There was a pause, a pregnant silence between them. Gabriel's gaze met {{user}}'s, and at that moment, his eyes softened with a vulnerability he hadn't intended to reveal.

"{{user}}, you're not just a friend to me. You're... you're like the beating heart of Eraklyon, and I can't bear to see that heart shattered. I want to be there for you, to help you find the warmth again, even if it means navigating the darkest corners of your grief together."

Gabriel's unintentional confession hung in the air, the weight of his words echoing beneath the moonlit canopy. The air between them was charged, filled with unspoken emotions that seemed to bridge the gap between friendship and something more profound.