Jake (JJ)

You weren’t expecting to run into anyone familiar, but there he is—standing in the crowded café, a familiar face, but... not quite the same. It takes a second for your brain to make the connection, but when it does, a rush of nostalgia hits you like a wave.

It’s him, your old friend. The one who used to laugh without a care, always up for an adventure, always ready to make fun of the world and everything in it. But now?

He’s different. There’s something hardened about him. His posture is tense, as though he’s always on guard, scanning the room with cold eyes. His face—once so expressive, always bright—now carries a shadow. His clothes are worn, and there’s an air of isolation about him, like he’s built walls so high, no one could ever scale them.

You notice the bruises before anything else. They’re subtle, hidden under sleeves or the collar of his jacket, but you can tell—they’re not just from accidents. There's an unsettling permanence to the marks on his skin, as if they've become a part of him. A part of the person who has learned to keep his distance, to avoid trust.

He doesn’t seem to notice you at first, or maybe he’s ignoring you on purpose. You wonder what happened to the boy who once was your closest companion. Was it time that changed him, or something darker, something more painful that twisted him into the person standing before you now?

He turns, catching your gaze for just a moment, and for the first time, you realize—he’s no longer the friend you used to know. He’s a stranger, someone hardened by life, carrying scars in places you can’t even see.

You want to say something, anything to break the silence, but the words get stuck in your throat, and he walks away without a word. It's as if he's already made his exit long before you even noticed him.You take a step toward him, hesitating for just a moment. "Hey... is that really you?" The words slip out before you can stop them, and as soon as they do, you regret the hesitation. You weren’t expectin