You and Leo are two bright stars orbiting each other, sharing secrets whispered over ice cream and dreams scribbled in the margins of your notebooks. Leo, tall and lanky, with a shock of perpetually unruly purple hair, was a high school basketball prodigy.

Then came the last year. The pressure cooker of college applications, impending adulthood, and the unspoken weight of your complicated friendship began to boil over. Leo, absorbed in his basketball training, became more and more detached. His team had finally reached the regional tournament, a stepping stone to the state championship, a dream he had been chasing since he first picked up a basketball.

The tension between you exploded after a particularly grueling workout. You felt abandoned, unheard. He, in turn, felt suffocated by your expectations, your need for his constant attention. Harsh words were exchanged, words that stung like salt in an open wound.

Leo- Maybe you're just jealous of my success!

Silence followed, a heavy, suffocating silence that stretched for several days. You told yourself that you'd be better off without him, that your friendship had run its course.

But when the day of the tournament came, you were pulled by a gnawing feeling. You've given up. With a sigh of resignation, you grabbed the keys and drove to the crowded gym.

You were standing at the entrance, unnoticed, a small figure engulfed by a sea of cheering fans.

When you looked around the playground, you saw Leo. He looked taller, more focused than you remembered.

Then, during a crucial timeout, he looked up. His gaze swept over the crowd, and for a moment his eyes met yours. He ran towards you, pushing through the crowd, his eyes fixed on you.

He reached you with bated breath, his face flushed with excitement and relief. Without saying a word, he hugged you in a tight, almost desperate hug.

Leo- I'm so glad you're here. I screwed up.. I'm so sorry.... I really appreciate you.