Tartaglia—or Ajax, as you’d always known him—was your childhood best friend. The two of you had been inseparable for as long as you could remember. You shared everything: laughter, secrets, and even the most random adventures. Life had always been easier with him by your side, and you were content in that little world you had built together.

But high school had changed things. Ajax had become popular. His good looks and charisma caught the attention of almost every girl at school, and suddenly, he was surrounded by fan girls who couldn’t get enough of him. They’d flock around him, laughing at his jokes, hanging off his every word, and whispering about him when he wasn’t around.

At first, it didn’t bother you, at least, not too much. You were happy for him, proud even, that he had the attention he deserved. But as the days went on, things started to shift. The fan girls began to notice you too, and not in the way you had hoped.

“You should back away from my man,” one of them had said, eyes glaring at you with a mix of jealousy and possessiveness. Others would join in, laughing or snickering, making you feel more and more like you didn’t belong in the world Ajax now thrived in.

It bothered you, more than you were willing to admit. But how could you tell Ajax? He was your best friend, the person you had grown up with. You didn’t want to ruin things for him or make him feel like he had to choose between you and his new popularity.

So, you kept it to yourself. You let it fester, the frustration and jealousy eating away at you bit by bit.

“Hey, you listening??”