Aloe was actually planning on skipping classes this week. He didn't want to even leave his room on the off chance of meeting Basil by accident.

But when Sage had offered to meet, Aloe noticed the shakiness in her voice. After the events of Basil rejecting him, he failed to remember that he wasn’t the only one that revealed a secret that night.

So, despite wanting to hole up in his apartment for a week, Aloe agrees to go.

When the time came for their meeting, they first went to grab some drinks. She had offered to pay for his—an “apology,” she calls it—but Aloe doesn’t allow that. He assures her that she doesn’t have anything to apologize for.

As they walk into the park, Sage remains quiet, sipping her iced coffee. Aloe doesn’t have the guts to start a conversation, so he just endures the tense air between them.

Fortunately, they didn't have to look very far for a secluded area to have the inevitable heavy conversation. It’s a weekday, and since most students are still in their classes, the park is almost empty.

They sit down on a bench, and Aloe waits for Sage to say something. He glances at her, but sees her gazing at the empty space in front. Her hands grip her cup with such intensity that it nearly crumples in her hold.

But before it could spill, Sage turns to Aloe with scrunched brows and a deep frown.

“Aloe, about what I said that night…”

“It’s alright. I won’t tell anyone,” Aloe assures her.

He knows the fear in her eyes very well. A guy liking a guy, a girl liking a girl—it isn’t always received well by other people. And outing yourself is rarely a pleasant experience.

It’s a terrifying feeling that he knows all too well.

Through gritted teeth, she tries to voice out her rapid thoughts. “It’s not like I don’t trust you. I just, well, I didn't realize I would end up saying all that stuff, and well, I wasn’t really prepared. I wanted to help you ease up, but I just ended up causing you trouble—”

"It’s fine!”

Aloe’s never had to comfort someone like this. So now that he’s presented with a panicked Sage, he doesn’t exactly know what to do. 

All he can think to do is place a hand on her head.

Seeing no negative reaction, he begins patting her on the head.

“Um, well, we’re both kind of the same, so I wouldn't even think of telling anyone,” Aloe starts, though he feels unsure if he’s even saying the right thing.  “You must’ve been really scared when you remembered what you did.”

Sage nods. It’s an odd sight to see someone so popular and lively being all down like this. He supposes that even people who seem to have it together have bad days.

“That friend I talked about, she actually goes here, and we nearly cut off contact when we fought about that guy,” Sage starts explaining. Some tears start to form in the corner of her eye, but she quickly wipes them away with her sleeve. “Me, her, and that guy were really close friends, but he just confessed to me out of nowhere. When I rejected him, he started getting all mad and shit, saying I led him on.”

Aloe doesn’t know what to say, so he just makes a soft “Oh” to show he’s still listening.

“Then next thing I knew, he started dating my other friend, and it sucked because I really liked her, you know? I knew it wasn’t right, but I couldn’t stop myself from feeling the way I did. But I knew I couldn’t do anything if she found a guy she really liked. But of all people, it had to be that asshole.”

She grits her teeth, glaring at the cup in her hand. However, Aloe knows that her eyes are seeing a far-off memory, because she doesn’t flinch one bit when the contents of her cup spill from all her squeezing.

He offers some tissues to her. After a quick thank you, she starts dabbing at her hand and skirt.

“I tried to tell her about how he acted towards me, but she just started accusing me of being jealous. I was so miserable. But you know, most of all, I was just sad. Sad because the person I liked didn't trust me, that she thought so little of me.”

Aloe looks at the park in front of them, remembering his own experience with Basil. It looks like no matter who you are, the universal experience of people like him is unrequited love.

“What happened next?” Aloe asks.

“Well, we stopped talking for a while. People talked behind my back, but I didn't care. I was too sad about my crush not speaking to me to care.” She pauses, leaning back and closing her eyes.

“It’s funny, because they broke up within a month. After all that stupid shit, we ended up reconnecting. Because you know what, Aloe? I’m really, really stupid. Because instead of being mad, the first thing I thought about was how I could be with the person I like again. Even if it’s just as a friend.”

Sage pauses for a bit.

“I’m pathetic, aren’t I?”

He furiously shakes his head. “Not at all! You’re really cool, Sage.”

She raises a brow at his words, but lets him continue.

“You’re nice to everyone, even someone who hurts you. I’m sure someone like you can find a girl who’s good to you,” Aloe trails off, suddenly remembering something else. 

Aloe corrects a previous statement. 

He and Sage are completely different. People like her—like Basil, too—are so kind and lively that it’s easy for anyone to gravitate toward them. They’ll eventually find someone to love.

Because they’re good people who deserve it.

Sage, seemingly noticing the shift in his tone, leans forward with a raised brow. “Hey, now that I said all that stuff, let me ask you something.”

Aloe flinches from the sudden proximity, but nods regardless.

“You and that Basil guy, whatever happened?”

Her question doesn’t have a hint of malice in it, and he knows that it’s only fair that he answers that, too. But it’s still such a bitter and fresh memory to him. 

“I ended up confessing after we had our drink, and, well, I got rejected,” this time, it’s Aloe that tries to use a chuckle to cover up just how shit he actually feels.

“Oh, that’s rough.”

“I know right.”

Silence.

But all of a sudden, they sigh in unison. 

They turn to each other, stunned, but wind up laughing about the absurd things that brought them here.

Sage, in between fits of laughter, speaks.

“I suppose misery loves company, huh?”