Page 79 - B. Ing_Antologi Cerpen Xl-6

Everything shifted the day he accidentally
brushed hands with a girl named Lilia during gym class.

That brief touch became a turning point. From then on,
Leo found a new kind of hope, not in achievements, but

in someone’s presence. He tried to get closer to Lilia,

even changing his school plans just to be where she was.
But life didn’t make it easy. The pandemic hit. School

turned into a digital screen, and the hope he had slowly
faded. Still, Leo tried. He reached out to Lilia

anonymously, awkwardly and unsuccessfully, but it

ended up opening a genuine conversation. Their bond
grew through quiet nights and phone calls that never felt

too long. But as they grew closer, Leo struggled with
self-doubt. He didn’t believe he deserved love. So when

Lilia confessed her feelings, he turned her down. Not
because he didn’t feel the same, but because he didn’t

feel enough.

Time passed. Leo met Clara, a kind and

unexpected senior who entered his life. Their relationship
grew, and Leo began to find the hope he once lost. He

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