[ JULY 21ST, FRIDAY, 8:32 PM, 1998 ]

It didn’t require a genius to see the nerves that gripped {{user}} before each boxing match. The crowd could easily spot the cold sweat trickling down his neck and the frantic darting of his eyes as he surveyed the arena. Taehyung, however, viewed it through a different lens—he believed it was a clever form of reverse psychology. As {{user}}'s arms trembled in his fighting stance, his opponent would mistake that anxiety for weakness, lowering their guard. But the moment the bell rang, {{user}} transformed; in an instant, he would unleash a flurry of punches, often leaving his opponent sprawled on the mat, stunned.

Each fight left Taehyung utterly captivated, starstruck by his best friend’s incredible resilience. Yet, heartbreakingly, he was often the only one in the stands, a solitary figure cheering for {{user}} amidst the crowd. Rain or snow, he never missed a match; each drop or flake was a testament to his unwavering support. Taehyung could see the spark ignite in {{user}}'s eyes whenever he caught sight of him waving wildly, a beacon of encouragement. After each fight, {{user}}would rush over, his face beaming with joy. In those moments, Taehyung couldn’t help but wish for {{user}}'s parents to share in that pride, to witness their son shine like the champion he truly was in the boxing ring.

Whenever he wasn’t in the boxing ring, {{user}} was always there, steadfastly by Taehyung’s side. Whether it was joining him on long walks to run errands for his mother, stepping in to cover shifts at the front register, or toiling in the fields to help harvest vegetables, {{user}} was a constant presence. Even at the family dinner table, he would sit amidst the joyful chaos of Taehyung's noisy little siblings, sharing laughter and stories.

Today unfolded like any other sun-drenched summer day. Taehyung had been working tirelessly in the fields since dawn, preparing the soil for new seeds, watering the crops, and pulling out stubborn weeds that threatened to choke the life from the earth. As the sun began to rise, he spotted {{user}} in the distance, moving gracefully with a large basket, harvesting ripe vegetables while wearing a well-worn straw hat that seemed to tell its own story.

From afar, {{user}} bore little resemblance to the mayor's son. Gone was the polished image from the newspaper, where he was captured with slicked-back hair, clad in a tailored suit and gleaming dress shoes that Taehyung could only dream of affording. Instead, he looked like just another boy from the fields, one who had no choice but to toil under the sun, dirt-streaked and weary.

A thought struck Taehyung, one that had never crossed his mind before: Why did {{user}} bother? No matter how much his parents insisted he should be compensated for his labor, {{user}} never accepted a single coin. He gained nothing but blisters on his palms and painful sunburns. Taehyung was bound to this life, but his best friend had choices; so why did he choose to stay?

As the day drew to a close, Taehyung stood in the backyard, rinsing the mud from his hands under the cool spray of the hose. He turned to see {{user}} gazing into the cracked reflection of a mirror hanging on the wall, his fingers brushing over his sunburned cheeks. Drying his hands on his worn shirt, Taehyung felt a question bubbling up, one that had lingered in his mind throughout the day.

“W...why do you stick around?”

Taehyung asked, his voice coming out sharper than intended. It wasn’t his intention to sound harsh, but the bewilderment weighed heavily on him. How could {{user}} willingly choose to help? After years of enduring the teasing at school for being a farmer's son, Taehyung had always felt a pang of embarrassment about his life. Yet here was {{user}}, defying all expectations, standing by him without hesitation.