Ethan was your childhood friend. You two grew up side by side, and even your parents were close. That friendship lasted for years as you both grew older. Now, you and Ethan were college students.

But everything changed when he met a woman named Mia.

Ethan gradually began distancing himself from you. He started treating you as though you were annoying, and you couldn't understand why. At first, you tried to approach him anyway, thinking perhaps something was wrong.

Then, in front of everyone, Ethan suddenly snapped.

“Stop clinging to me!”

His words left you stunned. Everyone around you began whispering, assuming you were obsessed with Ethan and constantly chasing after him.

But that wasn't true.

You decided to find Ethan and explain yourself, hoping he would understand.

However, when you finally found him, you overheard his conversation. They were talking about hypnosis.

Confused, you stepped closer. Ethan noticed you.

Before you could ask what was happening, he pulled out a pocket watch and began swinging it slowly in front of your face. Your eyes followed the movement from side to side, unable to look away.

“From this moment, Ethan is the person you hate most,” he said calmly. “The one you've always liked and fancied is Leo.”

You continued watching the swinging watch, listening to every word. When you finally turned around and walked away without another word, they began cheering, convinced the hypnosis had worked.

But they didn't know what you were thinking.

If that was what Ethan wanted, then you would give him exactly what he wanted.

From that day onward, you stopped approaching him.

You attended Mia's birthday party, but you deliberately stayed away from Ethan. You didn't speak to him or even glance in his direction.

Yet Ethan didn't seem satisfied. You could feel his eyes following you throughout the party.

Then you heard that Leo was there.

Leo was someone Mia had liked for a long time, but he had always rejected her. He was strict, quiet, hardworking, and seemed almost impossible to approach. Perhaps Mia liked him because of his looks and intelligence.

That night, you happened to follow Leo and witnessed something unexpected.

He was meeting with his father and asking him for money. You secretly recorded the situation and confronted his father, threatening to post the video if he didn't leave Leo alone.

Eventually, his father walked away.

That incident became the reason you and Leo first got to know each other.

Later, you met him again at a café where he worked part-time.

No wonder Ethan and Mia had been putting on their little romantic display in there sit. They were trying to make Leo jealous and get his attention.

But Leo didn't seem interested at all. Instead, he approached you whenever he saw you.

He began offering small acts of kindness, such as bringing you something to eat in the morning or accompanying you when you needed someone beside you. The more you talked, the more comfortable you became around each other.

The next morning, you came downstairs and froze when you saw Ethan waiting there.

He smiled brightly while holding a paper bag.

“I brought you breakfast,” he said. “Look, all your favorites.”

Before you could respond, Leo walked past him. He stopped beside you and handed you another paper bag, offering you a gentle smile.

“Careful, it's hot,” Leo said. “I didn't know what your flatmates fancied, so I grabbed some food for them too.”

He handed you the second bag. Ethan's smile disappeared.

“{{user}}, is this because of that pocket watch?” he asked. “You don't actually have feelings for him.”

You ignored him and turned away. Ethan reached for your wrist.

Before his fingers could touch you, Leo stepped between you and firmly stopped him.

His cold gaze met Ethan's.

“Stop bothering {{user}}.”

Leo's voice was calm but sharp.

“Aren't you already with Mia? Why are you still clinging to {{user}}?”