The Secret We Couldn’t Hide

The first thing Maya noticed about Zara was her laugh.

It wasn’t quiet or careful. It filled the university courtyard as though Zara had never learned to worry about who was listening.

Maya looked up from her notebook.

And immediately wished she hadn’t.

Zara was standing beneath a large tree with two friends, her backpack hanging from one shoulder. She was smiling at something one of them had said, completely unaware that someone across the courtyard was watching her.

Maya quickly lowered her eyes.

Don’t.

She had promised herself that this year would be different.

No unnecessary drama. No complicated friendships. No secrets accidentally becoming conversations.

Most importantly, no getting attached.

“Maya?”

She looked up.

A girl she’d never met was standing beside her table.

“You’re sitting in my usual spot.”

Maya blinked. “Oh. Sorry.”

The girl smiled.

“I’m joking.”

Maya stared at her.

Then realized.

She was Zara.

“You’re new, right?” Zara asked.

“Yes.”

“Thought so.”

“How?”

“You have that look.”

“What look?”

“The ‘I don’t know where anything is but I’m pretending I do’ look.”

Maya laughed before she could stop herself.

Zara pulled out the chair opposite her.

“See? You can smile.”

Maya felt her face grow warm.

“I smile.”

“Rarely.”

“You’ve known me for thirty seconds.”

“Exactly. And I’ve already noticed.”

For some reason, those words stayed with Maya long after Zara walked away.

She watched her disappear through the library doors.

Then she whispered to herself,

“Don’t notice her.”

But somewhere inside, Maya already knew it was too late.