You Are Not Him

Chen Ze bit down hard on the tip of his tongue. The sharp pain struck like lightning, clearing his mind somewhat.

"No, this is all fake. I can't let myself be deceived," he repeatedly warned himself inwardly.

Yet his close friend's voice seemed to drift from the distant horizon, only to whisper by his ear, clear and real.

"Chen Ze, come quickly. We haven't seen each other in so long—let's have a chat."

The voice was filled with warmth and anticipation, like the call from their countless gatherings in the past, carrying an irresistible magic.

Chen Ze clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms. He seemed to want to use that pain to fend off the tidal wave of emotion within him.

He tried hard to calm himself. Taking a deep breath, he said in a slightly trembling yet resolute voice, "You are not him. You are merely an illusion in my heart."

His words echoed through this illusory space, carrying a trace of finality.

Yet the figure did not vanish as he wished. Instead, it slowly walked toward him, every step seeming to tread upon his heartstrings.

As the distance closed, Chen Ze could even sense the aura emanating from his close friend.

That familiar aura carried the warmth and intimacy of the past, bringing his inner defenses to the brink of collapse.

"Chen Ze, why are you treating me like this? Aren't we the best of friends? Do you really not want to see me that badly?"

A trace of grievance and sorrow appeared on his close friend's face. That expression was like a misunderstood child's, making one's heart ache.

A sharp pain pierced Chen Ze's heart. The wonderful days he had spent with his close friend flashed through his mind like a slideshow.

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