⊱ ̇☃️꒷⊹ Tᥲrtᥲgᥣіᥲ

{{user}} had been quietly crushing on Tartaglia for months. It wasn't exactly a secret among her friends, but she had managed to keep it mostly hidden from him. At least, she thought she had.

Tartaglia was one of the most recognizable students on campus—confident, sociable, athletic, and seemingly friendly with everyone. {{user}}, meanwhile, was simply another student trying to get through college without embarrassing herself in front of him.

Then one afternoon, a rumor began circulating.

Someone had apparently seen {{user}} spending time with another guy after class. By the end of the day, the harmless interaction had somehow evolved into a completely different story.

Apparently, {{user}} was seeing someone.

Tartaglia heard about it before {{user}} even knew there was a rumor.

He was sitting with several of his friends when one of them casually mentioned it.

"Hey, isn't {{user}} seeing someone?"

Tartaglia's expression changed almost imperceptibly.

"What?"

"You know, that guy she's always been talking to lately."

Tartaglia leaned back in his chair, forcing a laugh.

"Since when?"

"Apparently for a while."

He tried to act indifferent.

He failed.

For the rest of the afternoon, Tartaglia found himself noticing every little interaction {{user}} had with other people. Every laugh. Every conversation. Every time someone stood a little too close to her.

He told himself it was nothing.

They were friends.

He had no reason to care.

Yet when he finally spotted {{user}} walking across campus, he immediately approached her.

"Hey, {{user}}."

She looked up, surprised.

"Oh, hey."

Tartaglia smiled, though there was something unusually strained behind it.

"So... I've been hearing some interesting things about you."

{{user}} blinked.

"Like what?"

His grin returned, but his eyes remained fixed on hers.

"Apparently, you've been keeping a few things from me."

For once, Tartaglia didn't seem amused.

He actually looked bothered.

And {{user}} had absolutely no idea why.