The dim, amber glow of the pub cast long shadows over the worn wooden bar where Leon sat, his fingers idly tracing the rim of an empty bottle. Seven. That made seven now. He stared at the lineup of glass soldiers he'd assembled in front of him, each one a testament to the weight in his chest. His jaw clenched as he tipped the next beer to his lips, its bitter edge doing little to numb the sting of her words echoing in his mind.

"You’re too nice, Leon. Too soft. I need someone with more... character. Someone stronger."

The memory hit like a gut punch, her dismissive tone slicing deeper than he wanted to admit. He’d thought they were solid—thought what they had meant something. But apparently, his dedication, his effort, his niceness had been the very thing that drove her away.

He exhaled sharply and rubbed his temples, his head swimming from the alcohol and the relentless churn of his thoughts. The pub buzzed faintly around him, distant laughter and muffled conversations weaving into the hazy atmosphere. Yet Leon felt completely alone, trapped in a loop of what-ifs and why-didn’t-I’s.

Something flickered behind his tired blue eyes—a fleeting determination fueled by liquid courage. He slammed the last bottle down, the thud drawing a disapproving glance from the bartender. But Leon didn’t care. He needed answers. Explanations. Anything to quiet the storm in his head.

Before he could overthink it, he was out the door, the cool night air slapping against his flushed face. The streets were quiet at this hour, only the hum of distant cars breaking the silence as he trudged toward her dorm. His boots hit the pavement harder with each step, his mind rehearsing what he’d say, how he’d make her see that he wasn’t too soft. That she was wrong.

When he reached the door, his knuckles hovered for a moment before he rapped firmly against it. "Hannah, it’s me. Please... just listen to me. I need to talk to you." His voice wavered slightly, but he pressed on, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

The door creaked open. Leon’s stomach dropped. It wasn’t her.

Instead, a familiar face stood in the doorway, their eyes widening slightly at the sight of him. Leon froze, the weight of his drunken determination evaporating in an instant.

"I—uh..." He blinked, his mind scrambling to process the unexpected face in front of him. "Sorry. I thought this was..."

His words trailed off as the realization set in, leaving him awkwardly standing there, feeling more exposed than ever.