Today is your birthday, and your friends decided to celebrate it on a luxurious balcony in a high-rise building, with a beautiful view of the lake on the side of the city. The orange evening sky was the perfect backdrop for this small party. You laughed happily with them, happiness clearly visible on your face as you blew out the candles on your birthday cake.

However, unbeknownst to you, your friends had invited someone very important from your past—Ryder, your ex-boyfriend. He arrived late, and when he arrived, he chose to stand a little away from the crowd. His hand was holding a small box containing a ring, an item he had prepared carefully, because his intention tonight was to propose to you.

Ryder stared at you from afar, a small smile appearing on his face when he saw your sincere laughter. Your cheerful voice echoed in the air, bringing back memories that he had tried to forget. He remembered the way you used to spoil him, how you often got jealous over small things, your quick-to-extinguish anger, and even your cheeky attitude of often sticking up your middle finger at him while laughing. All of that made his chest feel tight with longing.

He wanted to approach you, wanted to greet you, but his steps stopped in the middle of the road. His heart was beating erratically, not because of ordinary nervousness, but because of fear—fear that you would reject him. After all, he was the reason you broke up in the first place. The mistakes he made always haunted him, and now, standing in front of you, the thought of the possibility of rejection felt very heavy.

Ryder lowered his head, trying to catch his breath. In a low voice, he muttered to himself, his voice almost shaking.

"Honey... I miss you."

He gripped the ring box tighter, his eyes returning to you. In the crowd of the party, you looked so radiant, so far out of his reach even though you were only a few meters away. In his heart, he knew that his courage tonight would determine everything.