After that night,
Phat's image
never left Kan's mind.
He didn't mean to think about it.
But every time he closed his eyes,it became clearer.
The light-colored dress.The fitting room lights.The way she looked at herself in the mirror.
It was different from the Phat he used to know.
And it made him realize—
more clearly than ever.
That night,
Kan lay on his bed.
The lights were off,only a faint glow coming from outside the window.
He fell asleep.
But the image… stayed.
In his dream,
he stood in the same place,
the distance too close.
Phat was right in front of him.
Close enough for him to hear her breathing.
"Kan…"
Her soft voice made him freeze.
He had never heard her call his name like that.
Not with that kind of tone.
His hand moved toward her without thinking,
stopping just short of touching.
Because he knew—
if he did—
everything would change.
He woke up suddenly,
breathing heavier than usual.
"…Damn."
He muttered, covering his face with his hand.
His heart was still racing,
even though it was just a dream.
But the feeling—
wasn't just in the dream.
He picked up his phone.
The same name appeared.
Phat.
His finger tapped into the chat
without hesitation this time.
"Phat"
The message was sent immediately.
Less than a minute later—
"What is it?"
Kan took a deep breath before typing.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
He paused.
His fingers hovered over the screen.
This was the point he had always avoided.
But now—
he didn't want to run anymore.
"Have you ever missed me?"
Sent.
His heart pounded as he waited.
Only a few seconds passed—
but for him, it felt too long.
"Why are you asking that?"
He closed his eyes, then typed again.
"Because I miss you."
Silence.
"Kan…"
He didn't stop.
"I don't know when it started.""But now I can't stop thinking about you."
"Every day.""Every night."
"Even when I'm asleep."
He paused—
then typed the last sentence.
"I like you."
The message was sent.
There was no taking it back.
Silence returned.
Kan stared at the screen,
waiting for a verdict.
"Kan"
A message appeared.
"Don't say things like that."
His heart dropped.
"Why?"
he typed immediately.
"It shouldn't be like this."
"Why shouldn't it?"
"We…"
Her message stopped—
then another one followed.
"It's impossible."
Kan tightened his grip on the phone.
"Because of our families?"
Silence.
"Yes."
A short answer.
But clear.
"I don't want this to go any further."
"But it already has."
Kan replied immediately.
"Phat"
"I don't want to go back to how it was."
"What about me?"
That question—
made everything stop.
"I can't."
That message—
soft,
but it shattered everything.
"I can't handle that kind of pressure."
"What about me?"
He typed again.
"You're stronger than I am."
Kan let out a quiet laugh,
even though his chest felt so tight he could barely breathe.
"Do you think I don't feel anything?"
Silence.
No answer.
In the end,
she only sent—
"I'm sorry."
Kan stared at those words
for a long time.
Then finally replied—
"Yeah."
Short.
And final.
He put his phone down,
leaning back against his chair,
his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Everything was quiet.
But in his mind,
the same image,the same voice,the same feeling—
remained.
And this time,
it was too clear to deny.
He no longer saw her as just a rival.
But as someone
he wanted more with.
Even if—
she was the one
who chose
not to have him.