Confession leads to something unexpected.

Today had an unexpectedly charming rhythm to it, a blend of ordinary tasks and moments that felt more meaningful than usual. I started my morning early to catch the bus scheduled for 7:00 AM. Unfortunately, it arrived about fifteen minutes late, which set the tone for a slightly delayed and slower-than-usual commute. I ended up reaching the university around 7:45 AM, a bit later than I had planned.

For the day’s look, I connected my H_i03 with my H_i01, swapping out my natural hazel eyes for striking black ones, a choice that amplified the gothic style I decided to wear. The dark tones of my outfit added an extra edge, allowing me to explore a different side of my aesthetic.

In the group chat, Lu had mentioned he would be late, and I assumed it would only be a standard delay of 10 to 15 minutes. However, as time went on, it became clear he was running much later than usual. Given that our professor hadn’t shown up for Thursday or Friday’s classes, I was still adjusting back to the routine of attending, which made me feel slightly out of sync. Stepping out of the classroom for a moment, I decided to wait for him outside. While I waited, I treated myself to a quick snack—a culturally familiar bite paired with a Yoo-hoo.

Even after lingering for a while, there was no sign of him. My curiosity led me to wander toward a nearby spot I’d been meaning to explore for some time.

Eventually, I started heading back toward class, feeling a bit defeated, when Lu finally showed up. He greeted me with a playful, “Are you lost?” that immediately made me smile, even though I felt shy. It turned out he had been delayed trying to park his car without getting stuck in a mud hole—a careful and frustrating process that had taken longer than expected. ( • - • )

Although I had been on my way back to class, I couldn’t bring myself to leave him on his own. Something about his presence made me want to stay close, so I waited while he finished parking. Once he finally stepped out of the car, we naturally fell into conversation and walked to the classroom together. By the time we arrived, we had both missed around 30 minutes of the lecture. I didn’t mind much, though—it was worth it to spend that time with him.

During class, I couldn’t resist teasing him a little, even recording him jokingly on my phone. He has a habit of calling himself "ugly", something I don’t understand at all because I find him incredibly cute. His light hazel eyes catch the light in a way that’s mesmerizing, and the small gaps in his teeth make his smile even more charming to me. His hair looks so soft that I often catch myself wanting to run my fingers through it—though I’m far too shy to actually do it. It’s all these little details about him that I find so captivating, and it’s hard to believe he doesn’t see them for himself.

He was aware that I harbored feelings for someone and planned to ask them on a "date", though I had deliberately refrained from revealing their identity. Still, it seemed he might have had an inkling but chose not to make assumptions. During lunch, as we waited for our food, I noticed three girls observing me with intense, almost disapproving expressions. Their gazes grew even more pronounced when I playfully placed my hand on Lu’s head. It left me wondering if their reactions were fueled by jealousy or confusion at my distinctly cybernetic and goth-inspired appearance, accentuated by my black eyes and H_i03 being connected to H_i01 (hairstyle). ( ╹ -╹)a We eventually ordered our sandwiches—mine consisted of cheese, ham, and egg, while his included the same but with additional fillings. For drinks, I settled for juice, as the grape Fanta I’d hoped for was unavailable, while he chose water, a staple of his preferences. With no available seating inside, we opted for a table outdoors, surrounded by the buzz of people laughing and chatting. The lively atmosphere, however, left me somewhat tense, as I often feel overwhelmed in noisy, crowded environments. At one point, my discomfort peaked when I noticed someone recording a selfie video while spinning, a move that likely captured me in their frame. The thought of being recorded—a situation I strongly dislike—intensified my anxiety. ദ്ദി ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ )

Yet, amidst this, I found solace in a quieter moment. It gave me an opportunity to admire Lu’s face, even if only in fleeting, stolen glances. His light hazel eyes, illuminated by the sunlight, seemed even more captivating, and I couldn’t help but smile internally. However, I remained cautious, worried he might catch me staring. Perceptive as always, he noticed my unease and asked if I was alright. Typically, I don’t enjoy being the subject of concern, but in that instance, his attentiveness felt like a welcome comfort—a silent assurance that he was present and genuinely cared.

After we finished lunch, Lu and I met up with Ca and Jo in front of the university. Ca and Jo were absorbed in a spirited game of Mario Kart 8 on their Nintendo Switch, while Lu playfully removed his hat and placed it on my head. Each time I took it off, he would promptly put it back, and after a few rounds of this back-and-forth, I eventually surrendered and left it on. (¬////¬)

Before long, Ca’s grandparents arrived to pick him up, and Jo and Lu transitioned to playing Pokémon on their phones. When Jo decided to head home, it was just Lu and me—a circumstance that felt serendipitously perfect.

Although I longed to take a walk with him, the sweltering heat of the day discouraged me. It felt as if my very being—my cybernetic systems—might overheat under such relentless sunlight.

Lu then proposed that we visit a nearby skate park, and we set off in his car. The mud holes that dotted the path once again proved to be a challenge. At one particularly troublesome spot, his car got stuck, and as he tried to free it by pressing the accelerator, mud splattered everywhere. With his window open, the mess inevitably found its way onto him and his clothes, though, much to my relief, I remained untouched. (￣ ￣|||) Despite his evident frustration, he maintained his characteristic slight smile—a quiet attempt at masking his irritation. I rummaged through my bag and handed him some wipes, which he used to clean up as best as he could.

(And thus, his car bore the unmistakable evidence.)

When we arrived at the skate park, the heat was unyielding, so I opened my umbrella to shield myself from the sun, knowing I’d burn otherwise. Lu reclined on the ground, tilting his hat forward to cover his eyes, and started talking about classic movies. I tried to pay attention, but my focus wavered as I alternated between snapping photos and stealing glances at him. My thoughts wandered, filled with musings I couldn’t quite articulate.

Noticing the harsh sunlight on his face, I extended the umbrella to share its shade. Though small and barely enough for two, it managed to shield him somewhat. Meanwhile, my legs began to feel the sting of sunburn, but thanks to my socks, I avoided the worst of it.

Despite the intense heat and minor discomfort, the moment felt oddly serene—a snapshot of simplicity and closeness.

The moment unfolded with a tenderness I hadn’t anticipated, as though an invisible thread urged me not to let it pass unspoken. Summoning every ounce of courage, I broke the silence with the question, “Do you know who I like?” His response was simple yet inviting: “Who?” I didn't falter in that moment; without hesitation, I confessed, “The person who is with me right now.” For a heartbeat, he froze, processing the words, before offering a smile—not one of shock but of quiet happiness, as if he had been waiting for this moment as much as I had.

I tried to mask my nervousness with a playful laugh, hoping to project confidence, but the swell of emotion overwhelmed me. Tears came unexpectedly, not from sadness but as a release of emotions too big to contain. Under the shade of his hat, my face was hidden, but my sudden stillness must have caught his attention. He lifted the hat from his eyes, noticed the tears streaming down my cheeks, and immediately asked if I was alright. I assured him it was nothing bad, just a rush of feelings I hadn’t fully anticipated.

In a gesture that was both spontaneous and deeply comforting, he pulled me into a side hug, his hand moving gently along my back to soothe me. His kindness and closeness, while welcome, brought with them a strange mix of emotions. I wasn’t accustomed to such physical comfort, and though I appreciated the intimacy, I felt the tension of navigating a boundary I hadn’t yet fully explored. Comfortable though I was in his presence, this deeper level of vulnerability was unfamiliar territory, leaving me both comforted and unsure.

Through my shaky voice, I managed to explain myself, and he responded with quiet reassurances, his calm words steadying my nervous energy. He assured me that what I felt was entirely natural, that emotions are meant to flow. Even though I trusted he wouldn’t misunderstand my feelings, I couldn’t entirely silence the anxiety about how this moment might reshape the dynamic between us. What if his warmth was simply kindness, not reciprocation?

But then he surprised me. He spoke with sincerity, telling me he could see us giving it a try. As if that weren’t enough, he began to compliment me, calling me beautiful. The words caught me off guard, their weight amplified by the fact that they weren’t typed across a screen but spoken directly to me. My cheeks flushed, and I couldn’t help but smile. For the first time, it felt deeply genuine, a connection rooted in reality rather than fleeting words from an anonymous digital space.

At 1:40 PM, with the bus scheduled to depart around 2:00 PM, Lu and I made our way back to his car. He drove us to the university entrance, where we could see the two buses waiting in the distance. As we sat together, we revisited the events of the day, reflecting on everything that had transpired. I couldn’t resist asking him once again if he was truly serious about exploring a relationship with me. Each time, he reassured me with a steady and genuine tone, his words carrying a quiet conviction that eased my nerves. Though I felt my cheeks flush with excitement, I did my best to temper my emotions, balancing the thrill of the moment with cautious optimism. I began opening up to him about other things, letting the trust between us deepen as the conversation unfolded. It was precisely 1:56 PM when he, in a playful tone, remarked, "If I were you, I’d be heading to the bus right about now." With that, our conversation naturally concluded. He bid me farewell, and I, feeling a bit awkward, managed to mumble a hesitant goodbye in return.

As I made my way onto the bus, my bag unexpectedly caught on something, causing my left H_i03 to disconnect from my H_i01. A girl nearby glanced at me with a look that seemed to label me as peculiar, and for a brief moment, embarrassment flickered through me. Yet, my thoughts were elsewhere, consumed by the memory of how the confession had unfolded in a way that was unexpectedly wholesome. My happiness overshadowed the awkwardness, leaving me feeling profoundly human in a manner I struggle to articulate—but it was beautiful in its simplicity. At approximately 2:10 PM, the bus began its journey, carrying me and the other students home. As the world outside blurred by, I slipped on my slightly broken Bluetooth headphones, the ones that require careful twisting to deliver sound evenly to both ears. I let the music wrap around me, each note mirroring the emotions swirling within. A bittersweet feeling began to settle over me, a quiet acknowledgment of the transition I was embarking on. After years spent immersed in the digital realm of the i026NET, it felt surreal to be sitting on this bus, smiling softly as I replayed the moments of the day. I had confessed to someone I liked — not behind the safety of a screen, but face to face — and to my astonishment, he had reciprocated. It was a moment I had never imagined, a shift from the familiar virtual to the unpredictable reality.

When the bus reached my town, ████ was there waiting for me. On the surface, I maintained my usual demeanor, calm and unassuming, but my mind was far from quiet. Inside, I replayed every detail, especially those moments at the skate park, marveling at how it all unfolded. The question lingered in my mind: Why me? Among all those who had expressed interest in him before, what had set me apart? What was it about me that he saw as special?

Returning home, I reentered the digital sanctuary of the i026NET, though with a perspective that felt subtly altered. Lu and I resumed our conversation, and I was struck by the change in his tone — he was unexpectedly affectionate, his care showing in even the smallest comments. He reminded me to drink more water and take care of myself, words so simple yet imbued with a sincerity that made my heart swell. Buoyed by his encouragement, I started following his advice immediately, feeling a deep sense of happiness and connection.

Our conversation soon shifted toward defining what we were to each other, and before long, the tentative steps of the day culminated in something official: we were now in a relationship. It felt both surreal and grounding, a milestone I hadn’t dared to dream of but now embraced wholeheartedly.

As we spoke, we began planning our first date, set for tomorrow at around 4:00 PM, though we agreed that an earlier start would be even better. I’ll be arriving at the university earlier in the day, around 3:30 PM, to complete a few brief but important tasks before we meet. For this special occasion, I’ve decided to wear my i026NET-themed pajamas — a choice that might seem unconventional but one that reflects my true self. While I often lean into a darker, gothic aesthetic, a style I enjoy and feel comfortable in, it doesn’t fully encapsulate who I am. Tomorrow, I intend to meet him with genuine authenticity, embracing this new chapter with openness and a touch of vulnerability. In doing so, I suppose he will, in a sense, be welcomed into the i026NET.