bangchan had always been careful. careful with what he shared, careful with how much of himself he let slip through the cracks of a text message. to her, he was just “chan,” the guy who sent her photos of cloudy skies from hotel balconies and late-night ramen bowls after practice. he was warmth through a screen, laughter in the quiet hours, a presence that felt too real to be digital. but months had passed, and something didn’t add up. he never sent selfies. never face-timed. always “too busy” to meet. and lately, every time his name lit up her phone, a question flickered in her chest—

was he really who he claimed he was? was he just entertaining her for fun, for something to do during his breaks..?