The sun dipped below the skyline, painting the city in hues of orange and pink. Raisa stood by the window of her apartment, watching as the day surrendered to twilight. She couldn’t shake off the heaviness in her chest that had settled there since the conversation with Zayn earlier that day. "What now?" she whispered to herself, the question hanging in the air like the fading light.

"Ah, life’s a puzzle, isn’t it?" Kendra said, entering the room with a sigh, her camera slung around her neck. She always had a way of popping in at just the right moment, her free-spirited energy radiating warmth. “You look lost in thought. Spill it!”

Raisa turned, forcing a smile. "It’s just… Zayn. He wants more from me, and I don’t know if I can give it."

“Wait! More? Like what? Relationship type more?” Kendra asked, her eyes widening, clearly intrigued.

“Yeah, I guess. He wants us to be something more than just friends,” Raisa replied, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement. “But I can’t help but think about Luca. Everything with him just feels so unfinished.”

Kendra placed a hand on her hip, tilting her head. “Hmm. So you’re caught between two worlds: the stability Zayn offers and the excitement of whatever you had with Luca. I get it.” She waved her hand dramatically. “But girl, you can’t keep running in circles. You have to choose.”

“Choose? That’s the problem! I don’t know what I want,” Raisa exclaimed, the frustration bubbling over. “Zayn is everything people say I need, but Luca…” She paused, a memory flooding back: the warmth of Luca’s laughter, the late-night conversations that felt more like revelations.

Kendra leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. “You need to be honest with yourself. Do you see a future with Zayn? Or is he just a safety net while you figure things out with Luca?”

“I don’t know! I feel like if I choose Zayn, I’m settling. But with Luca, there’s so much uncertainty!” Raisa ran a hand through her hair, feeling the tension in her scalp. “What if I end up making the wrong choice?”

“Ah! But what’s the ‘right’ choice? You won’t know unless you dive in and see how it feels. You can’t live life always wondering, ‘What if?’” Kendra’s voice softened, and Raisa could see the understanding in her eyes.

Raisa sighed, the weight of her indecision palpable. “What if I get hurt? Again?”

“Then you’ll heal. We all do,” Kendra replied, her tone firm yet gentle. “Look, you’re strong, Raisa. And hey, if it doesn’t work out with either of them, there’s always a cute barista at that café down the street.” She winked, trying to lighten the mood.

Raisa chuckled softly, but the laughter faded quickly. “You’re right. I just need to figure out what I want. But how do I do that?”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Start by talking to Zayn. Be real with him. You owe him that much, at least,” Kendra suggested, moving closer. “And don’t forget to think about how you feel with Luca. Make a list if you have to—pros and cons. It sounds silly, but sometimes it helps clarify things.”

“Wait! A list?” Raisa raised an eyebrow, amused by the idea. “Really?”

Kendra grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Absolutely! You’ll be surprised what comes out when you write it down. Plus, it gives you a chance to see your feelings laid out in front of you. It’s like looking in a mirror, but one that doesn’t lie.”

“Okay, okay! You’ve convinced me,” Raisa said, her heart racing slightly at the thought of confronting Zayn. “But what if I end up hurting him?”

“Hey, it’s better to be honest than to lead him on. Ah! Just remember that you’re not a villain here; you’re just trying to figure your own heart out,” Kendra said, her tone serious for a moment.

As Raisa processed Kendra’s words, her phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking the tension. She walked over, her heart thudding in her chest as she picked it up. It was a message from Zayn.

Zayn Aksa: Can we talk? I think we need to clear the air about us.

“Oh no,” Raisa muttered, anxiety tightening around her chest.

Kendra leaned over, peering at the screen. “Well, there’s your chance. Go on, text him back!” she urged, her excitement bubbling up.

With a deep breath, Raisa replied, her fingers trembling as she typed.

Raisa Elara: Yeah, let’s meet. I’ll be at our usual spot in an hour.

As soon as she hit send, her heart raced. “What if I mess this up?” she asked, looking at Kendra with wide eyes.

Kendra clapped her hands together, enthusiasm bubbling. “You won’t! Just be honest, and you’ll be fine. You’ve got this!”

Raisa felt a small surge of confidence, but it was fleeting. As she prepared to leave, her mind wandered to Luca. What if he decided to reach out too? The idea sent a thrill and a shiver down her spine.

As Raisa stepped out of her apartment, the cool evening air wrapped around her, grounding her in the moment. She glanced up at the sky, stars beginning to twinkle above the city. “Under the same sky,” she whispered, realizing how connected yet disconnected she felt from her own heart.

The café buzzed with chatter and the clinking of cups as Raisa approached their usual table. Zayn was already seated, his expression unreadable. As she took her seat, the weight of their unspoken feelings hung heavily between them.

“Thanks for coming,” Zayn said, his voice steady but tinged with uncertainty. “I know things have been… complicated.”

“Yeah, they really have,” Raisa admitted, her heart pounding as she prepared to speak her truth.

But before she could gather her thoughts, the door swung open, and in walked Luca, his presence commanding immediate attention. Their eyes locked, and time seemed to freeze.

“Oh no,” Raisa breathed, her heart racing for a different reason now.

Luca’s gaze flickered between her and Zayn, confusion etched across his face. The air thickened with tension as both men regarded each other, the weight of unspoken words and tangled emotions hanging over them like a storm cloud.

“Raisa?” Luca said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Zayn?” Raisa replied, glancing between the two men, her heart caught in a whirlwind of emotions.

This was the moment that could change everything, and Raisa could feel the weight of her choices crashing down around her.

With both men staring at her, Raisa felt the walls closing in. How would she navigate this tangled web of emotions? As her mind raced, she realized that under the same sky, her heart was about to face its biggest test yet.