“Mom I’m home!” you shouted as you entered your house. You hurriedly took off you shoes and headed directly to your room. Tonight is the big night where are going to confess to Aaron and everything has to be perfect. 5 years of keeping your feelings locked up was too long, and you need to tell him how much you love him before graduation comes.

“Honey, are you going to accept that scholarship?” You mom asked you as soon as you put your things in your room. She was talking about the 4 year scholarship to Korea that had been lying around for over 2 weeks now. You applied for it, never expecting to actually receive the scholarship. It was an amazing feeling when you received the package saying you were accepted to Korea University, one of the best colleges in Korea. You were always interested in the Korean culture and even knew how to speak basic Korean.

“I’m not too sure mom. I mean it’s such a huge decision and would cause such a big change in my life that I’m not too sure I’m ready for. Plus I’d be leaving my family here and of course Brenna and Aaron. I don’t think I can live four years without you guys.” You answer as you reached for an apple slice that your mom had cut.

“We would miss you terribly if you do go, but it is an amazing opportunity for you and it’s even free! Plus you might even get the chance of seeing your favorite Korean Idol. What’s his name again—ah! Taeyang!” Your mother gave you a little wink as she continued to peel some more apples.

You just laughed at her and stole another slice of apple. *Yeah and I will be become a Korean Idol* you thought sarcastically as you rolled your eyes. Your mom glared at you for stealing another slice and you gave her a small apologetic smile as you bit into the juicy slice. You walked back into your room, planning to give your best friend a call.

The phone rung three times before Brenna answered it. “Hey ----- What’s up?” You flopped on your bed as stared at the ceiling.

“God Brenna I’m so nervous for tonight!” You heard a little sigh at the other end. Brenna has watched you constantly worry about tomorrow for a whole week. She has been your best friend since you guys first met in the 4^th grade and has seen how in love you were with Aaron.

“Come on -------, everything has been prepared and it’s not use worrying about it! I promise that everything will be alright. I’m almost 100 percent sure that he feels the same for you.” You flipped over onto your stomach and couldn’t help but smile. She always did know what to say when you were feeling nervous about things. She has helped you prepare the whole time, and has even made a little excuse for Aaron to come to the park by your house. It was the park that you three always hung out together in, and you thought it was the perfect spot to hopefully change your relationship with Aaron from friends to being more.

“I really hope your right Brenna! My stomach is full of butterflies the more I think about tonight.” You looked at the outfit that Brenna has helped you pick out. It was a floral dress that Brenna said looked amazing on you and would surely knock Aaron off his feet.

“You need to get ready soon -------, I am about to call Aaron in a few minutes and take him to the park okay?” You looked at the clock and almost cursed because of how late it was already. You must have spent a lot more time in the library than you thought.

“It’s already 6? Dang it I didn’t noticed I was in the library for over 2 hours!” You jumped up really quickly from your bed and raced to the bathroom. “I need to take a shower so call me when you both are there okay Brenna?” You barely heard her reply as you started to disrobe and jump in the shower.

You got out from what you considered the quickest shower in the world and hurriedly walked to your room. “Going somewhere -------?” Your older sister called out as you passed her.

“Yup, going to do something really important!” You replied as you closed your door and quickly started to dress. You applied make up and made yourself look good for your big confession. You took one last look in the mirror and deemed yourself presentable. “It’s now or never.” You whispered to yourself and the butterflies started to appear again. You took one deep breath and let it out slowly. Giving yourself a small pep talk, you grabbed you phone and headed out the house.

“You’re going out again -------? But you just got home.” Your mom said as she saw you all dressed up. You turned to you mom and gave her a small smile. “Yeah mom, there’s just something I need to do.”

“Okay but make sure you return home before dinner alright?” she said as she went back to the kitchen to check on the food.

“Will do!” you yelled out as you rushed out of the house and ran to the park. Brenna still hasn’t called you to tell you they were at the park, but you felt it would be a lot better to be there first.

You got there in a matter of minutes and sat down on the park bench. You were a lot earlier than planned, but it was good because you needed a little bit of time to calm yourself down and make sure those darn butterflies in your stomach would disappear. You took a few calming breaths and continued to stare at your phone, waiting for Brenna’s call.

It was only a few minutes before you heard voices. “Oh Aaron you’re crazy!” Brenna laughed as Aaron told her one of his latest adventures. You heard him laugh along with her and you couldn’t help but smile hearing his laugh.

“Oh gosh Aaron. You’re too much.” Brenna said as her laughter finally stopped. “Wait for me here a bit okay? I’m going to go do something.” Brenna was about to walk away from Aaron to call you, but he grabbed her hand before she got too far away.

“Hey Brenna wait…” You heard Aaron take a deep breath and you were curious on what he had to say.

“I love you”

Everything was quiet. You thought you heard things wrong and was about to stand up and reveal your presence when Aaron continued to talk.

“I’ve always been in love with you Brenna. Ever since I first met you in 7^th grade, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I was too shy to confess to you and middle school ended before I got the chance to say anything. But when I found out that we were going to the same high school I knew it was destiny. Brenna I-“

“Wait. Wait don’t say anything anymore Aaron. Stop!” You heard Brenna’s panicked cut off Aaron. She pulled her hand out of his grasp and backed away from him. “You don’t love me Aaron! Stop joking around!” She tried laughing, trying to pull off his confession as a joke. It had to be a joke, she thought.

“You can’t love me! You love ----- right? Come on stop playing around with me! I know you love ------!” She exclaimed! You just sat on the park bench, willing to keep yourself from crying out. *This is not happening right now. It’s not. I’m just dreaming. Yeah, this is a nightmare and I’ll wake up and none of this would be real.* You were thinking, trying to convince yourself that you were just hearing things. That you just didn’t hear Aaron confessing his love to Brenna. You held in your tears, forcing yourself to not let one single one drop.

“Don’t you understand Brenna! You are the one I’m in love with. I befriended ------- because she was your best friend and I thought I could get closer to you if I did.” You lost the fight and the first tear drop feel. More continued to follow the first and you heard more of their conversation. You placed your hand on your mouth, willing yourself not to cry out.

“Aaron that’s horribl-“ Brenna tried saying but was cut off by Aaron.

“I know Brenna! I know it was horrible of me to use -----. But I didn’t have any other way of getting closer to you! Brenna I was desperate and I needed to be closer to you. I tried telling ----- the truth but as more time went by, the harder it was to tell her that I got close to her for you. I feel horrible to her. But I loved how we got closer. I love the time we spent together. I loved how you were finally starting to notice and care for me. My feelings for you overpowered my feelings of guilt towards ------“

“Brenna I love you so much.” Aaron’s voice sounded strained, as if he was trying to stop himself from crying. “Please Brenna. Tell me I’m not wrong in assuming you had feelings for me too. Brenna, please tell me you feel the same way.” Tears were falling down Brenna’s face as she continued to listen.

“Aaron please. Don’t. I can’t. I really can’t.” She replied, putting her hand on to keep herself from sobbing.

“You can’t, or you won’t? Brenna look at me in the eyes and tell me you never felt something for me? Those late night conversations that we had and those random night drives that we used to always do. Tell me those didn’t mean anything to you. Look at me and tell me you’re not in love with me too Brenna.” More tears feel down Brenna’s face as she looked at him. She stared at his eyes and tried telling him they meant nothing. That it was only friendship between them. But she couldn’t and that was her problem. Brenna was not supposed to love the person ------ loved. She couldn’t betray her friend like this, especially on this night.

“Aaron, I can’t!” She sobbed out dropping to the ground as she said it. These feelings she had for Aaron had to go away. Aaron was for you. You have loved him for so long and she couldn’t do this to her best friend. Aaron sat down to where Brenna Sat and tilted her head, making her look him in the eyes.

“Brenna why? Why can’t you love me? Brenna I love you so much.” Tears started to fall down his face and Brenna couldn’t take the pain she saw in his eyes. She couldn’t stand looking at him looking so down.

“I love you so much…” she blurted out and her eyes widened. *No! Why did I say it! No! Brenna no!* she thought as she slowly started to feel fear. She has finally said out loud what she had been keeping in for so long. She was never supposed to say it. Never.

Aaron looked up sharply at Brenna as she said those woods. Joy started to fill his eyes but before it culd fully take over, Brenna stopped it.

“But I can’t be with you.” Disbelief took over the joy that Aaron was feeling and he couldn’t help himself but he started to shout, asking why. Forcing Brenna to tell him the exact reason why. Brenna, unable to take it anymore, uttered your secret.

“It’s because ------ is in love with you Aaron! I can’t betray her. You can’t expect me to hurt my best friend like this.”

“So you’ll hurt me instead?” Aaron whispered to her. Brenna’s breath was stolen. In order to not betray her best friend, she was completely destroying the one she loved.

“Aaron…” She started but was stopped by him.

“Go out with me Brenna. We can keep it a secret from -----. When we go off to college, ---- will be able to meet someone else to fall in love with. Brenna please, don’t stop your feelings for me. We love each other. I’m sure ----- will find someone else to love Brenna. I’m sure so please go out with me.” Aaron begged her. Brenna tried stomping down the hope that she was starting to feel. Hope that maybe, possibly they can be together.

Aaron continued to plead and pursued that you will find someone else, that it will all turn out alright. You had full faith in Brenna that she wouldn’t hurt you like this. She knows you the most and she knows you have never been able to forget Aaron no matter how much you tried. But your faith in her was misplaced, because after a few more minutes of begging from Aaron, Brenna gave in and finally said yes.

 You couldn’t hold it in anymore and a sob escaped your tightly sealed lips. More came out and before they could hear you, you ran as fast as possible, away from the scene of them hugging. You have never felt so betrayed before. And the betrayal coming from your two closest friends were too much. You opened the front door to you house as fast as you could and ran to your room.

“----- wait let’s eat dinner.” You heard your mother say but you completely ignored her and locked the door to your room. You flung yourself to your bed and continued to cry out. Your family knocked on your door, asking you what was wrong but you completely ignored them and they eventually stopped.

After about half an hour of crying, your eyes ran dry and no more tears fell. You just stared out blankly at your wall, wondering how a night that had the potential to be the best night of your life suddenly turned out to be the worst. A blinking on your phone caught your attention and you tiredly lifted your arm to reach for it.

You looked at the screen and saw a text coming from Brenna. A small dejected smile crossed your face as you opened up the text I’m sorry ------- but Aaron couldn’t come today. He said he was really busy doing something. Maybe try it again next time -------? Sorry once again….

A dry laugh escaped your mouth and more tears feel down your face. Just when you thought you couldn’t cry anymore. You’re best friend. The one you trusted with everything has lied to you about the most important thing. You screamed and another bout of tears came. You couldn’t believe they just betrayed you like that. The people you trusted the most.