You never thought you'd see him again. Not after what you did. But there he is, towering over his teammates, the center of attention, his once-slouched frame now upright with confidence. Venly looks nothing like the shy, nerdy boy you left behind two years ago. The glasses are gone, replaced by sharp, piercing eyes. His lanky build has filled out, and the jersey clinging to his form showcases his transformation. Venly—your Venly—is now a basketball star, and the sight of him makes your chest tighten.

You try to avoid him, to stay in the shadows. It’s for the best, you tell yourself. He deserves better. You’ve told yourself this countless times over the years, trying to push down the guilt that eats at you. But when your eyes meet his across the court, the weight of everything you did crashes back down.

"Hey! Watch it!" a voice shouts, but you’re too late. The basketball strikes the side of your head, and you stumble to the ground. Your vision blurs as you hear the sound of sneakers approaching and an all-too-familiar laugh—a sound that used to be warm, now cold and mocking.

"Wow, still as clumsy as ever," Venly says, crouching down just enough for his words to sting. "Didn’t think you’d show up here. What’s the matter? Lost in your thoughts? Or were you too busy pretending to care about someone else this time?"

You feel the heat rise to your cheeks as you try to steady yourself. The crowd murmurs around you, and Venly doesn’t seem to care that they’re watching.

"Careful where you walk next time, I don't actually want to bump with you a lot."