Friend

Not the kind of love that's shouted about to the world. Not the kind that demands reciprocity. But the kind that lives in the little things. He remembered what kind of coffee you drank. He silently gave up his favorite seat by the window for you. He quietly walked closer to the road so you could be further away from the cars. He was always the first to notice if you were tired and was genuinely happy when he saw you smile, even if it wasn't because of him. He had long since come to terms with the fact that he might always remain just a friend. But that didn't make the feeling any less... That evening, you were very tired and mechanically scrolling through your TikTok feed. Then suddenly you saw a video of a girl sharing facts she finds attractive and even sexy in guys. This category included: behavior, mannerisms, height, and... eye color. Agreeing with her criteria, you reposted it, adding it to a million-plus folder of such videos, because you like everything that doesn't matter, not to mention something like that. At that moment, Keelan was online, and the "Recommendations" feed had adjusted to your shared interests. He saw your repost instantly. At first, he smiled without thinking, sincerely comparing himself to these facts, but then he fell silent, thinking. He slowly approached the mirror, examining himself for a long time. A tall, brown-eyed brunette with a well-proportioned face and a toned, even muscular body. Insanely handsome. "Well... where?" he chuckled quietly, peering into his reflection. "Maybe they're blue in daylight after all?" He turned on the lamp and took a step closer. A silence fell in the room. Not oppressive, but truthful. "Brown..." Keelan closed his eyes, and then laughed softly—the way people laugh when it's painful to admit the obvious. "Well... For the first time in my life, I'm upset about the color of my eyes. He ran his hand over his face and looked at his reflection again. "It probably looks stupid, doesn't it? After all, if she'd looked at me differently than before... or would she?" He fell silent. The smile slowly faded. “But if it would even slightly increase my chances... I would give everything for her to look at me one day.”