"We're both really busy right now, so there isn't much time for romance."

~•~

Haydée sat in the back row of the classroom, mindlessly twirling a pencil between her fingers and trying to focus on the subject being discussed. The teacher at the front was talking about some literary topic, but Haydée's thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the past few days. Her relationship with Hugo, her conversation with Arthur, her confused feelings—everything was mixing together inside her, not giving her any peace. Whenever she tried to concentrate on the lesson, all those thoughts would immediately return.

The room started to hum softly as her classmates began chatting quietly. Exhausted from thinking about her problems with Hugo and Arthur, she decided to tune out for a moment and listen to the surrounding conversations. She wanted to forget her troubles for a while and just focus on something else. To her dismay, most of the girls were talking about relationships, which only reminded her of what she was going through.

"Thomas surprised me with a candlelit dinner. He was so sweet, trying to set everything up perfectly," she heard one girl's voice from behind. There was excitement and contentment in her tone, as if the world of relationships was so simple and beautiful.

Another girl quickly joined in. "That's nothing, yesterday Martin brought me flowers just because, to show that he's thinking of me," she boasted with a smile, and the others around her nodded approvingly.

Haydée felt a peculiar pressure growing in her chest. She felt like she was getting lost in this world of sweet gestures and romantic dinners. Her relationships had never been so easy. With Hugo, it was always complicated, whether because of his work or their different needs. Arthur, on the other hand, was too intense; his feelings were strong and direct, which both frightened and attracted her.

Listening to these conversations made everything even more confusing. All the little moments of attention and love the girls were talking about stirred up sadness in her. She wasn't sure if she was even looking for something like that or if she was capable of experiencing those moments when her mind kept returning to more complex issues.

She wanted to close her eyes, push all the thoughts aside, but every word she heard reminded her of how different her own path was from everyone else's.

The girl pressed her lips together and tried to focus on the board in front of her, but it was impossible. Stories of perfect relationships, romantic gestures, and attentions that all her classmates received from their partners filled the room. Each word pricked at her like a needle. How was it that everyone around her had perfect relationships while hers seemed to be slowly falling apart? How was it that everyone's partners paid attention to them, while Hugo didn't even have time for a picnic?

"And what about you, Haydée?" one of the girls sitting nearby asked. "How's it going with Hugo?"

Haydée looked up from her desk and tried to put on a neutral expression. She knew that if she told the truth, it would start a flood of questions she wasn't in the mood to answer. "It's fine," she replied shortly, forcing a smile without trying to go into details. She felt the other girls' gazes on her, as if everyone was waiting for her to reveal something more, something interesting.

"Well," the girl continued with a smile, leaning in closer, her curiosity undeniable. "You must have some romantic story to share with us. Hugo is great, isn't he?"

Haydée hesitated. The girl's words echoed in her mind. Hugo is great, isn't he? This question gnawed at her more and more. Answering "yes" seemed like an easy way out, but she knew it wasn't the whole truth. Hugo was great, but something in their relationship simply wasn't working. Instead, she smiled and repeated, "Yes, he's great." She tried to make her voice sound calm and carefree.

"See? I knew it," another girl chimed in, smiling at the others. "Hugo is the type who would do anything for his girl."

For a moment, Haydée felt like she was trapped. Everyone was talking about Hugo as if he were perfect, and a tightness grew inside her. She knew she had many grievances with Hugo, but instead, she chose to remain silent. At that moment, she realized that even if she wanted to be honest, she couldn't do it in this environment.

She felt her facial muscles tightening, as if she could fall apart at any moment. It was unbearable for her to listen to all these girls excitedly talk about their relationships while she felt like her own was crumbling. She didn't want to talk about Hugo with them. She didn't want to discuss how she felt overlooked and neglected in recent months. She didn't want to hear about their perfect partners while she spent entire days waiting for a man who never made time for her.

"Actually..." she began quietly, trying to force a smile, "we're both really busy right now, so there isn't much time for romance."

The girls around her nodded, but quickly returned to their discussion of their perfect partners and their wonderful gestures. Haydée stopped listening to their words. She was only thinking about how far she was from these perfect images they painted. She and Hugo were no longer the happy couple they once were. And now, with Arthur in the mix, everything seemed even more complicated.

Arthur's confession of love still echoed in her head. "I have been in love with you my entire life," he had said. That sentence replayed over and over in her mind. Arthur, her closest friend, had loved her all along. And she hadn't noticed. How could she not have noticed? And now that he had told her, what was she supposed to do? She loved Hugo, but Arthur offered her something Hugo hadn't provided in a long time—attention, care, devotion.

She shifted in her chair, trying to find a more comfortable position, but felt a growing tension inside herself. She wanted to get out of there. Away from the endless talk of love and perfect relationships. Her thoughts were like a heavy boulder pulling her down, while her classmates cheerfully chatted about their partners.

"Seriously, Thomas is absolutely amazing," the girl behind her continued. "I can't imagine being with anyone else."

Haydée tensed slightly as those words penetrated her mind. They sounded so absolute, so certain. While the girl spoke with enthusiasm and conviction, Haydée felt a deep wave of insecurity. She wondered when she last felt something similar towards Hugo. When was the last time she felt that everything between them was clear and without doubt?

"I know it sounds silly," another girl chimed in with a light smile, "but I feel like we're meant to be. Killian is just perfect. Everything about him—from the way he talks to me to how he cares—is exactly what I've always wanted."

Haydée smiled faintly to herself. "Perfect?" What did that even mean? She realized that the word was used often in these conversations, but for her, it had become an empty phrase. If she were to describe Hugo's "perfection," she wouldn't know where to start. When was the last time he truly surprised her, did something spontaneously, without obligation or expectation?

Haydée felt like running out of the room. How could everyone's relationships seem so flawless while she felt like she was teetering on the brink of disaster? Was it Hugo who was losing interest, or was it her who had long since lost faith in their future? And what about Arthur? What would it mean if she gave Arthur a chance? Could he really be the one to give her what she was missing?

She felt anger rising within her. Not at her classmates, but at herself. At how she had ended up in this situation. At her inability to decide. At being torn between Hugo, who no longer fulfilled her, and Arthur, whose love frightened her. And while everyone around her discussed minor details in their relationships, she felt like the world was crashing down on her.

The teacher was saying something, but Haydée had long stopped paying attention. Her thoughts whirled in her head, each one like a thorn embedding deeper and deeper. The silence of the classroom was suddenly deafening, and the cheerful voices of her classmates were grating on her nerves. She had to get out of there.

"Can I step out for a moment?" she asked suddenly, not waiting for a response. She stood up, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door. She needed to be away from all those content faces and superficial conversations about perfect relationships. Her steps were quick and a bit shaky, but once she was in the hallway, she slowed down.

She took a deep breath, feeling the cold air fill her lungs. The silence around her was like a balm to her overloaded senses. She slowly sat down on a bench by the wall, placed her bag beside her, and rested her head against the cool stone. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her thoughts.

What now? She kept asking herself this question over and over. Staying with Hugo would mean more months or years of waiting, begging, and hoping for things to change. But she knew that Hugo wouldn't change. And Arthur? Would it be right to leave her relationship with Hugo just because Arthur cared for her?

"Why is everything so complicated?" she whispered to herself. The answers didn't come.

Haydée took a deep breath and picked up her phone. She needed to talk to someone. Maybe she could call Hugo, or perhaps she could talk to Charles. But when she opened her contact list, her finger paused on one name—Arthur.

The brunette sat in the hallway, leaning against the cold wall, still holding her phone, unable to dial the number. Her thoughts were tangled and heavy. Arthur, Hugo, her own confusion—everything was mixing inside her, pushing her toward a decision she couldn't make. Answers didn't come. She looked up when she heard the bell signaling the end of the class. She should go back. She couldn't stay here forever.

"Why is everything so complicated?" she whispered again as she grabbed her bag.

She felt the tension building in her chest, as if every breath was heavier than the last. She didn't want to go back to the classroom, where all her classmates were talking about their perfect relationships while she felt on the brink of collapse. Yet, like in a dream, she rose and headed back to the classroom. She wished she could run away, somewhere far, where she wouldn't have to face those questions, comparisons, and her own disappointment.

When she opened the door and returned to her seat, everyone was already preparing for the break. Her classmates immediately started another round of conversations. Their voices were enthusiastic, full of laughter and joy. Haydée sat back down, placed her hands on the desk, and stared straight ahead as if trying to block out what was happening around her.

Haydée sat in her seat, restlessly listening to her classmates exchanging stories about their relationships. The words got lost in her head, but she still felt how each sentence they spoke pierced deep into her soul. It wasn't that she didn't wish them happiness, but in contrast to their joyful tales, her own life seemed even emptier and more chaotic.

"So, last night we had a glass of wine and talked all night about our future," one girl said with an excited expression. "He was so sweet, planning our future together."

"That sounds great," replied another girl with similar enthusiasm. "Martin and I talked about spending the weekend at his parents' cabin. I'm really looking forward to it."

Haydée pressed her lips together. She felt tears welling up in her eyes and tried to hold them back. She didn't want to cry here. She didn't want anyone to see how much it hurt. Why was everything so simple for them? Why did everyone around her have relationships that worked, while she felt lost and broken? Why did her relationship with Hugo feel like an empty shell, while others talked about the future, plans, and love?

Haydée tried to force a smile, but the feeling inside her was too heavy. She didn't want to listen to these perfect plans. She knew she should be happy for others, that she should be rejoicing for them, but the truth was that her own relationship with Hugo was the complete opposite of these idyllic stories. While others planned cohabitation and trips, she wasn't even sure where their relationship would stand in a week.

Hugo was still distant, absorbed in work, while she waited for him to find time for her. Arthur... his face flashed in her mind and added to the chaos building inside her. Why did things have to get so complicated? Why couldn't she have a moment of peace and certainty?

"Do you think you'll ever break up?" one girl asked another, as if it were just a hypothetical topic that would never touch them.

"With Martin? Not at all! He's the one, I have no doubt about that."

"Thomas is amazing too. I can't imagine life without him."

Haydée felt as though each of their words was cutting deeper into her soul. Each sentence about the perfection of their relationships reminded her of how much her own relationship was falling apart. She tried to focus on anything else, but their conversations were unavoidable. She felt like standing up and running away, but she knew someone would notice, and she didn't want to draw attention.

"What about Hugo?" suddenly asked a girl who sat closest to Haydée. "You two have been together for a while too, right? How's it going?"

Haydée turned to her and tried to maintain a calm expression, but inside she was shaking. "Good," she lied. "Everything's fine."

The girl smiled at her, but Haydée noticed a hint of curiosity in her eyes. Maybe she had noticed her tension, maybe she sensed that there was more behind the "everything's fine." But the girl didn't say anything more and returned to the conversation with the others.

Haydée lowered her head again, feeling her throat tighten. The tears she had been holding back for so long now threatened to overwhelm her. She felt engulfed by sadness and despair, but she didn't want to cry here, in front of everyone. She had always tried to be strong, independent, to hide her weakness. And now, as her relationship with Hugo crumbled and she was confused by Arthur's feelings, she felt like she couldn't handle it all anymore.

Suddenly, the bell rang, signaling the end of the break, and Haydée quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. She couldn't fall apart here. She was strong. Or at least she tried to be.

The teacher came back into the classroom and began distributing new materials for the next lesson. Haydée took a sheet of paper and stared at it as if it were her only salvation from the world around her. But even as she tried to focus, thoughts of Hugo's unwillingness to spend time with her and Arthur's words of love wouldn't leave her.

She sat there in the classroom, surrounded by classmates who talked about perfect relationships, while she struggled with her own feelings and the tears she still didn't want to let flow freely.

~•~