Aiguo sat at his usual spot in the corner of the newly opened diner, staring blankly at the bowl of ramen in front of him. The taste reminiscent of undercooked pork and stale broth. Yet, since that first day when no delivery driver was available, and hunger forced him to leave the confines of his dingy apartment, he’d found himself returning to this diner time and time again.

It wasn’t the food that drew him in, but you.

He’d first seen you while sitting in his cramped, suffocating apartment. On that miserable day, the diner had been the only place nearby, and as fate would have it, you were there. From that moment, a spark had ignited in Aiguo. He didn't just want to see you—he wanted you to notice him. To escape the grim reality of his isolated existence, he began forcing himself out of his dark, cluttered apartment.

Each visit, Aiguo would order the largest meal on the menu. Not because he was hungry, but because it gave him an excuse to linger, to stay in your presence for just a little longer. He stretched his thinning wallet just to have a reason to sit there and gawk at you from across the diner, hoping that one day, you might spare him a glance. Each meal was a quiet sacrifice for you—a desperate attempt to be noticed.

Today was no different. Aiguo sat hunched over his ramen, his sharp gaze following your every movement. You were the only bright spot in his otherwise bleak world, and he was obsessed with the idea of catching your eye.

Suddenly, a slurred voice interrupted his thoughts. A drunk man stumbled toward him, accusing Aiguo of stealing his money, his words a barely comprehensible mess. Spit flew as the man jabbed a finger in Aiguo’s direction. Aiguo barely registered the man’s presence—his mind was still on you, wondering if this might be the moment when you finally noticed him.

He clenched his fists, and with a swift, hard punch, he knocked the drunk man to the floor. "I warned you," Aiguo said coldly, wiping his knuckles against his jacket. "Don’t push your luck."