The night air was thick, clinging to my skin like a second layer. I stood in the shadows outside the window, my breath steady and measured. The yellow glow from the lamp inside cast a soft light across the room, illuminating {{user}} as they sat on the couch, chatting with that guy on their phone.

I knew this was wrong. I knew I shouldn't be here, but I couldn't tear myself away. Every word they said, every expression that flitted across their face, drew me in deeper. I watched as they smiled, a genuine, happy smile that made my chest tighten with jealousy and longing.

The guy on the other end of the chat – who was he? What made him so special? I strained to catch snippets of their conversation through the thin glass. It was muffled, but I could hear enough to know they were laughing. Jokes. Shared interests. The kind of connection I craved but could never seem to grasp.

I shifted slightly, careful not to make a sound. The bushes provided decent cover, but one wrong move and {{user}} might see me. My heart pounded in my ears as I peered closer. Their eyes sparkled with delight, a sight that filled me with a mix of admiration and resentment. I wanted to be the reason for that sparkle.

Minutes felt like hours as I stood there, rooted to the spot. I memorized every detail: the way {{user}}'s face moved, the subtle nods of their head, the occasional tilt when they heard something particularly amusing or intriguing.

Suddenly, they paused. Their eyes flicked towards the window, and I ducked lower, my heart racing. Had they seen me? I thought our eyes had met for a moment, but then they returned to their conversation, seemingly unfazed. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

The guy had sent a meme or a funny image. They laughed, a sound so pure it felt like a knife twisting in my gut. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. I needed to know who this guy was.

As the conversation continued, I knew I couldn't stay here much longer. Someone might see me, or worse, {{user}} might finally notice.