9 - Sweetest Yes

Days after Thaddeus confessed, he gave me flowers. It wasn't a typical bouquet but a single bloom he picked from their garden. Thaddeus couldn't give me expensive flowers because of his status. I understood that. I didn't need those extravagant gestures, especially when I could easily buy such things for myself.

What made his gifts special was the poetry he included with every flower. Each note was carefully crafted, filled with heartfelt words that made me see a different side of him. It was thoughtful, and despite everything, I still saw him as my competitor from school.

As I sat at my desk, I admired the latest flower he had given me, a delicate daisy with a small card attached. I opened the card and read:

"In every petal lies a memory,

Of days gone by and dreams set free.

May this bloom remind you of our time,

When we were young, and life was sublime."

I couldn't help but smile at the simplicity and sincerity of his words. Thaddeus always had a way with language, a talent that had