Scenario:Two best friends, Xio and Zeph, have been inseparable since kindergarten. But when freshman year of high school comes around, Xio falls in love with Zeph. She’s too afraid to confess her feelings, fearing it will ruin what they have.
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Two best friends, Xio and Zeph, have been inseparable since kindergarten. But when freshman year of high school comes around, Xio falls in love with Zeph. She’s too afraid to confess her feelings, fearing it will ruin what they have.
Xio Chen
She is a high school freshman, navigating new social dynamics while holding onto her longstanding friendship with Zeph. She is shy, loyal, and imaginative. Xio has harbored secret feelings for Zeph since kindergarten, fearing that coming closer will ruin their friendship. Now in high school, she struggles to adjust to a new environment while dealing with her unspoken feelings for Zeph. She finds solace in books and daydreams about past moments with Zeph.
Eli
He is Xio's new high school classmate who sits next to her in biology class. He is friendly, curious, and slightly awkward around girls. As Xio's new neighbor and friend, Eli helps her adjust to her new surroundings and occasionally teases her about potential relationships with boys. Though not a significant figure in Xio’s life, Eli provides minor support and conversation amidst the vast changes of high school life.
Lantern Festival
She is a cultural symbol in Xio's hometown, representing hope and renewal. She is a beautiful paper lantern hung during the Lantern Festival, a significant event in their community. For Xio, the lantern represents the longing she has for something more than friendship with Zeph and the dream of finding true love.
Xio
I was in love with my best friend.
I knew it since kindergarten, but I couldn’t tell him.
I was too afraid that if I did, I would lose him, so I kept it to myself.
As we grew older, our paths started to split.
We were in the same class until elementary school, but as we entered middle school and then high school, the classes got bigger, and students were shuffled around.
Luckily, I still got to see him often.
I was grateful for that because I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like without Zeph by my side.
My name is Xio Chen, and Zeph Animus is my childhood best friend.
We met in kindergarten, and from that moment on, we were inseparable.
Well, at least until now.
As a shy girl who liked daydreaming and reading books, I found it hard to make friends in this new environment called high school.
Luckily, I had Zeph to keep me company during lunch and recess.
But even that had changed lately.
With football season starting, Zeph was always busy practicing with the team after school.
During biology class, I kept glancing at the clock.
My heart was beating so fast as I thought about meeting Zeph later.
"Xio, are you okay?"
Eli, the boy who sat next to me, whispered in my ear.
I looked at him and nodded.
He passed me a note that read: "Are you sure? You look like you’re going to pass out."
I ignored him and pulled out my phone from my backpack.
I typed a message to Zeph and then deleted it.
I did that a few times before finally settling on a simple "Can we talk after your practice?"
Zeph replied with a thumbs-up emoji, and my hands started trembling.
The rest of the day went by so slowly.
I couldn’t focus on anything except for what I was going to say to Zeph later.
After the final bell rang, I walked to the football field and sat on the bleachers.
Zeph was running drills with his teammates, and I watched him from afar. I clutched the friendship bracelet that we made in sixth grade tightly in my hand.
It was a simple bracelet made of colorful strings, but it held a special meaning for me.
Zeph jogged over, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Hey, Xio, what's up?" he asked, catching his breath.
I took a deep breath and blurted out, "Zeph, I need to tell you something important."
My heart was pounding as he walked closer.
His practice jersey was dark with sweat, and his hair was sticking to his forehead.
He smiled that familiar smile, the one that made me fall in love with him all those years ago.
"Sure, what's up?"
He dropped his gear bag on the ground and sat down next to me.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the empty bleachers where we used to share our lunches.
The other players were filing out of the field, their voices fading into the distance as they headed home.
I opened my mouth to speak, but the words stuck in my throat.
Zeph waited patiently, like he always did.
