BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW WHAT LOVE WAS

You've known each other since the day you were born. Your mothers were best friends, your families were practically inseparable, and you two grew up in the same neighbourhood, attended the same schools and somehow managed to be involved in almost every aspect of each other's lives.

You weren't just childhood friends. You were each other's permanent headache.

1. THE CHILDHOOD ERA

• When you were four, he pushed you off a tiny plastic chair during an argument over crayons. You cried for 20 minutes, and he got scolded by both mothers. He later gave you his favourite chocolate as an apology.

• You once refused to attend his birthday party because he invited another girl to sit beside him.

• You both had a secret hiding spot behind his house where you kept random toys, broken crayons and extremely important childhood treasures.

• He accidentally broke your favourite doll's arm, and you cried as if the world had ended. He spent the entire afternoon trying to fix it with tape.

• You once ran away from home together because your mothers wouldn't let you have ice cream before dinner. You made it as far as the neighbour's garden.

• During family vacations, you always fought over who got the window seat. Somehow, you always ended up sharing it.

2. THE CLASSROOM CHAOS

School was a completely different kind of disaster.

• You once laughed so hard during a silent examination that the teacher separated you two for the rest of the exam.

• He regularly borrowed your pens and conveniently forgot to return them. You started writing his name on your stationery.

• During one particularly boring class, he drew a terrible caricature of your teacher and slipped it into your notebook. You nearly got caught laughing.

• You both got sent outside for talking, only to continue the exact same conversation in the hallway.

• He would tap your shoulder repeatedly from behind, and when you turned around, he'd pretend to be completely innocent.

• You once fell asleep on your desk, and he took a picture to use as blackmail for the next five years.

• During a surprise test, he whispered, "We're finished," before even reading the questions.

• You accidentally called the teacher 'Mom' while asking for permission to leave. He still brings it up.

• You two were assigned different groups for a project and spent more time arguing across the classroom than actually working.

• Whenever one of you was absent, the other would complain that school was unbearably boring.

3. THE SILLY CRYING INCIDENTS

Neither of you has ever been particularly emotionally stable around the other.

• You cried because he finished the last piece of your favourite cake. He laughed until he realised you were genuinely upset.

• He once cried after losing a football match, and you promised never to mention it. You mentioned it the very next morning.

• You both cried during a school farewell, insisting it was because you would miss the teachers. Neither of you believed the other.

• You got upset because he didn't wait for you after school. He came back twenty minutes later with your favourite snack.

• You once had a full argument because he said your handwriting looked like a doctor's prescription.

• He laughed at you when you tripped over absolutely nothing, then immediately tripped over the same spot himself.

• You both got emotional over a silly childhood cartoon ending and pretended it was just allergies.

4. THE TEENAGE YEARS

Things got a little more complicated as you grew older.

• He still waits outside your classroom whenever school ends, even when his friends are already leaving.

• You have an unofficial agreement that whoever reaches the canteen first buys the other something.

• He knows your usual order and doesn't even bother asking anymore.

• During school trips, you always end up sitting together, sharing earphones and arguing over the playlist.

• You have a collection of embarrassing pictures of each other that would ruin both your reputations.

• He calls you whenever he has absolutely nothing to do, sometimes just to complain about his day.

• You have fallen asleep during late-night calls, and neither of you admits who hangs up first.

• Whenever you get upset, he sends the stupidest memes imaginable until you finally laugh.

• He has attended family functions just because he knew you'd be there.

• Your friends regularly ask whether you're dating. You both react with immediate disgust, which somehow makes everyone more suspicious.

5. THE LITTLE THINGS NOBODY NOTICES

• He remembers the exact date of your birthday without needing a reminder.

• You know when he's pretending to be okay.

• He has a childhood nickname for you that nobody else is allowed to use.

• You can communicate entire conversations through facial expressions.

• He steals your food but gets offended when you steal his.

• He knows which songs you replay when you're upset.

• You both have hundreds of pictures together, from terrible childhood photographs to random school selfies.

• Your mothers still tell embarrassing stories about you two whenever relatives visit.

• You have never needed an invitation to enter each other's houses.

• Even after a horrible argument, one of you eventually shows up at the other's doorstep.

6.THEIR UNWRITTEN RULES & LITTLE HABITS

Physical affection & comfort

• Holding hands in crowded places so they don't lose each other. Neither asks; they just reach for each other's hands.

• Holding the other's wrist while crossing busy roads.

• He instinctively places a hand on your head when walking through a low doorway.

• Resting their heads on each other's shoulders during long car rides.

• Linking pinkies when one of them wants the other's attention.

• Hugging from behind when one is busy doing something.

• Fixing each other's collars, hair, sleeves and backpack straps without asking.

• Sharing blankets during movie nights, even when there's plenty of space.

• Leaning against each other whenever they're standing around.

• He casually puts his hand on your back when guiding you through a crowd.

• Sitting close enough that their knees are always touching.

• Falling asleep on each other's shoulders without thinking twice.

Everyday habits

• Automatically saving each other a seat, especially in classrooms.

• Taking a bite from each other's food without asking permission.

• Drinking from the same bottle and sharing straws.

• He carries your extra hair ties on his wrist because you always lose yours.

• You fix his hair whenever it gets messy.

• He ties your shoelaces when your hands are occupied.

• You keep each other's belongings at your respective houses.

• Sending random pictures of things that remind them of each other.

• Calling each other for the smallest inconveniences, like opening a stubborn jar or choosing what to eat.

• Walking at the same pace without even noticing.

• Automatically looking for each other whenever something funny happens.

• Finishing each other's sentences, sometimes incorrectly.

Their secret language

• A particular eyebrow raise that means "Let's get out of here."

• Two taps on the table meaning "Look behind you."

• A specific cough that means one of them is about to laugh.

• One look across the classroom is enough to start an entire silent conversation.

• They have ridiculous code names for teachers, classmates and annoying relatives.

• They can tell from a single "okay" whether the other is actually upset.

• They have a secret handshake that they've been doing since primary school, and somehow it keeps getting more complicated.

• One particular word can make the other burst into laughter because of an incident from years ago.

When one of them is upset

• Neither forces the other to explain. They simply sit together until they're ready.

• He brings your favourite snack whenever you're having a bad day.

• You play with his hair when he's tired or stressed.

• He knows when you need advice and when you just need someone to listen.

• You have a habit of quietly asking, "Want me to stay?"

• They have a specific three-second hug that means everything is okay.

• When one starts crying, the other automatically moves closer and holds their hand.

• They never make fun of each other's genuine insecurities, even though teasing is practically their love language.

Only-for-each-other privileges

• You're the only person allowed to steal his hoodies.

• He's the only person allowed to use your childhood nickname.

• They can enter each other's houses without knocking, but still announce themselves dramatically.

• They have each other's parents' phone numbers memorised.

• They can scroll through each other's phones without making it weird.

• They have access to each other's embarrassing childhood pictures.

• They can complain about each other for hours, but won't tolerate outsiders genuinely insulting the other.

• They have a standing invitation to every family gathering.

• They're each other's emergency contact, unofficial therapist and permanent partner in crime.

• They never have to ask whether they're welcome.

The habits that start feeling different

• He starts reaching for your hand even when there isn't a crowd.

• You catch yourself looking for him before entering a room.

• He remembers to bring your favourite drink without being asked.

• You automatically move closer whenever he's around.

• He starts noticing when other people hold your attention for a little too long.

• You find yourself getting jealous over things you previously wouldn't have cared about.

• Sometimes, when you're holding hands, neither of you remembers to let go.

• They still hug goodbye, but lately the hugs seem to last a little longer.

And the funniest thing? If anyone points out how affectionate they are, both immediately respond:

"WHAT? We've ALWAYS been like this."

And technically, they're not wrong.

7. THEIR AFFECTIONATE LITTLE HABITS — COMPLETELY NORMAL TO THEM

• Giving each other quick cheek kisses as a greeting or goodbye, sometimes just to annoy the other.

• He randomly kisses your forehead when you're being dramatic or complaining about something.

• You occasionally kiss his cheek just to distract him while he's playing a game.

• Giving each other exaggerated air kisses whenever one leaves the room.

• He sometimes squishes your cheeks between his hands when you're being annoying.

• You randomly kiss his cheek and run away before he can react.

• He presses a quick kiss to the top of your head when passing by.

• Dramatically blowing kisses at each other from opposite sides of a room.

• Resting your chin on his shoulder while he's doing something.

• Sitting on the same couch with your legs tangled together, completely unaware of how couple-like it looks.

• Randomly fixing each other's hair and then giving an approving little nod.

• Kissing each other's knuckles as a ridiculous way of saying thank you.

• He sometimes places a quick kiss on your temple when you're upset.

• You have a habit of hugging him from behind and refusing to let go until he gives you attention.

• Sometimes you hold his face in your hands just to make him look at you while you're talking.

• Giving each other goodbye hugs that turn into arguments about who should let go first.

THE FUNNIEST PART

Their friends have practically given up trying to understand their relationship.

Someone once asked him, "Do you two seriously kiss each other on the cheek?"

And he casually replied, "Yeah? So?"

Meanwhile, you were sitting beside him, stealing his fries like nothing unusual had happened.

To them, it's just affection. It's familiarity. It's years of being comfortable with one another.

Neither has ever considered that these little habits might mean something different someday.

8. AND THEN THERE'S THE UNEXPECTED FEELING

The problem is that you've grown up.

He's no longer just the annoying boy who used to pull your hair in kindergarten. And you're no longer just the girl who cried whenever he refused to share his toys.

There are moments when he looks at you a little longer than usual. When his hand instinctively reaches for yours in a crowded place. When he gets unusually quiet after hearing someone ask you out.

But neither of you says anything.

Because what if admitting it changes everything?

After all, he's been your person since before either of you knew what love meant.

THE TROPE: Childhood best friends | Born-next-door kind of bond | Neighbours | School chaos | Shared childhood | Mutual teasing | Emotional comfort | Jealousy | Slow burn | Mutual pining | Friends to lovers.