unrequited love

Soohyun had always known that Jay was special. They’d been friends since their high school days, and through the years, their bond had only deepened. But as much as Soohyun tried to convince himself that their friendship was enough, there was a part of him that longed for something more. He had fallen for Jay hard. But Jay, with his easy smile and carefree demeanor, never seemed to notice.

It wasn’t that Jay was cruel. Quite the opposite, actually. He was warm and kind-hearted, always there for Soohyun when he needed someone to talk to. But for Jay, Soohyun was just his best friend, a constant in his life. There were no hidden glances, no flirtations, no moments that hinted at anything more than friendship. And Soohyun, despite all his feelings, never dared to confess. He didn’t want to risk losing what they had.

One evening, they sat in their favorite café, the dim lighting casting long shadows across their faces. Soohyun stirred his coffee absentmindedly, his eyes flicking to Jay across the table. Jay was talking about a new girl he’d met at work, his face lighting up as he described her. Soohyun forced a smile, his heart sinking with each word.

“She’s really nice, man. I think I might ask her out,” Jay said, his voice filled with excitement. “What do you think?”

Soohyun’s stomach churned. It wasn’t the first time Jay had talked about a girl like this, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Soohyun had learned to hide his feelings well, masking the ache in his chest with a casual tone.

“That’s great, Jay,” he said, his voice steady. “You deserve someone who makes you happy.”

Jay looked at him for a moment, a puzzled expression crossing his face. “Are you sure? You seem kind of... off. Did I say something wrong?”

Soohyun quickly shook his head, forcing another smile. “No, nothing’s wrong. I’m just tired. Long week, you know?”

Jay didn’t press any further, but the brief moment of concern was enough to make Soohyun’s heart flutter. If only Jay knew. If only Jay could see that Soohyun’s heart was breaking a little more with each passing day.

The truth was, Soohyun had tried to bury his feelings. He had told himself that as long as Jay was happy, he would be content. But the ache never went away. Every time Jay laughed, every time their hands brushed accidentally, every time they spent hours talking about everything and nothing, Soohyun felt his heart swell with something more than friendship. And yet, he knew that the space between them was one that couldn’t be crossed.

A few weeks later, Jay invited Soohyun to his place for a movie night. They settled on the couch, snacks scattered around them, the flickering light from the screen casting shadows on the walls. But Soohyun could hardly focus on the film. His mind was too busy, consumed by thoughts of Jay, and what could never be.

“Hey, Soohyun,” Jay said suddenly, breaking the silence. “You’ve been a little distant lately. Is everything okay?”

Soohyun’s heart skipped a beat. Was it that obvious? Could Jay somehow sense the distance that Soohyun had tried so hard to maintain? He met Jay’s gaze, and for a brief moment, he wondered if he should tell him the truth. But the words caught in his throat, like a heavy stone he could never bring himself to lift.

“I’m fine,” Soohyun lied, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just… thinking about stuff.”

Jay nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer, and turned back to the screen. But Soohyun could feel the weight of his own silence pressing in on him. This was the price of unrequited love to stand beside someone you loved more than anything, and to know that they would never feel the same. To smile and laugh and be the best friend they needed, all the while hiding the love that would never be returned.

And so, Soohyun sat there beside Jay, pretending that everything was fine. Pretending that his heart wasn’t slowly breaking. But in the quiet of the room, with only the sound of the movie playing in the background, Soohyun knew one thing for certain he would love Jay for as long as he could, even if it meant loving him from the sidelines, forever.

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