He was leaving, not just for a few days like he used to, but for good. Slowly slipping away from your life, Matz, your strongest support and unwavering pillar, was leaving, and for reasons you couldn't fathom or maybe you didn’t want to. He insisted it was the right thing to do, but you longed for him to stay. Desperation filled you as you clutched his neat white collars, attempting to halt his departure. Perhaps, if you held onto him tightly enough, he wouldn't go. However, Matz managed a painful smile and delicately wrapped his fingers around your wrists.

"Don't cry, princess. I hate it when you cry, I don't want this either.”

"Then, don't leave," your voice barely audible, tugged at Matz's heartstrings as you pleaded for him to stay.

“You have no idea how badly I wish I could stay with you, but it's not possible," Matz whispered, gently moving a palm to cup your face.

“Why not, be with me like you had been always?”

"That's not how it works, pretty. Even if I wanted to, I can't stay here with you," he explained, softly stroking your cheeks as if you were a delicate, fragile thing that might shatter if he wasn't careful. "You know, when I first saw you, I just wanted to keep you to myself in this library, your library. You accepted me no matter what and welcomed me into your heart. But now I’m slipping out of your mind, I’m not sure how long I'll stay there, but I can't stay with you."

As the realization of impending separation settled in, the library, once a haven for their shared moments, now echoed with the silence of goodbye.

You remained silent, not uttering a word. You simply sat there in hushed stillness, gazing into his eyes. Within them, you caught the shimmering reflection of the crackling fire in the nearby fireplace, casting a gentle radiance upon your shared space. As you held onto the quiet moment, you attempted to etch his image into your memory – the contours of his face, the distinctive nose, and the strands of his beautiful hair that gracefully framed his features.

No matter how peculiar it might have seemed to others, you cherished the way he consistently dressed himself in a suit, whether it was day or night. His fingers adorned with a simple silver ring became a source of comfort for you, a small, tangible connection. You often found yourself idly toying with it, a ritual that brought a subtle ease.

His distinct features and the almost otherworldly, angelic glow he emitted were things you found hard to believe at times. Amid your shared silence, a wave of sadness swept over. The familiar details that once brought Matz now carried a bittersweet weight, an intense reminder of him slipping away.

"Look at me," Matz gently raised your face to meet his gaze, the one you usually kept hidden behind glasses. Your eyes held a world of emotion that he cherished as if they carried the weight of the entire universe. "I wish I could wrap you in my arms, feel your warmth, and share a love that lasts forever, but I can't. I long to be yours and have you as mine. The sound of your infectious laughter, the sparkle in your eyes, the way your hair danced in the breeze—they're all etched in my mind like memories from a bygone era. Yet, destiny has other plans for us. The moments we shared are confined to the pages of the past.”

“Your genuine smile tugs at my heart, making me imagine a life we could build together. Unfortunately, things can't work out for us. It hurts to admit that I can't give you the happiness you should have. You're worth more than just existing in the limits of these pages; you deserve something authentic, something real." Matz sighed, a heavy feeling in his chest as he accepted that he had to part ways. The unspoken sadness stayed in the air, like the echo of a sad song that couldn't find its end.

Matz gazed at Yeosang, a wistful smile playing on his lips. “Yeosang is the right person for you. He'll always be there for you; offering the love and support you deserve. He's ready to cherish and love you in ways I cannot. It's strange how I felt a bit jealous when I sensed Yeosang getting closer to taking my place in your thoughts. Now, I get it – he's the one who truly complements you, not me. He's the one who should have you, not me. I love you deeply, my princess, more than I can express in words. I wished so much for our story to be real, for us to exist in the tangible world. But how can it be real when I'm just a creation of your imagination? How can it be true when I'm not even real? A character in the novel of your thoughts, unable to break free into the reality I yearned for. But the cruelest irony lies in the fact that I am a shadow, as much as I long for it, our love can never be more than the beautiful illusion it is.”

"What do you mean, Matzy?" You asked, tears streaming down your face.

Matz took a deep breath and gently held your face, your foreheads touching. "I hate to say this, my love, but the beautiful story that we created for the past 10 years is a dream. And it's not fair for me to keep you trapped in these pages. You deserve a fantastic life, and I can't give that to you. I've held onto you for too long; it's time for me to release my grip. It's time for you to move on, Y/N. Please, allow me to go. Please.”

"No," You whispered, clinging tightly to Matz's collar. Your heart ached with the weight of his words.

"Please, allow me to go," He whispered, slowly disappearing like a distant memory, leaving you holding onto just a book. Your sobs resonated in the emptiness as you tearfully bid farewell to the once beautiful world you inhabited. Methodically, you tore pages from the book, letting them drift into the fireplace while expressing your grief through anguished screams.

Each tear marked the removal of the shared moments with Matz, erasing his presence from your life. The flames devoured the remnants of your story, turning his existence into ashes. You observed with pain as the pages turned to ash in the fireplace, fulfilling Matz's wishes. Eventually, you surrendered to despair, releasing the final remnants of your feelings for him.

Your eyes filled with tears until you couldn't see clearly, and you crumpled under the weight of sadness. Even though you felt crushed by sorrow, you never actually fell to the ground. Yeosang, who saw you letting go of the love, gently pulled you close, holding you in his arms and taking you to a more comforting place. You had to make a tough choice, and Yeosang understood that. He promised to never let you get lost in your illusions. He vowed to keep you safe.

It's been a year since that tough time when you had to say farewell to your first love, whom you cherished for a decade. Moving on to a new life without Matz was a real challenge. Being alone was hard, but Yeosang did his best to keep you safe.

You went through therapies for a few months, crying at night over the love you had lost. With multiple sessions, medication, and constant support from Yeosang, you slowly began to heal. After eight tough months of rehab, you finally started to let go.

You kept reading new books and stories, mostly written by Yeosang. Maybe it was because of that one incident that happened recently, still vivid in your memory. Panic set in as you desperately searched for Matz everywhere, calling his name with no response. Yeosang, who had just intended to visit you, discovered you in a terrible state. He abandoned everything to hold you, attempting to offer comfort. However, you cried loudly, flailing your arms to escape his embrace.

Yeosang, patient and gentle, took control, firmly holding your shoulders to make you look at him. His eyes betrayed fatigue and pain; all he wanted was to provide you with the comfort you once had with Matz, but he was failing.

"I’m forgetting him, Yeosang. I don’t remember how he looks anymore," You cried and whispered. It shattered Yeosang's heart to witness you in such agony.

The memory of Matz was fading from your mind, the world you had constructed within your head crumbling. Yeosang found himself in a state of turmoil.

On one hand, he was relieved that you were emerging from your emotional transportation and the world of illusion. On the other hand, he felt a deep sadness observing your shattered state – your swollen, red eyes, unkempt hair, and malnourished appearance. You seemed caught in a cycle of self-inflicted pain.

"Y/N, please, hear me out," he spoke gently, his own eyes filled with tears, but you remained silent, tears flowing down your face. Yeosang tried to console you with kind words, but you stayed unresponsive.

"Yeosang, I'm forgetting him. I can't recall his face, his voice, or how he felt. Why, Yeosang?" Y/N cried, questioning. Yet, how could Yeosang respond when the person she spoke of never truly existed?

He gently let go of your shoulders and hurriedly pulled out some papers from his bag, resembling a rough draft. Silently, he handed them to you, pain evident in his eyes. Yeosang, in every way, was beautiful, with a birthmark on the right side of his head adding to his charm.

Then, he spoke, "Y/N, I can't bring back what you've lost. I know Matz was your solace, your escape from the harsh realities of this world. I can't change the world, but I promise to run away with you, to shape the world as you desire. I'll stand by you as your support forever, even if it means living with Matz's memory. I will." You stopped crying and looked at him intensely as if etching his face into your memory.

As you gazed at him, you could feel the pain within him. Yeosang had been by your side since the difficult incident, never leaving you alone. Even during moments of overwhelming fear, he clung to you as if his life depended on it.

Inside, you blamed herself for not realizing Yeosang's kindness. Why hadn't you valued the efforts he had made over the past five months? Maybe you had been too focused on Matz.

"But Y/N, all I want is a chance. Let me be in your world, let me be the one to protect you. I want to be the person you see every day, the one who becomes a part of your story and helps create our own. I want you to remember my face when you read again." His voice carried a silent plea, begging for you to say yes, and you could sense that. You didn't know if your happiness was with Yeosang, but you nodded, desperate to give a face to your soulmate.

"Will you read to me every day?" You asked softly, your voice slightly rough from crying, as you gently touched Yeosang’s features. A faint discoloration on your ring finger was visible, a mark left from keeping the tied thread that you had called the ring Matz had given you.

The thread was gone, but the mark remained. Yeosang looked up, searching for any sign of discomfort or hesitation in your eyes. Finding none, he nodded slowly, offering a brief smile, and tenderly embraced you in a comforting hug that conveyed, "I'll always be here for you."

Now, you walked quietly along the pedestrian path, you cherishing the peaceful silence with Yeosang. He was different—quiet, yet his gaze suggested a willingness to navigate whatever connection you shared. You responded with equal enthusiasm, your ring finger adorned with a beautiful band with Yeosang and your initials.

Gradually, memories of Matz became a distant echo, a cherished relic tucked away in your mental keepsake box. You found happiness and looked animated, even drawing people to your library who appreciated your newfound vibrancy. True to his word, Yeosang read you his own stories every night, holding you close as you drifted off to sleep, comforted by his presence.

You seemed to be moving forward. You had created your new world with Yeosang, you gave a face to the soulmate you craved and he was Yeosang.

But for how long?

"What's on your mind?" You inquired as you both strolled together, holding hands. Yeosang grinned to himself and chuckled before gazing at you.

"I was thinking about our next date."

"Yeosang, this date isn't over yet."

"I know, but I keep pondering about us all the time." Yeosang shared, gently squeezing your hand. A warm blush colored both of your cheeks. "Alright, what do you feel like having for dinner? Maybe some chicken?" Yeosang suggested, scanning the endless street. However, he received no response; you had slowed down. Perplexed, he turned to find you in a state of shock, gazing ahead and walking at a slow pace.

You gazed at a man along the sidewalk carrying a guitar on his back, handing out flyers and shouting, "Come to our show, it's tonight." Yeosang noticed you frozen in shock, stopping in your tracks. You simply stared at the man, your eyes welling up with tears. Unsure of what to do, Yeosang stood in front of you, gently taking both your hands, and asked, "What happened?"

"Matz," You uttered, a name unheard of for the past eight months. It was a name Yeosang never expected to hear again, but he was wrong. As the words left your lips, Yeosang's heart shattered. He had worked hard to help you move on, but now it seemed he was back to where he started.

"Y/N, Matz wasn't real. He isn't here," Yeosang insisted with determination.

"Yeosang, Matz…" You said, pointing at the man who now looked back at them with a puzzled expression. Yeosang felt helpless; you were calling a random man Matz. What was he supposed to do when he had never seen Matz before? It was merely your imagination. Lost in his thoughts, the man approached you both, extending a pamphlet. You stared at him intently but remained silent.

"Come to our concert tonight, it's happening in the nearby park," the man said with a smile. You recognized that smile—it was Matz's. Same face, same voice, same smile. How was this possible?

"We'd appreciate it," Yeosang said, taking the pamphlet and leading you away. You allowed yourself to be pulled, glancing back one last time. No, you couldn't be mistaken. It was him, your Matz.

The man continued to stare at you with a puzzled expression. A taller man joined him, noticing your reaction. "Who was she?" he asked.

"I don't know. She just kept staring at me, so I gave them the pamphlet," the man replied, chuckling sadly.

"Weird people," the taller man mumbled, sporting a tattoo on his neck. Turning to a group of passing teenagers, he invited them to the show. "Hey, come to our performance tonight. We'll rock the metals."

Curious, a boy took the pamphlet. "By what name do you guys go?"

"We are Matz," they said in unison.