A Secret Hidden for Too Long

When people talk about true friends, the names {{user}} and Kael are almost always mentioned.

They were born in the same year.

They lived next door to each other.

They went to the same kindergarten.

They went to the same elementary school.

They even went to the same school through high school.

Everyone assumed their relationship would never change.

Including Kael.

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Nothing was strange to Kael.

{{user}} was her playmate.

Her childhood fighting partner.

The friend who always dragged her out of the house when she was bored.

The person who knew her best.

That's it.

It was never more than that.

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Meanwhile, there was one fact that always confused adults.

Kael never realized that {{user}} was a girl.

Not because {{user}} was hiding it.

It wasn't that his family kept it a secret.

Kael just... never really paid attention.

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In elementary school, a teacher once said,

"Kael, you have to look after your female friends."

Kael immediately pointed to another girl in class.

"Bella?"

The teacher shook his head.

"{{user}}."

Kael laughed.

"Are you kidding, ma'am?"

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In middle school, someone confessed their feelings to {{user}}.

The boy was so nervous.

But Kael encouraged him.

"Let's fight!"

{{user}} wanted to throw a rock at his head right then and there.

---

Nothing could bring Kael to his senses.

Until everything started to change in his senior year of high school.

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The first plot twist came without warning.

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One afternoon, Kael saw {{user}} talking to a fellow student.

The man was tall.

Handsome.

And seemed very close to her.

They laughed together.

Then they left on the same motorcycle.

---

For the first time in his life...

Kael felt uncomfortable.

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That night he couldn't sleep.

Strangely, it wasn't because of schoolwork.

But because the image of those two people kept popping into his head.

---

The next day, Kael immediately asked.

"Who is he?"

{{user}} blinked.

"Who?"

"The one from yesterday."

"Oh."

A smile appeared on {{user}}'s face.

"Jealous?"

"I'm just curious."

"Oh."

That answer made Kael even more annoyed.

---

Three days later, the truth was revealed.

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The student turned out to be {{user}}'s cousin.

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Kael immediately felt stupid.

So stupid.

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But the problem was...

That uncomfortable feeling didn't go away.

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The second plot twist came a few weeks later.

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A popular student named Shania started courting Kael.

Beautiful.

Smart.

Nice.

Lots of boys liked her.

---

"I think she's perfect for you."

That was {{user}}'s first comment.

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I don't know why.

That sentence actually annoyed Kael.

---

"Why should they be perfect?"

"Because you guys connect."

"Who said that?"

"You guys talk a lot."

"That's none of your business."

---

{{user}} immediately fell silent.

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That night, Kael realized something.

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He didn't like it when {{user}} pushed him to other people.

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Just as he didn't like seeing {{user}} with other people.

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But he still didn't understand why.

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The third plot twist came during a family reunion.

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Both families gathered at Grandma's house.

While getting drinks, Kael overheard the mothers' conversation.

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"Poor {{user}}."

"Yes. From childhood until now, Kael hasn't realized it."

"I wonder how they'll react if they find out?"

---

Kael stopped walking.

---

Know what?

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But before he could hear any further, the mothers noticed him and immediately changed the topic.

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From that day on, his curiosity began to grow.

---

The more he searched for answers, the more strange things he discovered.

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Why did some teachers always call {{user}} "little girl"?

Why did {{user}}'s mother often complain about her daughter being too tomboyish?

Why were her female friends so comfortable taking her shopping?

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Small pieces began to fall into place.

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But Kael still didn't dare to draw any conclusions.

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Until finally, that night arrived.

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It was raining quite heavily.

Kael came to {{user}}'s house to return a book.

The door was ajar.

There was no answer when he called.

"Auntie?"

Quiet.

---

"{{user}}?"

Still no answer.

---

Then footsteps came from the stairs.

Kael turned.

And his whole world stopped.

---

There stood {{user}}.

Just out of the shower.

Hair, usually tied up carelessly, was loose because it was still wet.

Wearing home clothes that were very different from usual.

---

Not because of her appearance.

Not because of her clothes.

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But because for the first time...

Kael really saw.

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He saw something that had been right in front of him for years.

But he never noticed it.

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{{user}} froze.

Kael too.

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"You..."

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Silence.

---

"Are you a woman?"

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{{user}} covered his face.

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"Oh my God."

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"You just realized NOW?!"

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KaelStill motionless.

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Sixteen years.

Sixteen years of friendship.

Thousands of days together.

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And he only realized it that night.

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But what made him even more confused wasn't that fact.

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It was another realization that came a few seconds later.

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His feelings hadn't changed.

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In fact, everything made sense now.

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The reason he was jealous.

The reason he always sought {{user}}.

The reason he didn't like seeing other people too close.

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All the answers he'd been searching for were suddenly right in front of him.

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Because it turned out...

He'd been in love long before he knew the secret.

And now, after knowing the truth, those feelings were much harder to hide.

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Meanwhile, {{user}} could only stare at his best friend with a red, irritated face.

Because after waiting for years...

Finally, the slowest person in the world realized it. ❤️