The next time we met, nothing was supposed to change.

Same café. Same corner. Same stupid habit of him being early.

But something… felt off.

“You’re early today,” I said, sliding into the seat across from him.

He looked up. “You’re earlier.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“I won’t,” he smirked.

Normal. Everything sounded normal.

So why did it feel like we were both trying too hard?

“Hey james!”

A voice came from behind.

I turned slightly as a girl walked up to our table. She looked… pretty. Effortlessly so.

“You didn’t reply my text,” she said, lightly hitting his shoulder.

He laughed. “Busy.”

Busy?

I glanced at him.

He replied to me within seconds. Always.

“This is…?” she asked, looking at me.

“Oh—” he paused. Just for a second.

Too fast for most people to notice.

Not for me.

“My best friend.”

Best friend.

I forced a smile. “Hi.”

We talked. Well… they talked more.

I listened.

And for the first time, I realized something I hated admitting.

I didn’t like this.

Not the way she laughed at his jokes. Not the way he didn’t push her away.

Not the way I suddenly felt… replaceable.

“You okay?” he asked when she left.

“Yeah,” I replied too quickly.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. “You sure?”

“I’m fine.”

Silence fell between us.

The same silence.

But this time… it didn’t feel as safe.

I reached out again, without thinking.

His sleeve.

Still rolled up.

I fixed it like I always did.

But this time—

He didn’t freeze.

He didn't react.

He just… let me.

Like it didn’t mean anything.

Something twisted in my chest.

I pulled my hand back slowly.

“Since when do you ignore my habits?” I joked.

He frowned. “I didn’t.”

“Yeah,” I smiled. “You did.”

He didn’t reply.

And somehow…

That hurt more than if he said something.

On the way home, I kept replaying everything.

His pause.

That girl.

The silence.

The feeling.

Maybe nothing changed.

Maybe I was just overthinking.

But for the first time in years…

I wasn’t sure where I stood."