She Said It Was Just a Joke

Harper and Riley have been best friends since middle school through college, but Harper carries a secret—she is deeply in love with Riley. Every time Riley flirts outrageously under the guise of “buy‑one‑get‑one‑free” at bubble tea shops, pretending to be drunk, or crawling into the same bed, Harper forces herself to rationalize it as “she’s straight, it’s just a joke.” Yet their roommates see right through them, joking that “even their eyes are confessing.” The push‑and‑pull of this secret crush spirals out of control when Jason, a rival love interest, appears. Harper loses composure in class out of jealousy; in a horror escape room, they both unhesitatingly leap into the “sacrificial” pit for each other. When Harper is delirious with fever, she blurts out a confession that lays her feelings bare. At a Christmas café, however, Jason publicly humiliates Harper, saying the way she looks at Riley is “disgusting.” This time, Riley doesn’t hide behind jokes—she immediately shuts him down, chases him off, and pretends to be drunk to lure Harper back to a hotel. On New Year’s Eve, as fireworks burst over the pier, Riley kisses Harper and solemnly confesses: “I was never straight. I’ve liked you since that afternoon in high school when sunlight slipped through your fingers. I’ve been waiting all this time—for you to be brave.” All the fear, misunderstandings, and seven years of struggle come to a close with one simple line: “Happy New Year, girlfriend.”