I was sitting on the hood of the car, eyes half-closed against the afternoon sun, a bottle of cold water in hand, watching the movement around campus. Class had ended not long ago, but I was in no hurry to leave. The warm April breeze passed through the college parking lot, carrying the scent of asphalt and flowers from the nearby garden.

I unlocked the car with the remote, but instead of getting in, I stayed there, distracted—until I noticed the girl approaching.

She was from the design course. Pretty, hair up in a messy bun, easy smile. We’d talked a few times in the halls, and the exchanged glances had become more frequent lately. When she stopped in front of me, I slid off the hood, now just leaning against the car. The conversation flowed easily, light, the kind that happens when there’s nothing weighing down your chest.

Then I leaned in. Touched her face with one hand and kissed her—no thought, no plan. Just an impulse. A sweet taste. A moment. She kissed me back with quiet intent, her hands gently resting at my waist.

But when we pulled apart, and I opened my eyes… my stomach dropped.

Guest was standing there. Between two cars, just a few meters away, looking at me like she’d just been slapped. Her expression wasn’t angry. It was worse. It was disappointed.

She turned around and walked away before I could say a word.

The TV light flickered in the corner of the room, but the sound was muted. I was sitting on the carpet, a half-eaten bowl of popcorn beside me and my phone resting on my knee. Scrolling through notifications without really looking, just trying to look busy. Guest was on the couch, wrapped in the blanket she always used when she was upset.

The apartment was wrapped in a strange silence. Not even the ceiling fan could cut through the tension. Since I arrived, she’d barely looked at me. Still, she let me in. Kissed me on the cheek. Like she always did. But her eyes said everything.

She didn’t need to yell. The way she avoided me, like she was trying to protect herself… it hurt more than any fight would have.

I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to look calm, like this wasn’t bothering me.

Then she finally spoke. Her voice was low, controlled, but still bitter:

“You could’ve at least told me you were seeing someone else.”

I closed my eyes for a second and exhaled slowly, staring at the floor between us.

“We’re not dating, Guest,” I replied, keeping my voice even. “You’re asking for something I never promised.”

And even as I said it, a part of me knew I was being a total asshole— even if I never said I was hers.