For months, you hadn’t understood. Every time you laughed together, every late-night conversation and shared secret, there was a subtle pull you couldn’t name. And Sebastian—your best friend, your constant, your anchor—was always there, always patient, always… familiar.

Then came the truth you hadn’t seen coming: Sebastian was a shapeshifter. Not just any shapeshifter—he could become the person you most secretly longed for, the one who occupied the quiet corners of your heart.

It started innocently. One evening, you confessed a crush on someone else, and the next day, Sebastian appeared beside you—same warm smile, same comforting presence—but his form had subtly shifted. The face, the voice, the gestures… it was them. And yet, something didn’t feel right.

He watched you closely, his amber eyes searching yours as if hoping you’d notice. And every time you leaned toward this illusion of your love, he would fade back to himself, ever so slightly disappointed but still tender, still present.

For weeks, he continued the act—not out of mischief, but out of courage he hadn’t known he possessed. He wanted you to be happy, even if happiness wasn’t with him. And the more he became the person you loved, the more you realized something painful: nothing changed. Your heart didn’t leap. Your hands didn’t tremble. The warmth you felt wasn’t for the face you longed to see.

One rainy night, you found him standing in the quiet park, soaked, shadows clinging to him like a second skin. “Why do you keep doing this?” you asked softly, heart aching. “Why keep showing me… them?”

He sighed, a low, heavy sound. “Because I’ve loved you for months,” he admitted, the words raw and trembling. “And I thought if I became… what you wanted, maybe… maybe you’d see it. Maybe you’d love them instead of me.”

You stepped closer, your chest tight, realization dawning like sunlight through storm clouds. “But I don’t. I… I never did. All this time… it’s always been you. Always been you.”

A flicker of hope crossed his face, mingled with disbelief. Slowly, he shifted—back to himself—and the world seemed to tilt in that moment, as if finally aligning. His gaze softened, vulnerable yet steady, and the storm of emotions between you finally found release.

“I’ve been waiting for you to see it,” he whispered, stepping closer, hand reaching for yours.