In the dimly lit living room, Alex and his two friends, Emma and Jake, gathered around the TV, controllers in hand, ready to dive into Change Destiny, the new Otome game that had everyone talking. The game was set in a vibrant, Regency-inspired fantasy world with one twist: the heroine, Ariana, wasn't the typical protagonist. Instead, she was the game's reincarnated villainess, determined to dodge her tragic fate with her cruel fiancé, the Crown Prince, who was supposed to orchestrate her downfall.

They loaded up the game, watching the opening cinematic where Ariana, with a determined yet anxious look, paced her lavish chambers. Her thoughts were filled with strategies on how to avoid the events that would lead to her ruin. Alex admired her ambition; it was refreshing to see a character ready to challenge the confines of her fate rather than just swooning after princes and knights.

As they progressed, Ariana's life became increasingly entangled with the Crown Prince, a charming yet arrogant character whose interest in her had initially been out of contempt. But something strange happened: the more Ariana distanced herself from him, treating him indifferently and focusing on her own goals, the more intrigued he became. Soon, the Crown Prince was smitten, drawn to Ariana's boldness and unexpected resistance to his advances.

Jake leaned forward, clearly invested in the romance unfolding. "I mean, you gotta admit, it's kind of sweet," he said, grinning as the Crown Prince arranged a surprise gift for Ariana in the game.

Emma nodded. "Yeah, it's kind of interesting to see him fall for her because she's not fawning all over him. It makes the romance feel a bit more genuine, you know?"

But Alex wasn't convinced. With a frown, he tapped through the scenes, letting out an exasperated sigh as Ariana blushed ever so slightly at the prince's attempt to compliment her.

"Seriously?" Alex huffed. "Why can't she just notice the one character who actually cares for her—the silent-type lead who's been protecting her since the beginning? He's the one that's actually got her back, watching over her without trying to control her. He respects her, unlike Mr. Arrogant over here."

Jake rolled his eyes. "Come on, Alex. The Crown Prince has his moments. He's just… complicated. And the game is about her changing her destiny, right? Maybe he's changing his too."

"That's the point," Alex argued. "The Crown Prince only wants her because she's not paying attention to him. It's like he sees her as a trophy because she's playing hard to get. Meanwhile, you have the silent protector in the shadows, always there, actually respecting her boundaries. She's so wrapped up in avoiding the Crown Prince that she doesn't even notice the person who would genuinely keep her safe."

Emma leaned back, raising her eyebrows. "Okay, so who do you think she should end up with, then? I mean, the game does make the Crown Prince the primary romance target for a reason."

Alex shook his head, feeling a mixture of frustration and intrigue. "I just think she deserves better than some guy who only wants her when she's ignoring him. The quiet one would be there no matter what—even if she never looked his way. That's the kind of love that matters, not some prince who's just chasing after her because she's 'different.'"

Emma glanced at Jake, sharing a look. "You might have a point, actually. Maybe there's a way to steer Ariana's choices toward him instead."

"Now *that*," Alex said, smiling, "is a story worth exploring."

The story unfolded, and Alex grew increasingly frustrated. Every new chapter seemed to taunt him. Despite the Crown Prince's questionable intentions, Ariana kept gaining boldness, standing her ground and challenging him at every turn. And just as the prince became enamored with her defiance, another character entered the scene—Edric, the arrogant son of a duke, who was the Crown Prince's rival. He, too, began to develop feelings for Ariana, drawn to her fire and fierce independence.

Emma and Jake were ecstatic about this new love triangle, enjoying the intense, dramatic standoffs between Ariana, the Crown Prince, and Edric.

"This is so good!" Jake laughed, leaning forward as Edric and the Crown Prince verbally sparred over Ariana. "I mean, come on, Ariana's got these two powerful guys fighting over her now. I love it."

Emma nodded enthusiastically. "It's classic! She's actually becoming stronger through all this, too. She's finally stepping out of the villainess shadow and showing the world her real worth."

Alex, however, had had enough. With an exasperated sigh, he set his controller down. "Why does she keep falling for these guys who only like her because she's not interested? They're both just fighting for her attention because it's a game to them. It's so obvious they just want what they can't have. Meanwhile, she's completely ignoring the one guy who's actually genuine."

Emma turned to him, confused. "You mean Finn? The quiet one? He's… okay, I guess, but he's barely in the scenes. She always talks to him about her frustrations, and he just listens. Isn't that a little boring?"

"Exactly," Alex said, throwing his hands up. "Finn is always there, in the background, being the real friend and protector. He's never trying to control her, never playing games with her feelings. He just… cares. But Ariana's so busy looking at these guys who only want her because she's unattainable, she can't even see him. And instead, she friend-zones him, and he still supports her!"

Jake laughed, clapping Alex on the shoulder. "But that's what makes Finn the classic 'nice guy'! He's the loyal friend, not the main love interest. You've got to admit, Alex, he's just a bit too passive. Girls in these games don't go for the quiet friend; they go for the one who's a little complicated."

Alex shook his head. "It's not about being complicated. It's about being genuine. He's the only one who actually respects her, who doesn't try to change her or push her in any direction. He'd stick by her even if she hated him, and he's the one she should end up with."

Emma chuckled, nudging him playfully. "Okay, so you're Team Finn. But I don't think that's what the writers intended. They want her to end up with someone who challenges her, not just someone who stands by quietly."

Alex let out a sigh, watching as Ariana once again found herself caught between the Crown Prince and Edric. "I just think she's missing out on something real. Finn would give her stability, trust—everything she'd need to really escape her villainess fate. But no, she's just going to keep getting tangled up in this drama with these guys who don't actually care about her, just the idea of her."

As the scene faded into a quiet, introspective moment where Ariana spoke to Finn about her fears, Alex felt a pang of frustration. Despite everything, Finn simply listened, offering gentle words of support without expecting anything in return. Even as she poured out her worries and frustrations over the drama, he never once asked for more than her friendship.

And as the story marched forward, Finn remained a loyal, steadfast presence, even as Ariana kept him at arm's length.

Alex crossed his arms, muttering, "If only she could see what was right in front of her. But I guess that's just how these games go."

As the final chapter unfolded, Alex could already sense the inevitable outcome. Ariana's heart had swayed not toward the silent, steadfast Finn, but toward Edric, the smug, brazen son of the duke who mirrored the Crown Prince's boldness and intensity. Edric had relentlessly pursued Ariana, insisting on joining her at every ball, dancing with her even when she seemed reluctant, and stubbornly demanding to be her partner in every scheme.

Emma and Jake were overjoyed, caught up in Edric's assertive charm and Ariana's chemistry with him. They laughed and cheered as Edric swept Ariana off her feet in a dramatic, climactic dance scene. But Alex only felt frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. To him, Edric was nothing more than a persistent nuisance—someone who demanded Ariana's attention, forcing his way into her story with nothing more than an ego and a knack for charming defiance.

"Isn't this perfect?" Jake said, nudging Alex with a grin. "Edric's exactly the kind of guy to keep Ariana on her toes!"

Emma nodded enthusiastically. "It's classic romance! She needs someone who can match her fire, not just someone who sits quietly by."

Alex sighed, setting his controller down with an air of resignation as the screen faded to black, the credits starting to roll. "Yeah… but all she got was a louder version of the Crown Prince. The whole thing was predictable. Meanwhile, Finn's the one who actually cared, but he just ends up alone. Not even a side story, nothing. Just… quietly fading into the background, still smiling."

The credits rolled, and Alex's heart sank when he saw Finn's last scene—standing in the background at the royal ball, watching Ariana with Edric, a small, wistful smile on his face as if he'd accepted his role in her life. In that fleeting moment, Finn faded out of sight, left without so much as a goodbye.

Unable to sit through the rest of the credits, Alex grabbed his jacket. "I'm going to head out," he muttered, ignoring the confused looks from Emma and Jake as he made his way to the door.

Emma called after him, surprised. "Hey, aren't you glad you watched the ending? I thought you'd appreciate how strong Ariana became through this journey."

Alex turned back, his expression a mix of disappointment and resignation. "I would've… if she'd ended up with someone who actually respected her from the start, someone who didn't just push his way in because she was bold enough to ignore him. But, I guess that's just how these games go."

He left, the final image of Finn's quiet smile still lingering in his mind, wondering why the one who loved her truly and unconditionally was always left in the shadows.

Years later, life unfolded in eerie parallel to the game they'd once played. Emma had married a man who was uncannily like Edric—a flashy, relentless charmer who pursued her with fierce determination after she brushed him off, captivated by her boldness and independence. Alex watched as she eventually gave in, her heart swayed by his persistence and charisma. But in the shadows, Jake, who'd silently loved her for years, kept his feelings hidden, accepting her choice without protest.

It wasn't long before the cracks in Emma's marriage began to show. Her husband's interest waned just as quickly as it had flared, his attention drifting to someone else. Emma, devastated by the betrayal, turned to Jake, who remained her loyal friend. When her husband eventually left her for another woman, Jake was furious. He confronted the man, demanding he make things right with Emma, but in a heated moment, things spiraled out of control, and Jake was accidentally killed in the altercation.

Emma was shattered. Wracked with guilt, she blamed herself for Jake's death, haunted by the thought that if she'd seen what had been in front of her all along, things would have been different. Overcome by grief, she ended her own life, leaving Alex as the only one left to grapple with the consequences.

Alex knew that her husband, using his wealth and influence, had managed to dodge any punishment for Jake's death. It gnawed at him, and his thoughts darkened as he recalled every scene of Finn's quiet loyalty in the game, the way he had been sidelined just like Jake. Finn, the one who would have been there for Ariana, no matter what. The parallel felt hauntingly familiar—except this time, Alex wouldn't let the villain slip away so easily.

Driven by a need for justice, Alex tracked down Emma's husband. He confronted him, rage simmering beneath his calm exterior as he made it clear that Jake and Emma hadn't deserved to be used and discarded. In a final, decisive act, Alex took the man's life, a cold, swift end to a chain of betrayal and violence.

With a strange sense of peace, Alex funneled the man's fortune into charities in Jake and Emma's names, ensuring that their legacies would be remembered. He wanted their memory to stand for loyalty and friendship, not as tragic shadows in someone else's game. It was a small solace, but he knew they'd finally have something lasting—a memory that would live on, not as background characters, but as the heart of a story worth remembering.

The weight of regret bore down on Alex, heavier than he could bear. Every memory of Jake's unspoken love for Emma, every moment he'd witnessed her laughter and joy with the man who didn't deserve her, replayed in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd failed them both, failed to stand by Jake as a friend should have, failed to protect Emma from the very path she'd chosen. And now, they were both gone, lost to the same tragic pattern they'd laughed about in a game so many years before.

He wandered into a quiet, dimly lit church, seeking solace but finding only emptiness. The silence seemed to echo his own despair, an unspoken accusation in the stillness. Kneeling at the altar, he closed his eyes, praying with all his heart, wishing he could change things, undo the past, and rewrite the story that had ended so cruelly.

As he knelt there, a strange peace settled over him, a voice whispering deep within that he would be given a second chance—to rewrite their fates, to help them find happiness they deserved in another realm. Alex didn't fully understand, but he clung to that faint hope, a promise of redemption. All he had to do was let go of this world and his regrets, surrender himself to whatever might come.

Slowly, he closed his eyes, feeling the world around him dissolve, his vision fading to darkness. Yet, just before everything vanished, he heard a quiet, reassuring voice, as if from far away: "You will remember… from the start. And when the time is right, they will remember too."

As the last of his consciousness ebbed away, Alex's heart filled with a quiet, determined resolve. He would find them again, rewrite their destinies, and ensure that Jake would have the courage to confess his love to Emma. When he awoke in a new world, with their memories locked away until the time was right, he knew he would be ready.

And as everything slipped into darkness, he whispered a final vow to himself: This time, I won't let them down.