My Heartbroken Best Friend
8th grade
Male Lead (ML): Mikael (Kind-hearted, recently heartbroken, reconnecting)
Female Lead (FL): Lina (Independent, single, observant)
basically.. me syeda the authy... writing this story to giving tribute to my lost friend..who is kinda devdas too..still
well whatever...he gave me inspire to make a story based on his devdas aurah hahaha but basically I hate this kind of broken mens
The classroom was a chaos of scraping chairs and shouting teenagers who hadn't seen each other all summer. Lina scanned the room for a corner seat—somewhere she could disappear. But as she moved toward the back, the teacher, Monsieur Weber, clapped his hands
...
Silence! I have assigned seats this year. No more choosing your neighbors," he announced, gesturing to a list on the chalkboard.
Lina traces the names on the board with her finger. There she was. Row three, seat two. And next to her?
She didn't know him well. He was one of those boys who seemed to be everywhere—always in the middle of a football game in the courtyard, laughing loudly. He was "the golden boy" of their year, popular but not arrogant.
lina(fl)
Lina sits down and unpacks her notebook. She arranges her pens in a perfectly straight line. A moment later, a heavy backpack thuds onto the desk next to hers.
mikael(ml)
Mikael slides into the chair, his face slightly flushed from running up the stairs. He has a smudge of blue ink on his thumb and a look of genuine curiosity in his eyes. He smells faintly of laundry detergent and the outdoor
mikael(ml)
Mikael glances at Lina. "Is this seat taken?" he asks, his voice light and teasing.
lina(fl)
Lina looks up from her notebook. "The chart says it's yours," she says simply. She isn't cold, just direct
mikael(ml)
Right. The chart," Mikael mutters, leaning back in his chair. "I’m Mikael, by the way. I think we were in the same history group in 6th grade, but you didn't talk much then either."
lina(fl)
Lina turns a page in her notebook. "I prefer listening."
mikael(ml)
A dangerous skill," Mikael jokes, spinning a pen between his fingers. "Most people here just want to hear their own voices.
The lesson began with Monsieur Weber droning on about cellular structures. The task was simple: build a 3D model of a plant cell using recycled materials.
Mikael begins to doodle in the margin of his syllabus. He isn't drawing scribbles; he is sketching the intricate clock tower visible through the classroom window. His hand moves with a surprising, steady grace.
Lina watches his hand move. She notices how he bites his lower lip when he’s concentrating. She reaches into her bag and pulls out a high-quality eraser, sliding it silently across the desk toward him.
Mikael stops drawing. He looks at the eraser, then at her. He smiles—a small, real smile that reaches his eyes.
mikael(ml)
Thanks. I usually just smudge it with my thumb
lina(fl)
I noticed," Lina whispers.
mikael(ml)
I’m actually terrible at the science part," Mikael whispers back, leaning closer. "Last year, my volcano experiment leaked so much vinegar it cleared out the hallway. I’m better at... this." He points to the sketch
lina(fl)
Lina looks at the drawing, then back at him. "You’re an artist, Mikael. You just don't know it yet."
mikael(ml)
Mikael freezes for a second. He looks at his own drawing as if seeing it for the first time through her eyes. He clears his throat and sits up straighter. "
mikael(ml)
Nobody’s ever called me that before. I’m just 'the kid who plays sports.'"
lina(fl)
Labels are for jars," Lina replies, her voice soft. ---
For the rest of the hour, they didn't talk much. They didn't need to. Lina takes notes in her neat, precise handwriting, while Mikael continues to draw, occasionally glancing at her paper to make sure he hasn't missed an important term like 'Mitochondria.'
Lina notices a stray thread on Mikael's sweater. Without thinking, she reaches out and pulls it off. Mikael startles slightly, his shoulder brushing against hers. He doesn't pull away. Instead, he lingers in the contact for a heartbeat longer than necessary.
mikael(ml)
Partner?" Mikael asks suddenly, gesturing to the project sheet. "Since you're the smart one and I'm the 'artist'?"
lina(fl)
Lina looks at the project, then at him. She sees the beginning of a friendship she didn't know she was looking for. She nods once. "Partner."
mikael(ml)
Mikael grins and rips a small piece of paper from his notebook. He scribbles his phone number on it and pushes it toward her.
mikael(ml)
Text me about the 'cell' plan later, Boss."
lina(fl)
Lina picks up the paper. She tucks it carefully into the inner pocket of her jacket. She doesn't have a boyfriend, and she doesn't want one—but as she looks at the messy handwriting on the scrap of paper, she feels a strange, quiet warmth.
mikael(ml)
Mikael gathers his things as the bell rings. He gives her a two-finger salute and disappears into the crowd of students rushing for the door.
Lina lingers at her desk. She touches the spot on her shoulder where their jackets brushed. Outside the window, the Luxembourg sun is still shining, but the world feels just a little bit different than it did an hour ago.
There was no heartbreak here. Just two kids in 8th grade, a seating chart, and the start of something that would eventually break, then heal, years down the line.
propose day
It was early February. A light dusting of snow sat on the gargoyles of the Cathedral, and the air in the city felt electric. In their school, "Propose Day" had become an unofficial, slightly embarrassing tradition. It was the day when kids awkwardly confessed crushes with overpriced chocolates or sticky notes left on lockers.
Lina walks through the crowded hallway, her eyes fixed on the floor. She ignores the giggling groups of girls and the boys trying to look cool near the vending machines. To her, this day is a performance she doesn't want a part of. She values her solitude, and more than that, she values the uncomplicated nature of her friendship with Mikael.
Lina reaches her locker and finds Mikael leaning against it. He isn't wearing his usual sports hoodie; he’s in a clean, dark sweater, and he looks unusually stiff
lina(fl)
You look like you're waiting for a dentist appointment," Lina says, clicking her locker open.
mikael(ml)
Mikael shifts his weight from one foot to the other. "Ha. Very funny. I just... I hate this day. Everyone is acting like they’re in a movie."
lina(fl)
It'll be over by tomorrow," Lina says, pulling out her heavy geography textbook.
lina(fl)
She notices Mikael’s hands are hidden behind his back. A small, cold pit forms in her stomach. Is he going to propose to someone? The thought of him dating one of the girls from the dance team makes her grip her textbook a little too tight.
mikael(ml)
Let's get out of here for lunch," Mikael suggests suddenly. "The Grund? I need to finish that sketch of the bridge, and I can't think with all this... pink glitter in the air."
lina(fl)
Lina nods, a small sense of relief washing over her. "The Grund sounds perfect."
They walk down the steep, winding paths that lead from the high city down into the valley. The air is sharper here, smelling of wet stone and the rushing river. Mikael leads the way, his boots crunching on the thin ice. Lina follows, her camera swinging from her neck. She stops occasionally to snap a photo of a frozen branch or the way the light hits the ancient walls.
Mikael finds a bench near the water and sits down. He doesn't pull out his sketchbook. Instead, he stares at the Alzette river as if he’s trying to memorize the current.
lina(fl)
Lina stands beside him, waiting. "You’re not sketching."
Mikael looks up at her. The sunlight catches the amber in his eyes. He reaches into his bag and pulls out a small, rectangular package wrapped in plain brown paper—no glitter, no ribbons
mikael(ml)
Lina, everyone is out there today asking people to be their 'someone,'" Mikael starts, his voice unusually serious. He stands up to face her. "But I don't want a girlfriend. I've seen how my brother acts with his—he stops being himself. He lies to make her happy. He stops drawing.
lina(fl)
Lina watches his face, her heart doing a strange, fluttering rhythm she doesn't recognize.
mikael(ml)
"I don't want to lose the person who actually knows I'm an artist," Mikael continues. He holds the package out to her. "So, since it’s 'Propose Day,' I’m proposing something else
lina(fl)
Lina slowly takes the package. Her fingers brush his, and she feels a spark of static electricity that makes her breath hitch. She unwraps the paper carefully. Inside is a high-quality, leather-bound viewfinder—a tool for photographers to frame their shots. On the inside of the leather, in Mikael’s neat, artistic script, he had engraved: LBFF.
lina(fl)
Lina looks up, confused. "LBFF?
mikael(ml)
Mikael rubs the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed. "Lina’s Best Friend Forever. Or... Luxembourg’s Best Friends Forever. Whichever one you like more."
mikael(ml)
He takes a step closer, his shadow falling over her. "Lina, will you be my best friend? Officially? No matter who we date or where we go, we promise that this—the sketching, the photos, the 'labels are for jars' stuff—stays first?"
lina(fl)
Lina feels a lump in her throat. It wasn't a romantic proposal, yet it felt more intimate than anything she had ever witnessed. He was asking for her soul to stay connected to his, even as the world tried to pull them into the "boyfriend/girlfriend" drama of high school.
lina(fl)
Lina looks at the viewfinder, then at him. She reaches out and hooks her pinky finger with his. "I don't do 'forever' easily, Mikael," she says, her voice steadying. "But for you? I’ll make an exception."
Mikael’s grin breaks wide and bright, the tension leaving his shoulders. He pulls her into a quick, rib-crushing hug. Lina freezes for a second, her face pressed against the soft wool of his sweater, before she slowly wraps her arms around him too.
mikael(ml)
Good," Mikael says, pulling back but keeping his hands on her shoulders. "Now, help me with this sketch. The perspective on the bridge is killing me."
Lina sits on the bench beside him, her heart feeling full and settled. She was single, and he was hers—in the way that mattered most.
She didn't know that in a few months, a girl named Sarah would enter the picture. She didn't know that Mikael would eventually break this very promise. For now, under the cold Luxembourg sun, they were just two kids who had found their person.
chocolate gift
By the time they reached their final years, the academic divide was official. Lina had retreated into the world of logic and precision, choosing the Science track. She spent her days in labs, surrounded by the smell of chemicals and the cold certainty of mathematical formulas. Mikael, ever the person people wanted to follow, had chosen Business Studies. He spent his time analyzing market trends, giving presentations, and navigating the social hierarchies of the "suit and tie" wing of the school.
Yet, despite the different buildings and the different languages of their studies, they remained each other's constant.
The graduation party was held at a grand hall overlooking the Pétrusse Valley. The evening air was warm, filled with the scent of blooming jasmine and the expensive perfume of teenagers pretending to be adults.
Lina stands by the balcony railing, away from the thumping bass of the music. She is wearing a simple, elegant black dress that makes her look older, sharper. She holds a glass of sparkling water, watching the lights of the city flicker like fallen stars
Mikael emerges from the crowd. He looks like a classic Business student in his tailored navy blazer, his hair pushed back, though one stubborn lock still falls over his forehead. He looks successful, charismatic, and—to anyone else—completely out of her league.
mikael(ml)
Mikael leans on the railing next to her, letting out a long sigh. "If I have to talk about 'networking' or 'market disruption' one more time, I’m going to jump into the valley."
lina(fl)
Lina smiles without looking at him. "You chose the track, Mikael. You’re the one who wants to run the world."
mikael(ml)
"I want to run a gallery," Mikael corrects her, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The business degree is just the shield. You know that."
lina(fl)
Lina turns to look at him. "I know."
As they stand there, a group of Mikael’s business classmates walks by, nudging each other.
...
Look at them," one girl whispers, loud enough to be heard. "Four years and they still won't admit it. Just kiss already and get it over with!"
The Science Queen and the Business King," a boy adds with a laugh. "The ultimate power couple."
mikael(ml)
Mikael rolls his eyes, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he moves closer, his arm brushing against Lina’s. Lina doesn't flinch. She is used to the noise. For four years, the entire school had speculated about them. They were the "will-they-won't-they" story of their generation. People placed bets on when they would finally announce they were dating.
mikael(ml)
They really don't get it, do they?" Mikael asks, watching his classmates disappear back into the party.
lina(fl)
They think everything has to be a romance to be important," Lina says, swirling the water in her glass. "They don't understand that a boyfriend can be replaced in a month. But a 'you'?" She gestures to him. "There’s only one of those."
mikael(ml)
Mikael looks at her, and for a moment, his confident "Business ML" mask slips. He looks like the boy from 8th grade again—the one who was scared of leaking volcanoes. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small, silver keychain—a tiny, stylized camera.
mikael(ml)
For your new lab bag," he says, handing it to her. "So you don't forget the 'artist' while you're busy being a scientist."
lina(fl)
Lina takes it, her fingers lingering on his palm. "And what do I give the future CEO?
mikael(ml)
Just your word," Mikael says, his expression turning serious. "Everyone says we love each other, Lina. And they’re right. We do. But not the way they want us to. We’re the only ones who know the truth."
They weren't lovers. They were something much more terrifying to the average teenager: they were soulmates without the skin-contact. They were the "bestest best friends" who knew each other's coffee orders, the exact pitch of each other’s fake laughs, and the dreams they were too embarrassed to tell their own parents.
Mikael pulls her into a side-hug, his chin resting briefly on the top of her head. Lina leans into him, closing her eyes. In this moment, they are the anchor in each other's stormy transitions.
lina(fl)
I'm going to miss the locker breaks," Lina whispers.
mikael(ml)
I'm going to miss having the smartest person in the room tell me my drawings don't suck," Mikael replies.
The party rages on behind them. Someone starts a countdown to the final farewell song. The air is thick with the "end of an era" feeling.
mikael(ml)
Mikael pulls back and holds out his hand. "One last dance? To give them something to talk about?
lina(fl)
Lina looks at his hand, then at the crowd. She takes it with a smirk. "Let's give them a show, then."
They walk onto the dance floor together. Mikael leads her through the throng of people. When the music slows, he places his hands on her waist, and she rests hers on his shoulders. They aren't blushing or shy. They move with a synchronized grace that comes from years of standing side-by-side.
To the rest of the school, it looks like a beautiful confession. To Lina and Mikael, it feels like a silent vow
mikael(ml)
Mikael leans down to her ear. "No matter who I meet out there, Lina... no matter what happens... you’re the home base.
lina(fl)
Lina nods, her heart heavy but certain. "Home base."
The party ended with tears and promises to keep in touch. Lina and Mikael walk out of the hall last, their shadows long under the streetlamps of Luxembourg.
They reached the crossroads where Mikael’s car was parked. The air was quiet now, the excitement of graduation replaced by the reality of the "long distance" their friendship was about to endure as they headed to different universities—her to a specialized research institute, him to a high-pressure business school.
mikael(ml)
Mikael opens his car door, but pauses. He looks back at her. "Stay single for a bit, okay? Don't let some lab geek distract you from your photography."
lina(fl)
Lina laughs, a sharp, bright sound. "I’m not the one you should worry about, Mikael. You’re the one who falls for every 'damsel in distress' you meet. Don't let some business rival steal your heart."
mikael(ml)
Mikael laughs, waving her off. "Never."
He drives away, waving his hand out the window. Lina stands on the sidewalk until his taillights vanish. She touches the camera keychain in her pocket.
They were the bestest best friends. They were invincible.
In the middle of a stressful exam week, Mikael finds Lina buried under science textbooks in the library. He slides a dark chocolate bar across the table, its wrapper crinkling loudly in the silence.
lina(fl)
Lina glances up, surprised. "It’s Chocolate Day?"
mikael(ml)
Mikael pulls out his own matching bar and sits. "Apparently. The hallways are full of people crying over heart-shaped boxes. I figured you’d need the caffeine to survive those chemistry notes."
lina(fl)
Lina breaks off a piece and hands it back to him. "No ribbons? No card?"
mikael(ml)
Mikael grins, snapping a square. "Just sugar and friendship, Boss."
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