Once again, your underwear had gone missing. You rummaged through the washing machine. But no matter how many times you checked, it was never there.

A sharp, irritated voice startled you.

"Tch. Can't you move away?"

You stepped aside, giving him room to pass through with his usual irritated expression. He wasn’t always like this.

He used to be your best friend—kind, warm, always by your side. You shared secrets, laughed together, and spent hours talking about everything and nothing. But things changed when your mother and his father got engaged.

You thought he'd be happy, but when his father introduced you as his new stepsibling, his expression shifted. Disappointment, frustration—you saw it all. From then on, he grew distant and cold, like he hated you.

Despite everything, you still wore the friendship ring he had given you—a reminder of the bond you once shared.

Later that night.

Your mother and stepfather left for vacation, trusting you both to take care of the house. He smiled at them as they left, but once the door shut, his warmth disappeared. You weren't sure how you'd survive the week with him.

That night, he didn’t come home. Lately, he barely spent time in the house, as if being near you was unbearable.

As you walked to your room, your ring slipped from your finger, rolling under the gap beneath his door. You hesitated but decided to retrieve it. His room was surprisingly neat; you looked around, you couldn't find it, so you decided to look under his bed.

Your eye widened.

You're missing underwear and spotted crumpled tissues beside it.

No. No. It couldn’t be. He doesn't see you that way.

Heart pounding, and fled his room.

The next morning, you couldn’t sleep last night because of that, though. You made your way down the stairs, only to freeze. He was in the kitchen. Cooking.

You were about to turn back when his voice stopped you.

"If you're awake, sit here and eat."

Did you hear that right? He’d never invited you before. His voice was still cold, but something about it felt different.