WHAT'S LOVE?

The dim light from the library's emergency lamp cast long, eerie shadows on the shelves. The ticking of the old wall clock was the only sound breaking the silence. Alex stirred awake, blinking groggily as he realized he'd dozed off on an open textbook. He sat up with a start, glancing at the clock. It was past 9 PM.

"Wait... what?" His voice cracked.

The library was empty, the chairs and tables untouched except for the one beside him. His eyes landed on Mia, the class captain, who was still asleep with her head resting on her arms. Alex froze.

He debated waking her, but his heart thudded too loudly in his chest. Mia was known for her no-nonsense demeanor. She was sharp, precise, and utterly unapproachable. She didn't tolerate distractions, and Alex had long accepted that she probably thought of him as one.

As he sat there, unsure of what to do, Mia stirred, lifting her head slowly. She blinked a few times before her eyes landed on him.

"Alex?" she muttered, her voice low and irritated. "What are you still doing here?"

"Uh... I think we're locked in," he stammered, gesturing to the darkened library. "The guard must've closed up without checking."

Her expression darkened instantly. She stood and marched toward the library doors, rattling them forcefully. "Locked," she hissed. "Great. Just great."

Alex swallowed hard, standing awkwardly near the table. "I mean, it's not that bad-"

"Not that bad?" she snapped, spinning around to face him. "We're stuck in here all night because someone couldn't bother to double-check! This is ridiculous."

He shrank back, her sharp tone cutting through the already tense atmosphere. "I'm sorry..."

Mia sighed, rubbing her temples. She pulled out her phone, only to scowl at the lack of signal. "Perfect. Just perfect."

An uncomfortable silence settled between them. Alex shifted nervously, his gaze flickering toward Mia as she paced in frustration. He had always admired her-her confidence, her leadership, the way she never seemed to need anyone. But now, seeing her so visibly irritated, he wondered if it was a mistake to say anything at all.

But then he thought, If not now, when?

"Hey, Mia," he began, his voice trembling slightly.

"What?" she snapped, not even looking at him.

"I... I need to tell you something," Alex said, his heart pounding in his chest.

She stopped pacing and turned to him, arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on his. "What is it? Make it quick."

Alex hesitated, feeling the weight of her stare. But he clenched his fists, forcing himself to speak. "I like you."

Her eyes narrowed. "What?"

"I like you," he repeated, his voice firmer now. "I've liked you for a while."

Mia stared at him, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, she scoffed. "You've got to be kidding me."

Alex blinked, caught off guard. "I'm not kidding."

"Alex," she said, her tone laced with disbelief and irritation. "You're eighteen. You barely pay attention in class, you're always cracking jokes, and you think this is the time to tell me you 'like' me? In a locked library? Seriously?"

"I know I'm younger than you," he said quickly, his cheeks burning. "And I know I'm not exactly your type, but I just-"

"You don't know what my type is," she interrupted coldly. "You don't know me. You see what I do in school, but that's it. You don't know the first thing about who I am outside of being your class captain. And honestly, Alex, this is just... immature."

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut, but he stood his ground. "I know it might seem that way, but I'm serious, Mia. I think you're amazing, and I wanted to be honest about how I feel."

Mia let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. "Amazing? You don't even know half of the things I deal with. You're just projecting some fantasy version of me because I'm the 'class captain.'"

Alex felt his throat tighten. "That's not true," he protested weakly.

"Alex," she said, her tone softening just slightly, though her expression remained firm. "You're a good kid, but this... this isn't going to happen. You need to grow up and focus on yourself instead of chasing someone who doesn't feel the same way."

Her words hung in the air, heavy and final. Alex lowered his gaze, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He had expected rejection, but hearing it still stung more than he anticipated.

Before either of them could say more, a loud thud echoed from somewhere in the library, breaking the tension.

Mia's head snapped toward the sound, her expression immediately alert. "What was that?"

"I don't know," Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper.

She exhaled sharply, her leadership instincts kicking in. "Stay here. I'll check it out."

"Wait-what if it's dangerous?" Alex asked, stepping closer.

Mia shot him a sharp look. "Then don't make it worse by following me. Just stay put."

And with that, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving Alex standing alone with the ache of rejection and the eerie silence of the library.

The faint thud echoed again, this time closer, making Alex's pulse quicken. He hesitated, torn between staying put as Mia had instructed and following her into the dimly lit rows of bookshelves.

He heard her footsteps shuffling ahead, the beam of her phone's flashlight cutting through the darkness. "Mia," he called softly, trying to keep his voice steady. "Did you see anything?"

"No," she replied sharply from somewhere deeper in the library. "Stay where you are, Alex. Don't make this harder than it already is."

Alex sighed, leaning against the table as he ran a hand through his hair. Her rejection still stung, but the tension of their strange situation kept him from dwelling on it for too long.

A moment later, Mia's voice rang out again, but this time it wasn't directed at him.

"Hey!" she shouted. "There's someone outside."

Alex jumped to his feet, hurrying toward her voice. He found Mia standing by one of the large glass windows that lined the library's east wall. She was staring out into the courtyard, her phone pressed against the glass as its flashlight illuminated the space beyond.

Sure enough, there was a figure moving near the school gate. A flashlight in the person's hand bobbed up and down as they walked, casting fleeting shadows.

"It's the night guard," Mia said, her tone clipped but relieved.

Alex stepped closer, peering over her shoulder. "You think he'll hear us if we yell?"

"Doubt it," Mia muttered. She lowered her phone, glancing around the library until her eyes landed on a stack of books nearby. She grabbed one and walked briskly back to the window.

"Whoa, wait," Alex said, alarmed. "What are you doing?"

"Getting his attention," Mia replied flatly. Before Alex could protest, she tapped the book against the glass, creating a loud thud, thud, thud.

The guard paused mid-step, his flashlight swinging toward the library.

"It's working!" Alex exclaimed, his voice tinged with excitement.

Mia didn't respond. Instead, she waved her flashlight through the window in deliberate, sweeping motions. The guard hesitated, then began walking toward the building.

"He sees us," she said, her tone neutral.

They both watched as the guard approached the library door. It took a few agonizing minutes before he finally reached it. From inside, they could hear the jingling of keys as he unlocked the heavy door.

When the door creaked open, the guard stepped inside, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What on earth are you kids doing in here?" he asked, his gruff voice echoing in the now-open space.

"We fell asleep," Mia explained curtly, lowering her flashlight. "And you locked the door without checking."

The guard frowned, clearly unimpressed. "Library's supposed to close at 5 PM. What were you still doing in here?"

Mia crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "Studying. Isn't that what a library is for?"

The guard's frown deepened, but he didn't argue. He turned to Alex, who shifted awkwardly under the man's gaze.

"Same story for you?" the guard asked.

"Y-yeah," Alex stammered.

The guard shook his head, muttering something under his breath before stepping aside to let them through. "Go on. And next time, try not to fall asleep in places you're not supposed to be."

Mia didn't wait for further instruction. She strode out of the library, her posture rigid, leaving Alex to follow her.

As they walked across the dimly lit courtyard, Alex tried to fill the silence. "Well... that was lucky. I thought we'd be stuck in there all night."

Mia didn't respond, her focus fixed straight ahead.

"Uh, Mia?" he tried again. "Thanks for getting his attention. You handled that pretty well."

Finally, she glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "It wasn't luck. It was common sense."

Alex opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. "And don't think this changes anything, Alex. What you said earlier... just forget it."

Her words stung, but Alex managed a weak smile. "Got it," he said softly.

They walked in silence after that, the tension between them heavier than before.

As they reached the main gate, the guard waved them off, still grumbling about students who couldn't follow the rules. Mia didn't even glance back as she disappeared into the night, leaving Alex standing alone, watching her retreating figure.

He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"I don't think I'll be forgetting it anytime soon," he muttered under his breath before turning to head home..

The faint glow of the moon bathed the large, gated mansion in a soft silver light. Mia stepped out of the family car and walked toward the grand entrance, her heels clicking lightly against the polished marble pathway. The house, a sprawling estate with towering windows and an immaculately kept garden, was a testament to wealth and power.

Yet, to Mia, it was simply a place she returned to every night-one that felt more like a museum than a home.

The butler opened the door for her, bowing slightly. "Welcome back, Miss Mia."

"Thank you, James," she said briskly, her voice devoid of emotion. She didn't stop to exchange pleasantries, heading straight up the grand staircase to her room.

Mia's bedroom was vast, the walls painted in soft pastel shades and adorned with abstract art pieces her parents had deemed "refined." A massive study desk sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, cluttered with books, binders, and a sleek laptop. The room was perfect, pristine-just like every other aspect of her life her parents had meticulously curated.

She dropped her bag onto the plush chair by the window and sank into the chair at her desk. Flipping open her laptop, she immediately began reviewing her class notes. Her parents wouldn't accept anything less than perfect grades, and she couldn't afford to fall behind.

As she scrolled through her notes, her eyes began to blur. With a frustrated sigh, she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. The events of the evening crept into her mind-Alex's unexpected confession, the eerie silence of the library, and the guard's gruff irritation.

Her lips curled into a slight frown. She didn't have time for distractions like Alex.

Mia turned her focus back to her work, but her thoughts kept wandering. She glanced at the family portrait on her desk-a polished image of her standing stiffly between her parents. Her mother's sharp eyes and perfectly styled hair matched her father's cold, commanding presence.

Stand tall, Mia. Her mother's voice echoed in her mind. You're the face of this family. You don't have the luxury of mistakes.

Her father's words followed, just as heavy: You're not just anyone, Mia. You're the heir to the Clarke legacy. If you want to succeed, you need to think like a businesswoman, not a dreamer.

Mia's chest tightened. She had heard those words all her life. Since childhood, her days had been meticulously scheduled-piano lessons, etiquette training, advanced math classes-all to ensure she embodied the perfect "rich girl" standard.

She had excelled academically, surpassed expectations, and maintained an image of control. But it had come at a cost. Every move she made was scrutinized. Every failure, no matter how small, felt catastrophic.

She sighed, glancing at the clock. It was almost midnight, and yet her workload wasn't even halfway done.

"Rest is for the weak," her mother often said whenever Mia complained about exhaustion.

Mia reached for her water bottle, taking a long sip before returning to her notes. She was used to this-used to the pressure, the weight of expectations, and the suffocating need to be perfect.

But sometimes, just sometimes, she wondered what it would feel like to live without all the rules. Without the constant monitoring. Without the pressure to succeed at all costs.

For a fleeting moment, Alex's goofy grin flashed in her mind, and she shook her head, annoyed at herself.

What was that kid even thinking? she thought bitterly. Doesn't he know I don't have time for silly things like love?

She returned to her studies, burying her emotions under a mountain of work. She had no room for weakness, no time for distractions.

The Clarke family name demanded perfection, and Mia was determined not to disappoint.

Alex trudged up the narrow staircase of the small apartment building, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. The peeling paint on the walls and the faint scent of fried food wafting from a neighbor's kitchen were familiar comforts, but tonight they felt heavier somehow.

The events of the evening replayed in his mind-Mia's sharp words, her rejection, the way she had walked away without looking back. It stung more than he wanted to admit, but Alex shook his head, trying to push the thoughts aside.

When he opened the door to their apartment, the warm glow of the living room light greeted him. The space was modest but well-kept, with mismatched furniture and faded curtains that his mother had sewn years ago.

"Alex, you're late!" his elder sister, Vanessa, called from the kitchen. She was chopping vegetables with quick, practiced movements, her long hair tied up in a messy bun.

"Sorry, sis," Alex mumbled, kicking off his shoes by the door.

Vanessa peeked out from the kitchen, her sharp eyes scanning him. "What happened? You look like someone stole your lunch money."

"Nothing," Alex said, dropping his backpack onto the couch. "Just... a long day."

Vanessa raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. She returned to her chopping, the rhythmic sound filling the small apartment.

Their mother was sitting in the corner of the living room, knitting quietly. She looked up and smiled faintly at Alex. "You should tell your sister if something's bothering you," she said gently.

"It's nothing, Ma," Alex insisted, forcing a grin. "Really."

Vanessa emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. At twenty-eight, she carried herself with the weight of responsibility that came from being the family's backbone. She worked tirelessly at a corporate job that paid well enough to keep Alex in one of the most prestigious schools in the city-a decision she had fought for, despite their modest means.

"Alex," she said, her tone softer now. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But don't bottle things up, okay?"

Alex nodded, appreciating her concern even if he didn't feel like unpacking his feelings just yet.

Vanessa returned to the kitchen, and Alex sank onto the couch beside their mother. He glanced at her hands, steady and nimble as they worked the needles. She had been knitting scarves and hats to sell at the local market ever since their father left. It wasn't much, but it helped with the little things.

Their father.

Alex's jaw tightened at the thought of the man who had walked out on them years ago, leaving his mother, Vanessa, and him to fend for themselves. He had left for another woman, a betrayal that still lingered in the air like an old scar.

Vanessa had stepped up immediately, sacrificing her own dreams to support the family. She worked long hours, rarely had time for herself, and never entertained the idea of marriage, despite their mother's gentle nudges.

"You're twenty-eight, Vanessa," their mother would say. "You should be thinking about settling down."

And Vanessa would always respond the same way: "I'm not leaving you and Alex, Ma. Family comes first."

Alex admired her for it, but he also felt guilty. He knew how much she had given up for him to have the life he did-a good education, the chance to dream beyond their small apartment. He didn't want to let her down, even though he often felt like he was nowhere near worthy of her sacrifices.

"Food's ready," Vanessa called, interrupting his thoughts.

Alex got up and joined her in the kitchen, where she had set three plates of rice and stew on the small dining table.

As they sat down to eat, Vanessa gave him a pointed look. "You know, you should be grateful for that fancy school of yours. You've got opportunities most kids don't get. Don't waste them."

"I know," Alex said quietly, staring at his plate.

Their mother chimed in, her voice soft but firm. "She's right, Alex. Vanessa works so hard for you. Don't let her efforts go to waste."

Alex nodded, the weight of their words settling heavily on his shoulders. He wanted to make them proud, to live up to the expectations they had for him. But sometimes, he felt like he was drowning under the pressure of it all.

As they ate in silence, Alex's thoughts drifted back to Mia. She came from a completely different world-a world of privilege and polish, where perfection was demanded and failure wasn't an option.

Yet, despite their differences, he couldn't shake the way he felt about her.

He sighed, pushing his food around his plate. Vanessa noticed but didn't comment, giving him the space she knew he needed.

After dinner, Alex retreated to his small room, where his desk was cluttered with textbooks and crumpled papers. He sat down, pulling out his homework, but his mind wasn't on the equations in front of him.

He stared out the window, the city lights twinkling in the distance.

"She probably thinks I'm a joke," he muttered to himself, his thoughts once again consumed by Mia.

But deep down, Alex knew he wasn't ready to give up just yet.