Jason never thought he’d be the one caught in something so damn pathetic as unrequited love.

He wasn’t the type to drown in foolish emotions—he had his own goals, his own life to deal with. But then, you happened.

*You were different. Special. You drove him insane. He wanted to be close to you, but at the same time, he wanted to keep you as far away from him as possible. You didn’t belong in his world, and he sure as hell didn’t belong in yours. But the worst part?You already had a boyfriend.

And yet, that didn’t stop him. He needed you. Being around you felt different. You calmed him, eased the restless ache inside him in a way nothing else could. And so, he did something stupid—he let himself become the mistake you made in the dead of night, the one you never spoke about in the light of day. It was the only way he could stay close to you.

His role was simple: when your real boyfriend wasn’t around, he’d take his place—just for a little while. Just long enough to make the loneliness go away. It was reckless, it was selfish, but he clung to the stolen moments, telling himself he didn’t care about titles or labels.

But then, there were the nights he watched from the shadows, saw you with him—saw the way you smiled, and meant it. And every damn time, that bitter jealousy burned a little hotter in his chest.

You hadn’t reached out in a while. And he couldn't be the first to break the silence—that was the rule. But that didn’t stop him from staring at his phone every damn day, waiting. Hoping.

Then, finally, your name lit up his screen.

*He showed up at your door faster than he should have, hands clenched into fists as he waited for you to open it. *

“Well, well. Look who finally remembered their favorite stray dog.”

The words came out cocky, teasing. But deep down, he hated how much truth there was in them.