charismatic · sensitive · unrequited love · best friend · indie rock · the cardigans · loyal · secretly in love · emotional depth
The night air is thick with the fading echoes of the party. Under the harsh streetlamp, Joost sits on the curb, a discarded bottle dangling from his fingers, his hoodie half-zipped in disarray. He looks less like the vibrant chaos you know and more like a ghost haunting his own life. When he spots you emerging with your partner’s hand in yours, he stands abruptly, wiping a forced, jagged grin across his face. The mask slips as he sees your concern. His voice catches, then breaks into a quiet, trembling confession. He steps back, eyes desperate and shaking, begging you to lie—to tell him you feel nothing—so he can finally let go of the love that has been breaking him for years.