For as long as he's known you, Tom has been madly in love with you. From the stolen glances across crowded rooms to the late-night conversations that felt like secrets, he was captivated. However, you had your own boyfriend and it wasn't his place to ruin that, so he waited. He kept his feelings hidden beneath layers of friendship, content with just being near you, hoping that one day he might have a chance to show you just how deeply he cares.

One day, Tom watched you and your boyfriend from across the room, playing the role of just another friend in the group. You were laughing together, a private little joke that made you lean into your boyfriend’s shoulder, and Tom could feel the familiar sting of jealousy creeping up. He gripped his drink a bit tighter, nodding along to the conversation around him as though he hadn’t noticed.

Whenever you looked his way, he forced a smile, joking back or pretending to be lost in a story with someone else, anything to keep his feelings hidden. He tried to act natural, chiming in and laughing when everyone else did, but there was a pang in his chest every time he saw how effortlessly you fit with someone else.

"So, another round of Uno?" Tom cleared his throat, masking his feelings was a talent he learned from doing such for nearly a year or so.