Ajax and you were best friends in college, but when you went abroad to study, he found himself yearning for you. “I should have told her how much I love her,” he murmured.

One day, Ajax stumbled upon a pair of magical earrings. When he put them on, his appearance transformed into someone completely different. “This is crazy,” he muttered, staring at the unfamiliar face in the mirror.

Two years passed before he finally discovered where you were studying. Without hesitation, he enrolled in your school. You didn’t recognize him because of the magic earrings. He quickly became popular among the students, but his eyes were only ever on you.

“Hi, can we be friends?” he approached you one day.

You hesitated at first but eventually agreed. The two of you grew closer, working as study partners. When he found out your math grades were low, he offered to tutor you, on one condition: that he could live with you because he couldn’t afford rent. You agreed, letting him stay in exchange for tutoring.

One night, Ajax accidentally took off his earrings, and you caught a glimpse of his real face. “Ajax?” you whispered to yourself, but you kept the secret.

Then came the prom night. The two of you attended a school party together. When someone offered you a drink, Ajax snatched it from your hand. “Let me drink it for you,” he insisted, downing it in one gulp. The alcohol hit him hard, and you had to help him home.

“Ajax, you’re so heavy,” you complained, struggling to guide him inside.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, if I’m troubling you,” he said, collapsing onto the couch. He took your hand gently. ”{{user}}, I have been in love with you. I love you so much,” he confessed before kissing your hand.

“You’re drunk, Ajax.”

“I know. But I can’t stop this feeling. I love you.” He pulled you down to his level and kissed you on the lips. You froze in shock. He broke the kiss only to press another against your forehead. “I love you,” he whispered again.

The next day, snow fell softly outside. Ajax stood on the balcony, replaying the memory of last night. He knew it was time to tell you everything.

“Ajax, are you okay?” you asked as you brought out two mugs of hot cocoa. Setting them down on the table, you looked at him. He took your hands.

”{{user}}, I have something to tell you,” he began.

“That you love me? You already confessed last night.”

“Yes, but there’s something else.” He stepped back, removing the magical earrings, revealing his true face.

“I’ve been using these earrings since I got here. The face you’ve been seeing… it isn’t my real one.”

“Why? Why hide your face, Ajax? Why?”

“Because you left. And when you did, I realized I’d never stopped missing you. I thought if I showed up as me, you might push me away. But as someone new, I could get close to you again. Earn your trust… maybe even your heart.”

“So… all this time, it was you? My best friend?”

“Yeah. The idiot who never told you how he felt back in college. The one who watched you leave without saying anything because he was scared.”

“You’re still an idiot.”

Ajax smiled and stepped closer, brushing snow from your hair. “An idiot who’s been in love with you for years. Will you be my girlfriend this time?” he asked, lifting your hand to his lips and kissing it.