At 11:50, I Loved You Most
Chapter 1: Sent
The soft glow of Sky’s phone was the only light in the room.
His unfinished nursing notes lay scattered across his bed, ignored.
On his screen was a chat box.
The name at the top made his chest tighten.
Student Council Vice President.
Engineering genius.
Campus crush.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(Way out of my league)
note: () means thinking/inner monologue
Sky had no reason to be staring at their nearly empty conversation.
The only messages between them were school-related.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(That was it)
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(Pathetic)
Sky groaned and tossed his phone beside him, burying his face into his pillow.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(Why did he have to fall for someone so impossible?)
After a few minutes of dramatic self-pity, his phone buzzed.
It was from his best friend, Emmanuel Reyes.
Emmanuel Reyes
Still alive? 💬
At least he could vent.
He opened the chat and started typing.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
Barely💬
Emmanuel Reyes
nursing life?💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
Worse💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
I saw him again today💬
Emmanuel Reyes
Mr emotionally unavailable engineering boy?💬
Emmanuel Reyes
Bro you’ve liked him for 4 months💬
Emmanuel Reyes
just confess💬
Sky stared at the screen.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(Confess?)
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(To Archie Lorenzo Gray?)
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(That was practically social suicide)
His fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Then he typed
Sky Alejandro Quinn
I think I’m falling for him......💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
And it hurts because he’ll never love someone like me....💬
He stared at the message.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(too honest, too embarrassing)
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(I should probably delete it)
Instead, half-asleep and distracted by another incoming notification, his thumb hit send.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
"Weird"
Sky Alejandro Quinn
"Usually, Emmanuel replied instantly."
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[Frowning]
Then looked up at the chat name.
His entire body froze.
The world stopped.
The name at the top wasn’t Emmanuel.
Sky’s soul left his body.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“No no no no no.”
His hands trembled so badly he nearly dropped his phone.
Again.
And again.
There was no misunderstanding.
He had just sent his accidental confession.
To Archie.
The guy he’d spent months secretly liking.
The same Archie who probably thought of him as “that nursing student from section B.”
Sky panicked and typed furiously.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
THAT WASN'T FOR YOU💬
No reply.
Sky’s stomach twisted.
He typed again.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
I mean💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
Not that it’s fake💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
WAIT NO💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
THAT SOUNDED WORSE💬
Still nothing.
Sky wanted the earth to open and swallow him whole.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[stopped breathing]
The typing bubble disappeared.
Appeared again.
Disappeared.
His heart pounded so hard it hurt.
Finally, a message arrived.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
Go to sleep, Sky.💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[Sky blinked]
Sky Alejandro Quinn
"that was it?"
Sky Alejandro Quinn
"THAT WAS IT??"
Sky stared at the screen in disbelief.
Then another message appeared.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
And next time,
make sure you send your confessions to the right person.💬
Sky’s face turned violently red.
He slammed his phone face-down onto the bed like it had personally betrayed him.
Then he buried himself under his blanket and let out a muffled scream.
From under the covers, his phone buzzed again
Against all logic, he checked.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
Goodnight.💬
Sky stared at the message.
Because Archie didn’t sound disgusted.
And that tiny sliver of possibility was infinitely more dangerous
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(Sky typed)
Sky Alejandro Quinn
"Finally"
Sky Alejandro Quinn
goodnight💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
sorry for existing💬
Archie Lorenzo Gray
That’s dramatic.💬
Archie Lorenzo Gray
sleep💬
Sky dropped his phone on his chest.
His heart refused to calm down.
Outside, rain softly tapped against the dorm window.
Inside, Sky could only stare at the ceiling, replaying everything.
Inside, Sky could only stare at the ceiling, replaying everything.
His accidental confession.
Archie’s strange replies.
That tiny, terrifying flicker of hope
Then his phone buzzed one last time.
A private note reminder popped up
The warmth in his chest faded.
Sky quietly reached for the bottle in his drawer.
His fingers tightened around it
No matter what happened tonight, some things could never happen.
Some people were never meant to stay.
Before sleeping, Sky reopened Archie’s chat.
His thumb hovered over the messages.
Then he smiled despite himself.
At the top of the screen:
And for the first time in months—
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(what if?......)
Sky Alejandro Quinn
19 years old
Nursing student
Quiet, soft-spoken, smart
Personality: Gentle, selfless, emotional, overthinks everything
21 years old
Engineering student
Campus heartthrob
Cold and distant at first
Top student council officer
Personality: Protective, serious, emotionally guarded, deeply loyal
Chapter 2: Seen at 2:17 PM
Sky had made a terrible decision.
He came to school
In hindsight, faking his own disappearance would’ve been the more dignified route.
As he walked through campus, every step felt heavier than the last.
His brain kept replaying last night.
The accidental confession. Archie’s replies. The humiliating “sorry for existing” text.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[physically cringed]
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Why am I like this?”
Beside him, Emmanuel Reyes looked over.
Emmanuel Reyes
“You’ve sighed seventeen times in five minutes.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“You counted?”
Emmanuel Reyes
“I got bored after ten.”
They entered the nursing building, and Sky immediately reached for his phone.
Not that he expected any. It was better this way.
Maybe Archie had already forgotten.
Maybe they’d simply pretend none of it happened.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[almost dropped his phone]
His hands trembled as he opened it.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
Come to the engineering building rooftop. 2:17 PM.💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[Sky froze.]
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“What?”
Emmanuel leaned over. His eyes widened.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Oh?!”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Why is he summoning me like some mysterious final boss?”
Emmanuel Reyes
“This is either a confession or your public execution.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“That does not help.”
Three dots appeared.
Stopped.
Appeared again.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
You’ll find out.💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[Sky stared.]
That was somehow more terrifying.
Sky stood outside the engineering building, internally negotiating with himself.
He could still leave.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
Drop out.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
Move countries.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
Join a monastery
Emmanuel said, nudging him toward the stairs
Emmanuel Reyes
“If he was going to reject you, he’d just text it.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“That’s not comforting.”
Emmanuel Reyes
“True. He might kill you instead.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Please stop helping.”
The rooftop door loomed ahead.
Sky swallowed hard and pushed it open.
The afternoon breeze hit him first. Then he saw him.
Archie stood near the edge, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone.
Black polo. Slightly messy hair.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
[Archie turned]
And for a moment, neither spoke.
Sky suddenly found the floor very interesting.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You came"
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“You literally summoned me.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(Was that—)
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(A smile?)
Sky’s brain short-circuited.
Archie took a few steps closer.
Not enough to invade his space.
Just enough to make breathing difficult
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“I wanted to ask you something.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(Sky nodded nervously.)
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“About this.”
The screen showed Sky’s accidental confession.
Sky wanted to launch himself off the roof.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Please delete that.”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You said you’re falling for someone.”
And his expression was unreadable.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“…Yes.”
Archie studied him for a long moment.
There was no point denying it. Slowly, painfully, he nodded.
The awkward “you’re nice, but—”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Why?”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[Sky blinked]
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“What?”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Why me?”
Of all the questions, Sky hadn’t prepared for that.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Because you’re kind.”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“People don’t usually use that word for me.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“That’s because people don’t pay attention.”
The words escaped before Sky could stop them.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“You stay late after council meetings to clean up even when no one asks. You bought lunch for that freshman who forgot his wallet last week. You helped carry anatomy lab materials when our class was struggling.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“You act cold, but you’re not.”
For the first time, Archie looked genuinely caught off guard.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
[Looked down]
Archie Lorenzo Gray
[Laughed quietly]
Sky Alejandro Quinn
[Sky frowned.]
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“What?”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
[Archie shook his head.]
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Nothing.”
Then he met Sky’s eyes again
And there was something warmer there.
Something Sky couldn’t name.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“I just didn’t think anyone noticed.”
Close enough that Sky could smell his cologne.
Clean. Subtle.
Dangerously distracting.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“I’m not rejecting you.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“What?”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“I’m also not confessing.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(That… hurt slightly.)
But before disappointment could fully settle, Archie continued.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“I don’t know what this is yet.”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“But I want to find out.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Are you… asking me out?”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Why? Hoping I am?”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Maybe.”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Then let’s start simple.”
Archie unlocked his phone.
A notification popped up.
A new message. From Archie.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
Coffee after class?💬
Archie was already walking toward the rooftop door.
But before leaving, he glanced back.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
"Try not to accidentally confess to anyone else before then.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Please let that go.”
Sky stood frozen in place, staring at his phone. His heart pounded wildly.
This wasn’t acceptance either.
It was something infinitely more dangerous.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
And Sky?💬
Sky Alejandro Quinn
Yeah?💬
Archie Lorenzo Gray
You’re right. 2:17 is a good time to start something.💬
Sky stared at the message.
Maybe accidents weren’t always mistakes.
Maybe some were beginnings.
Chapter 3: Avoidance
Sky made a second terrible decision
Not because he was brave.
Not because he was hopeful.
But because skipping class after being “invited for coffee” by Archie Gray would feel like a confession of a different kind.
A worse one.
A public one.
Beside him, Emmanuel was way too entertained.
Emmanuel Reyes
“You’re walking like you’re heading to execution again,”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“I am.”
Emmanuel Reyes
“You already survived rooftop interrogation.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“That was emotional damage. This is round two.”
Emmanuel Reyes
“You didn’t even get rejected.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“That’s the problem.”
Across campus, Sky spotted him.
Walking with two engineering students, laptop bag slung over one shoulder, posture relaxed like nothing in the world had happened yesterday.
Like he didn’t completely rearrange Sky’s entire emotional stability at 2:17 PM.
Emmanuel Reyes
“Did you just—”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“I don’t want to be perceived,”
Emmanuel Reyes
“Too late, you exist.”
From a distance, Archie glanced their way.
Like he already knew Sky would run.
Emmanuel Reyes
“…He saw you.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“No he didn’t.”
Emmanuel Reyes
“Yes he did.”
Sky slowly sank down the wall.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“I’m quitting school.”
10:03 AM
Nursing Building Corridor
Sky’s new strategy was simple.
Avoid corridors where engineering students might pass.
Avoid cafeteria peak hours.
Avoid eye contact.
Avoid breathing too loudly.
Unfortunately, the universe had jokes
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Sky.”
Calm. Familiar. Too close
Sky’s brain short-circuited.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“…hi.”
Archie tilted his head slightly.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
Sky immediately denied it.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“…Yes.”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Why?”
Sky opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
(Because I don’t know how to act normal after you said “coffee after class” like my life isn’t ruined in a good way???)
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“I’m busy.”
Archie looked at his schedule paper in Sky’s hand.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“…You’re free until 11.”
Sky betrayed his own body with silence.
Emmanuel, from behind a vending machine
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Why are you here?!”
Emmanuel Reyes
“I live here.”
Archie watched them both for a second.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled faintly.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You’re worse in person,”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Excuse me?”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You overthink more when I’m near.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“That’s not true.”
Archie took a step closer.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“It is,”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You didn’t look at me once properly since yesterday.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“I did,”
Archie leaned slightly to catch his eyes.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Look at me now.”
Immediately looked away again.
That answered everything.
Then Archie exhaled through his nose—almost like a laugh.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Okay.”
Okay.
Then he stepped back.
Sky stood there, stunned.
Emmanuel Reyes
“That was… weirdly respectful,”
Sky slid down the wall again.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“That was worse.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“Because now I feel guilty.”
Sky had perfected invisibility.
Or so he thought.
He sat with Emmanuel at the far corner table, face half-hidden behind his tray.
Emmanuel Reyes
“He’s not going to appear in your soup.”
A shadow fell over the table.
Sky’s soul left his body.
Slowly, he looked up
Emmanuel Reyes
“Oh my god.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“This is harassment.”
Archie ignored both of them.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Can I sit here?”
Emmanuel slowly pointed at the empty chair.
Emmanuel Reyes
“…It’s a free country.”
Archie sat.
Right beside Sky.
Too close.
Sky stopped eating.
Stopped breathing.
Stopped existing.
Archie casually opened his lunch.
Sky stared at his spoon like it had betrayed him.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“I am eating.”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You’re holding a spoon like it’s a weapon.”
Sky put it down immediately.
Emmanuel was silently dying.
Five minutes passed.
No one spoke.
Then Archie broke the silence.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You’re avoiding me.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“I’m not.”
Sky corrected immediately.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“…I am.”
Sky ignored him.
Archie took a bite of his food.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“Why?”
Sky stared at his tray.
At the rice.
At his life choices.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“I don’t know how to act normal,
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You already act normal.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“No I don’t.”
Archie leaned back slightly.
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“You do,” he said. “Just not when I’m near.”
Sky didn’t respond.
Because that was too accurate.
Because that was too accurate.
Too unfair.
Too observant.
Archie continued eating like nothing was happening.
Then, as he stood up to leave, he placed something on the table.
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“…What’s this?”
Archie Lorenzo Gray
“For after class.”
Then he left.
Just like that.
Emmanuel stared at the coupon.
Emmanuel Reyes
“This man is patient.”
Sky Alejandro Quinn
“This man is terrifying.”
Emmanuel Reyes
“He’s consistent.”
Sky peeked through his fingers.
Across the cafeteria, Archie was already gone.
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