luigi smiled softly, his gaze lingering on me. "Then let's stop."