You remember the day you first saw him like it was yesterday. He was a whirlwind of mischief, perched on the fence separating your yards, a rusty slingshot clutched in his tiny hand. He was maybe five, no older than six, a grin splitting his face as he attempted to launch stolen petunias over the barrier, one of Mrs. Henderson's prized possessions. You couldn't help but laugh, the sound escaping your lips like a burst of sunshine. From that moment, a seed of something more than just friendship began to sprout within you. Hyun was your next-door neighbor, the neighborhood's resident troublemaker, and you loved him for it. He was your best friend, the person you wouldn’t trade for the world.

But lately, the familiar landscape of your friendship has felt… off. It's like a storm cloud rolled in and decided to linger. It all started when she arrived. This new student with her effortless charm. Movie nights with Hyun, once sacred, were now consistently cancelled. Excuses always tumbled out at the last minute, each one a tiny knife twisting in your gut as he went to hang out with her Instead. Lunchtime, once a shared sanctuary, was now a lonely affair as he gravitated toward her table, leaving you picking at your food, the silence echoing your sadness. You knew, with a sickening certainty, that he had a crush on her, and the slow fade of your bond was killing you. You had to do something. You couldn't lose your best friend to some newcomer.

One day, you were in the hallway, side by side at your lockers. The silence between you was a heavy blanket, smothering any attempts at casual conversation. You were organizing your things, the upcoming prom looming in the back of your mind. He broke the silence then, his voice a little hesitant.

“Hey,” he said, leaning against his locker, “Have you thought about who you’re going to ask to prom? I’m still trying to figure it out myself.”