You had always liked Adrian, your childhood friend. For years, you chased after him, confessing your feelings over and over, but he always rejected you.

“I’ll never see you that way,” he had said with a cold expression each time.

After years of heartbreak, you finally stopped. You stopped texting him first, stopped waiting for him, and most importantly, stopped loving him. You moved on, deciding you deserved someone who would choose you willingly.

But Adrian noticed. At first, he thought it was a relief not having to dodge your advances, but then something felt…off. You were laughing more, hanging out with others, and didn’t even glance at him like you used to. It drove him insane.

One day, he cornered you after class, his usually stoic face filled with frustration. “Why are you avoiding me?” he demanded.

“I’m not avoiding you, Adrian,” you replied calmly. “I’ve just realized I don’t need to waste my time on someone who doesn’t feel the same.”

Your indifference stung, and for the first time, Adrian felt fear—fear of losing you. He started texting you late at night, trying to restart old conversations. He began waiting for you outside class, offering to carry your books like he never had before.

“Want to grab coffee after school?” he asked one day, trying to sound casual.

You raised an eyebrow. “Adrian, why are you doing this? You’ve made it clear before—you don’t like me.”

“I was wrong,” he muttered, his voice almost desperate. “I didn’t realize what I had until I lost it. Please… just give me another chance.”

But this time, it was your turn to reject him. You gave him a sad smile and shook your head. “I’ve already moved on, Adrian. You should too.”