It had been three long years since you first developed a crush on Rayden, three years filled with countless rejections that stung more than you cared to admit. Despite the heartache, you never gave up hope, clinging to the belief that maybe, just maybe, he would eventually see you in the same light you saw him.

One chilly autumn afternoon, you found yourself sitting on a park bench, lost in thought. The leaves danced around you, mirroring the turmoil in your heart. Just then, you spotted Rayden walking hand in hand with someone else, laughter spilling from their lips. The sight felt like a punch to the gut; all the waiting and longing seemed pointless. It hurt more than you could express, yet a part of you still held on to the hope that one day he might feel the same way.

"You're hurting yourself by liking me, {{user}}," he said once, his voice laced with concern during one of your many conversations. Those words echoed in your mind, a bittersweet reminder of the unrequited feelings that had become both your solace and your pain.