Hidden Feelings

TWIST

Everyone at school thought Iris and Sam were basically a package deal.

If you saw Iris, Sam was always close behind. If Sam was laughing, Iris was usually the reason. They shared lunch, notes, secrets, and inside jokes no one else understood. So when people teased, “Uy, kayo na ba?” it was almost expected.

“Please,” Sam would say, pretending to gag. “Iris would be way too clingy.”

“And you’d forget our anniversary in two seconds,” Iris would shoot back, both of them laughing.

It was always a joke.

Just a joke.

Until Iris started noticing things she never noticed before.

Like how Sam’s eyes crinkled when she smiled.

How she talked with her hands when she got excited.

How her laugh sounded different when Iris was the one making her laugh.

At first, Iris brushed it off. They’d been friends for years—of course she noticed things. That was normal.

Right?

One day during lunch, Sam leaned across the table and whispered, “If we were actually a couple, we’d be unstoppable. Like… power couple energy.”

Iris laughed. “Yeah, sure. We’d break up in a week.”

Sam gasped dramatically. “Wow. Rude.”

They both laughed again, but Iris’s chest felt tight. Not in a bad way—just… in a confusing way.

That night, Iris lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, replaying Sam’s smile in her head. She didn’t understand why it stayed with her. Why it mattered.

And that scared her.

Because jokes weren’t supposed to make your heart race.

The teasing didn’t stop. If anything, it got worse.

When they walked too close, someone would say, “Aww, holding hands?”

When Sam rested her head on Iris’s shoulder, someone would whisper, “Cute couple.”

Sam always laughed it off. Iris laughed too. But every time, a small part of her wished it wasn’t a joke.

One Friday, they stayed late at school to finish a project. The classroom was quiet, sunlight slanting through the windows. Sam was sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, scrolling on her phone.

“I’m bored,” Sam said. “Entertain me.”

Iris rolled her eyes. “What am I, a clown?”

Sam grinned. “Yes.”

Iris sat beside her, their shoulders touching. It was a small thing. Normal. Friendly.

But Iris suddenly felt like it was the loudest thing in the room.

Sam nudged her. “You’re quiet. Earth to Iris?”

“Huh? Oh—sorry.” Iris forced a smile. “Just tired.”

Sam studied her for a second. “You okay?”

Iris nodded quickly. “Yeah. Of course.”

But she wasn’t sure.

Because how do you tell your best friend that the jokes are starting to feel real?

A week later, during movie night at Sam’s house, they lay on the floor with a blanket between them. Halfway through the movie, Sam absentmindedly leaned closer, their arms brushing.

“Look at us,” Sam joked. “If someone walked in, they’d think we’re dating.”

Iris swallowed. “Yeah… they might.”

Sam laughed. “Relax, I’m kidding.”

Iris laughed too.

But this time, it hurt.

After that, Iris started pulling back. Not too obvious—just enough. She sat a little farther away. She laughed a little quieter. She avoided eye contact when Sam joked about them.

Sam noticed.

One afternoon, as they waited for their ride home, Sam crossed her arms. “Okay, what’s going on with you?”

Iris blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been weird. Distant. Did I do something?”

Iris opened her mouth… then closed it. Her heart was pounding. She wanted to say it. She wanted to tell the truth.

But she was scared.

Scared of changing everything.

Scared of losing her.

Scared that it was only a joke to Sam… and something real to her.

“It’s nothing,” Iris said softly. “I’m just… tired.”

Sam didn’t look convinced, but she nodded. “Okay. Just… don’t shut me out, yeah?”

Iris nodded.