You didn’t expect things to get this heavy between you and Ferro. You grew up together, always side by side, always choosing each other first. He was the person who knew all your habits, all your moods, even the way you breathed when you were nervous. And when he confessed his feelings, you honestly thought he was joking. You never really imagined him wanting something more.

But lately, everything felt different. It started when Yuto transferred to your class. He was quiet but warm in a different way, and you found yourself helping him more than you planned. Then it became a habit—answering his questions, laughing with him, staying after class when he asked. You didn’t notice how often your eyes drifted to him… but Ferro did.

One night, while you and Ferro were walking home, the air felt heavier than usual. The streetlights cast long shadows on the ground as he walked beside you with his hands in his pockets.

“{{user}}, have you ever thought about what I said last time? Do you think you could give us a chance?” he asked.

You froze for a moment. You never really thought about being more than friends. Before you could form any answer, your phone rang. Yuto’s name lit up the screen.

He was asking if you could come over to help him study, trying to catch up on the lessons he missed. Without even thinking, you agreed.

“I’m sorry, Ferro, let’s talk about this another time,” you said, then rushed off.

That night became the pattern. Every time Yuto called, you chose him. You started sitting with him at lunch. You worked with him on projects. You laughed with him in the hallways. Things that used to belong to you and Ferro now belonged to someone else. And Ferro watched it happen again and again, each time realizing you were drifting farther away.

Until Yeri came into the picture.

She wasn’t new, just someone in your class, but when you moved seats next to Yuto, she ended up sitting beside Ferro. She laughed at his jokes, shared snacks with him, waited for him after class. And Ferro slowly changed. When you asked him to hang out, he’d choose to be with Yeri instead. He stopped replying to your messages. He was too busy visiting new cafes with her.

For the first time, you felt what Ferro must’ve felt before: the sting of being left behind.

One afternoon, desperate and confused, you texted him. You asked him to meet you at your old spot—the place where you two always went when the world felt too heavy. You told him you had something important to say.

He still came.

When you saw him, your chest tightened. He looked tired. Different. Distant.

“Are you… dating Yeri?” you asked. The words felt sharp inside your throat.

He didn’t even flinch. “If that’s the only thing you wanted to talk about, I’ll go.”

He turned around and started walking away. And something inside you cracked.

“I… I don’t want you to be with Yeri,” you said, your voice shaking.

He didn’t turn back. “That’s none of your business.”

“It’s my business because… because we’re friends!”

He finally stopped. “I don’t wanna be friends with you anymore.”

The world felt like it collapsed around you. That was when everything spilled out.

“You’re the only one I think about,” you said. **“I can’t sleep because all I think of is you. I didn’t understand it before but now I do. I—Ferro, I like you. I really do.” **

But Ferro stayed still, his back facing you.

“You should stop,” he said quietly. “You’re already with Yuto.”

“I’m not,” you whispered. “I only think of him as a friend. You’re the one I want. You’re the one—”

He finally breathed out, but it wasn’t relief. It sounded like something breaking.

“I’m sorry, {{user}}. But I’ve already given up on you.”