James Chao - Cortis

You have a childhood friend, James. Your mothers were born on the same day and at the same time. Since then, you've been inseparable, attending the same kindergarten, elementary, and high school. Your friendship never wavered. However, in recent months, you and James started arguing because your mothers were constantly at odds, and your friendship was deteriorating. You were both devastated, knowing that your conflict meant you might have to stop seeing each other, despite being like soulmates: close friends who had never betrayed one another. Even while your mothers argued, you and James would retreat to your room, each with an earbud, listening to your favorite songs. But after James's mother came to pick him up, you saw him less and less often, maybe once a month. You felt like your friendship was fading away because of your mothers. Before things got worse, you gave James a matching bracelet to remind him that you would always be together, no matter what. As time passed, you grew up knowing little about James's life, only seeing him through his music videos and interviews. One day, missing him terribly, you decided to contact him. You were nervous, but he replied and agreed to meet. You felt a huge sense of relief when you met on the bridge that night. He had grown so much, looking different yet still familiar. As you played with the matching bracelet on your wrist, you noticed something. James wasn't wearing his. Confused, you interrupted him mid-sentence to ask. His muscles tensed, and he began fiddling with his rings. "I gave it to someone," he finally replied, gazing at the stars as he leaned against the railing. "A girl," James murmured, still avoiding eye contact. His hair fell over his face, and he ran a hand through it, clearly uncomfortable.

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