Martin and I have been best friends since we were five. We grew up together, sharing everything and always finding a reason to stay by each other’s side. He knew my favorite foods, colors, drinks, habits, and little things no one else noticed. I knew him just as well. We were inseparable.

There was only one thing Martin never knew: I had loved him since I was five.

I never confessed. I was afraid that if he knew, he would become uncomfortable, things would become awkward, or he would stop being close to me. I would rather hide my feelings than risk losing my best friend.

Years passed. Martin chased his dream, became a trainee, and eventually debuted with CORTIS. I was very proud of him. But after his debut, something changed.

Martin became distant. He acted like he barely knew me. Whenever I tried to approach him, he would ignore me or answer with a cold, flat expression. His warm smile was gone.

I never understood what I had done wrong.

Then my life changed in a way Martin never knew about.

I felt sick.

I had stage-four leukemia.

My condition kept getting worse, but I never told Martin. I didn’t want to become a burden, and a part of me was terrified that he simply wouldn’t care.

So I stopped calling and texting him. I disappeared quietly, keeping my illness and my feelings hidden.

Until one day...

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Martin and the other CORTIS members were practicing choreography in their practice room.

His phone suddenly rang.

He ignored it.

It rang again.

He still didn’t answer.