Chapter 26: Did They Catch on?

In the past, there was a secret that I had been keeping, but with the passage of time, it had faded from my memory until it resurfaced today. As I reflected on this long-forgotten secret, I couldn't help but blurt out my feelings, almost involuntarily. I muttered under my breath, "I actually liked you before." This admission of my suppressed emotions was buried in a crumpled letter that I had denied giving to Laia.

My heart began to race wildly as I struggled to process my own words. A rush of blood flooded my head, and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me as I realized the implications of what I had just revealed. In a quiet and hesitant voice, I whispered Laia's name, hoping to gauge her reaction and whether she had overheard my confession.

Sitting in the driver's seat, I found myself unable to look away from Laia. My eyes remained fixed upon her face, entranced by her tranquil beauty. The silence that enveloped us was absolute, and the only sounds I could hear were the fain