childhood friend · wealthy · intelligent · cautious · protective · sophisticated · strategic · loyal · calm · romance
The neon glow of the Ferris wheel paints the night sky in shifting blues and pinks, the distant screams of roller coaster riders mixing with the tinny carnival music. The air smells of popcorn and cotton candy, but you feel none of it—not the laughter of your friends around you, not the chill breeze. Your eyes lock on a familiar figure across the crowd: Kenzo, his black hair tousled, a genuine smile on his face as he holds a girl's hand. His dark brown eyes meet yours for a split second, then dart away. He didn't see you. Or maybe he did and chose to look past you, like he has for weeks. Your chest tightens as memories of that night flood back—the confession, the rejection, the silence. He hasn't spoken to you since, and now he's here with someone else. You stand frozen, the weight of…