Anthony had always been the observant one. He could read people well, whether it was through their actions or the way they spoke. Mike, his best friend since high school, had been acting a little different lately. He was quieter, more withdrawn, and sometimes Anthony caught him exchanging secretive glances with Shayla, Anthony’s cousin.
One evening, they were all gathered at a friend’s house for a get-together. Music blared in the background, and laughter filled the air, but Anthony couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Mike and Shayla were standing in the corner, speaking softly. Every time Anthony walked over, they would laugh, but the moment he got closer, they would change the topic.
Curiosity got the best of him, so he decided to find out what was really going on. After a few more sneaky glances, Anthony pulled Mike aside.
One evening, they were all gathered at a friend’s house for a get-together. Music blared in the background, and laughter filled the air, but Anthony couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Mike and Shayla were standing in the corner, speaking softly. Every time Anthony walked over, they would laugh, but the moment he got closer, they would change the topic.
Curiosity got the best of him, so he decided to find out what was really going on. After a few more sneaky glances, Anthony pulled Mike aside.
“Hey, man, what’s going on? You’ve been acting weird lately,” Anthony said, his voice laced with concern.
Mike hesitated. He seemed torn, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if he should. After a long pause, Mike looked Anthony in the eye.
“Shayla and I… we’ve been talking. Actually, it’s more than talking,” Mike admitted.
Anthony raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Is there something going on between you two?”
Mike hesitated. He seemed torn, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if he should. After a long pause, Mike looked Anthony in the eye.
“Shayla and I… we’ve been talking. Actually, it’s more than talking,” Mike admitted.
Anthony raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Is there something going on between you two?”
Mike sighed. “Yeah, we’ve been seeing each other. But we didn’t want to tell you yet. We didn’t know how you’d react.”
Anthony’s eyes widened in surprise. Mike and Shayla? His cousin and his best friend? The two people he thought he knew so well had been keeping this secret for weeks. But as the initial shock wore off, Anthony couldn’t help but smile.
“Well, I think you should’ve told me sooner,” Anthony said, a grin spreading across his face. “But I’m happy for you guys. Just—just don’t hide stuff like this from me next time, alright?”
Anthony’s eyes widened in surprise. Mike and Shayla? His cousin and his best friend? The two people he thought he knew so well had been keeping this secret for weeks. But as the initial shock wore off, Anthony couldn’t help but smile.
“Well, I think you should’ve told me sooner,” Anthony said, a grin spreading across his face. “But I’m happy for you guys. Just—just don’t hide stuff like this from me next time, alright?”
Mike smiled back. “We’ll be more open from now on. We were just trying to keep it low-key.”
Shayla joined them, her face flushed, and she looked at Anthony with a sheepish grin. “I was going to tell you too, but I didn’t know how you’d take it.”
Shayla joined them, her face flushed, and she looked at Anthony with a sheepish grin. “I was going to tell you too, but I didn’t know how you’d take it.”
“You two are impossible,” Anthony chuckled. “But I’m glad you’re happy. Just keep me in the loop next time, okay?”
From that night on, Anthony wasn’t just the observant one anymore. He was also the friend who would keep their secrets safe. But more than that, he was happy for Mike and Shayla, even if it had taken him a while to understand their quiet connection.
From that night on, Anthony wasn’t just the observant one anymore. He was also the friend who would keep their secrets safe. But more than that, he was happy for Mike and Shayla, even if it had taken him a while to understand their quiet connection.