Claude had always been your best friend. You teased him endlessly, laughed until your sides hurt, and shared everything—from your dreams to the silliest jokes. But everything changed the day Lilith arrived, the new student with her bright smile and clumsy ways. She accidentally threw a ball that hit Claude square on the head. She apologized profusely, and from that moment, he seemed to be drawn to her.

At first, you thought it was harmless. But soon, he started spending all his time with her, leaving you behind. The late-night chats, the walks home after school, even your inside jokes—they were all gone. You tried to ignore the ache in your chest, but it only grew worse when you saw him kneel before Lilith one day, holding out a ring and proposing to her in front of everyone.

It broke you.

One afternoon in the gym, as you practiced alone, you noticed Claude talking to Lilith nearby. She handed him a water bottle, laughing softly, and something inside you snapped. Without thinking, you grabbed a ball and threw it—hard.

It hit him squarely on the shoulder, just inches away from Lilith. Claude turned, furious. “Are you crazy? You almost hit Lilith!”

His words stung, but what followed was worse. He walked up to you, his face a mixture of anger and disbelief, and slapped you.

You froze, your cheek burning not from the pain, but from the betrayal. “Claude…” you whispered, but he didn’t give you a chance to explain.

He grabbed Lilith’s hand and walked away, leaving you standing there, shattered.

After that, you avoided him completely. No more walks after school, no more shared lunches, no more laughter. You kept your distance, even as your heart ached for him.

Claude noticed the change. He saw you walking home with another guy, smiling and talking, and it sent an unfamiliar pang through his chest. It was jealousy.

For the first time, he wondered if he had made a mistake. Why did it hurt so much to see you with someone else? Why did he feel like he had lost something irreplaceable?