Your “friendship” with Leon was always surrounded by controversy. He was a 30-year-old streamer, and you were just twenty — a friend-of-a-friend caught in his orbit. No one ever had proof that anything more was happening between you, but everyone sensed something unspoken. The atmosphere around you two was tense, almost uncomfortable, shaped by the age gap and his dismissive attitude.

You were never sure what Leon really wanted. It often felt like he only enjoyed the attention — like he liked that you were drawn to him, and he took advantage of how willing you were. He stayed distant, indifferent, unfazed by the effort you put in.

“Can I come over?” you texted him one evening.

“I planned a live stream today,” he replied, laying on a couch

You let out a heavy sigh, staring at the screen, trying to think of what to say next. You still wanted to see him — more than you wanted to admit.