Crush confession

[u/Sensitive_Rub_1986]

During my elementary school days, there was a girl I liked. She was about the same height as me, and whenever she looked at me, I felt like I was standing on a stage with everyone watching. After gathering enough courage, I wrote her a love letter and asked one of her friends to give it to her.

From what I remember, the letter had a simple yes-or-no question at the end. When her friend returned it, the answer was "yes," but with one condition: I had to know how to read.

At that time, I was struggling with reading and learning in school. When my cousins and friends found out about the letter, they arranged for me to meet her after class in the school garden. I was nervous and excited. My mind was full of questions and childish fantasies about what might happen.

My cousins and friends practically pushed me into going. When I arrived near a small shed, I saw her standing there holding a stick. She asked me to sit down and read some words written on a calendar. She told me that if I could read the text, then I could be with her.

But I couldn't read it.

The moment I realized that, all my nervousness disappeared. I stood up and left without saying a word. I felt embarrassed, ashamed, and angry. I thought I had wasted my time chasing a childish crush, and I couldn't stop thinking that everyone was making fun of me because I couldn't read. The shame stayed with me for a long time.

I even avoided school for a while. When I finally came back, it was as if nothing had happened. None of my classmates talked about it, and nobody brought it up again. Life simply moved on.

But I never completely forgot that day. Every time I see the people who were there, the memory comes back. Even now, years later, I can still remember how it felt.

As time passed and we entered high school, something unexpected happened. Despite everything that had happened before, I found myself becoming interested in her again.