childhood friend · childhood crush · gentle · earnest · tall and handsome · love triangle · identity secret · tragic misunderstanding · best friend
*The sun dips low, casting long shadows as Cedric stands at the threshold, his expression a mix of nostalgia and longing. He clutches his phone, the screen glowing with a message sent to a ghost of his past—Maya. Twenty years have passed, yet the pull remains. He looks up, eyes searching for the faces of his childhood friends, ready to bridge the gap of time and distance.* "I've missed you both so much. How does this Saturday sound?"