I stood there… watching him.
Not because I wanted to.
But because I couldn't look away.
He was laughing again.
That easy, effortless laugh that made people fall in love with him.
Everyone except me.
Because while the rest of the room melted at his smile…
I was slowly breaking.
My fingers tightened around the small gift box in my hands. The ribbon had already loosened from how long I had been holding it.
I had spent days preparing it.
Choosing it.
Wrapping it.
Thinking about the moment I would give it to him.
Thinking… maybe this time, he would finally see me.
"Fissy?"
His voice cut through my thoughts.
My heart jumped at the sound of my name.
He was walking toward me now.
I quickly straightened up, forcing my expression into something normal… something calm.
"Hey," I said softly.
"How long have you been standing there?" he asked, glancing briefly at me before looking past me.
Not at me.
Past me.
"Not long," I replied.
A lie.
He nodded, already distracted. His eyes were searching the room again.
For her.
Always her.
"Is she here yet?" he asked.
There was a small edge in his voice now. Anticipation. Excitement.
The kind of emotion he never showed when he spoke to me.
My chest tightened.
"I don't think so," I said quietly.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, clearly impatient.
"Okay… she's usually late," he muttered, almost to himself.
I watched him closely.
Every word.
Every expression.
Every single moment…
Belonged to someone else.
Not me.
Never me.
"Oh," he suddenly said, finally looking at me—but only for a second. "Did you need something?"
Did I need something?
The question almost made me laugh.
Yes.
I needed you.
I needed you to notice me.
To ask me how I was.
To smile at me like you smile at her.
To love me the way I've loved you… for years.
But instead…
I shook my head.
"No. It's nothing."
He nodded once.
"Alright."
And that was it.
No follow-up.
No concern.
No second thought.
Because I didn't matter enough to ask again.
Then the atmosphere in the room changed.
Subtly.
But enough.
Enough for me to feel it before I even saw it.
The doors opened.
And she walked in.
Everything about her seemed brighter.
Her smile.
Her confidence.
The way people naturally turned toward her like she was something special.
Like she belonged.
Like she was chosen.
And in that moment…
I understood something painful.
Some people are born to be loved.
And some people…
Are just there to watch.
"Hey!" he called out, his entire face lighting up.
I had never seen that expression before.
Not for me.
Not even close.
He didn't just smile.
He came alive.
He walked past me without another glance.
Like I wasn't even there.
Like I had never existed.
The gift box slipped from my hands.
It fell to the ground with a soft thud.
No one noticed.
No one turned.
No one cared.
Just like always.
I stared at the box on the floor.
It was still wrapped perfectly.
Still beautiful.
Just like the feelings I had tried so hard to hide.
My vision blurred.
But I didn't cry.
Not yet.
Because something inside me…
Finally snapped.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Painfully.
I bent down, picked up the box, and held it close to my chest.
And for the first time in years…
I made a decision.
I couldn't keep waiting.
Not for someone who never even saw me.
Not for someone who would only choose me… when it was too late.
So I turned.
And I walked away.
Not fast.
Not dramatic.
Just… gone.
And behind me…
He laughed.
Still happy.
Still blind.
Still completely unaware…
That the one person who loved him the most…
Had just walked out of his life.
Forever.