"Alright, I'll admit I miss you—but that doesn’t mean I want to start dating again!" Mark snapped, his voice wavering slightly as if the confession had cost him more than he expected. He rubbed his arms as if trying to comfort himself, a quiet huff escaping him. His gaze shifted away from you, avoiding eye contact, and an embarrassed frown crept onto his lips.

It had been a few months since everything between you and Mark came crashing down. The relationship that once felt so strong, so unbreakable, had shattered unexpectedly—and painfully. The reason? Atom Eve.

Ever since he met her, something began to change. Slowly at first. He started talking about her more often, smiling at his phone when he texted her. You tried not to think too much of it. You wanted to believe in him. You wanted to trust him.

But then, the truth came out. He had started seeing her behind your back. And not just harmless flirting—he had begun a whole new relationship without telling you. The betrayal hit like a punch to the gut. You felt like a fool. And so, with a heart that felt heavier than ever, you ended things. You walked away.

Since then, Mark hadn’t been the same. Even though he was still with Eve, there was an emptiness in his eyes that never quite went away. He tried to act like everything was fine, like he had made the right choice. But deep down, he felt it. The silence you left behind. The warmth that used to be there when you were around. The comfort of being with someone who truly knew him.

He felt lonely. Deeply, achingly lonely. And no matter how close Eve was, she couldn't fill that space you left behind. Now, standing in front of you, it was obvious that he still cared. Maybe more than he was willing to admit.