In the quiet town of Dumaguete, in the heart of Negros Oriental, St. Paul University was a sanctuary of academic pursuit and youthful dreams. Szuki was known to be a very perky woman who could charm anybody through her contagious smile and lively aura among the numerous students. She was a second-year major in Environmental Science who could easily strike friendship chords; it seemed Szuki was the campus crush because she just emanated warmth and charisma effortlessly.
Szuki's best friends were Irina and Faina. They shared classes, laughter, and endless conversations about their futures. But little did Szuki know that their friendship was about to be tested like never before.
It is said that Dmitri, a university soccer star, was the holder of Szuki's secret dreams. Tall, athletic, and with that certain effortless charm, Dmitri was an admired person to most, but to Szuki, he was the image of her deepest crush. Her heart raced each time he would score on the pitch, and not just for him being marvelous at soccer but for the way his smile brightened up a rainy day.
Faina, on the other side of the coin, was the queen of concealment. She, too, was in love with Dmitri's charm. Unlike Szuki, Faina had never expressed her love. She knew well how Szuki felt and had automatically decided to keep her infatuation to herself, just believing that openness would ruin the strong bond of friendship that Szuki and she had.
It was a breezy and windswept afternoon, and Szuki burst into the library with her eyes bright and shining. In the library, Irina and Faina studied, lifting their heads when Szuki moved towards them, hardly capable of holding it back with excitement.
"You're not going to believe what just happened!" Szuki exclaimed, barely holding her breath.
Intrigued, an eyebrow of Irina arched up. "What's up, Szuki?"
Her heart skipped a beat as she felt something coming. "Yeah, what's going on?" countered Faina.
Then, with much drama, Szuki finally spilled the beans. "Dmitri asked me out on a date! Can you believe it?"
Irina's face lit up with a grin. "Oh my gosh, Szuki, that's amazing!"
Faina, however, could only force a smile as her heart seemed to sink wearily, the strength of her effort to conceal her feelings from others proving heavier than might be assumed. "Wow, that's. really great, Szuki."
Szuki was meanwhile unaffected by the prevailing tension. She chatted away, to specifics, her excited voice filling the room. Irina congratulated her, smiling through suggestions of outfits and possible date venues, and Faina simply nodded, twisting her hands.
The date was set for the following weekend and Szuki was a whirlwind of excitement and preparation. Whether it was choosing her outfit—with Faina spending hours suggesting things she thought would look amazing, while hiding her own disappointment in the situation—or decisions on places to go and things to do, Szuki attacked it all with the same intensity.
As it came closer to the date, the more Faina felt this twinge she was trying to hold in because she wanted to be supportive, but this pang of jealousy was not going to go away. Any time Szuki talked about Dmitri or the upcoming date, Faina would half smile, though her heart felt heavy.
The date had finally arrived, and Szuki was positively glowing. Dmitri had planned a modest night—an early dinner at some small, darling place followed by a walk on the beach at sunset. Szuki opened the door, and Faina lunged and embraced her, wiping away her tears with a firm face.
"You're going to have so much fun, kiddo," Faina said in a super-non-judgmental tone.
"I'm sure it's going to be me," she replied positively, her eyes shining.
While Szuki was on her date, Faina and Irina went to their favorite café. Irina did her best to cheer Faina up. "You know, you're the best friend ever, and I'm pretty sure Dmitri will understand it as soon as possible."
Faina shook her head, a reluctant little smile perched on her lips. "It's not about me. It's about Szuki being happy."
Meanwhile, Szuki's date was going absolutely wonderfully. Dmitri was fantastic, really—the perfect date: charming and attentive. They had great conversations and wonderful chuckles together. A sweet kiss under the starlit sky, and Szuki was floating on air.
Irina and Faina were now back at the café, waiting for Szuki to return. Eventually, when she walked in, her face shone with radiance. She was bubbling with words, carrying on about every little detail of the date, and Irina was pleased for her. Faina stayed silent, nodding and smiling in support.
As days wore on into weeks, Szuki became Dmitri's girlfriend, and their relationship was blooming. The joy that was in Szuki was manifested through her smile to everybody. Faina, amidst her personal turmoil, found comfort in being a part of her friends' happiness. She felt love needed sacrifice at times, and she was to be there for Szuki, no matter what cost.
Their friendship had survived, restructured with different dynamics yet sealed by the history they shared. The unrequited love Faina felt for Dmitri had now dissolved into something more bittersweet, pushed aside to make more room for the sunbeams that graced her at seeing her best friend genuinely happy.
In the end, the friends learned that even if love is a complex and weird thing, true friendship can conquer even the worst turmoils of life. They still went on with their college years and later lives with lessons of compassion and understanding that the happiness of a friend is more valuable than one's yearnings.
