They used to send occasional wishes and casual messages to each other on Messenger. Between them, a gentle breeze of friendship and quiet affection used to drift in and out.

​In the beginning, they tucked away precious memories filled with lighthearted jokes and endless banter. Spoken and unspoken, they kept searching for each other.

​Eventually, the novelty began to fade for one of them.

​Soon, wrapped in excuses of being "busy," that person quietly started pulling away, taking slow steps backward.

​At first, believing that life and circumstances were the only reasons for this growing silence, the other person patiently followed along for months without a hint of frustration.

​Yet, the distance only stretched beyond reach.

​Only after running endlessly until breath ran dry did the realization finally strike.

​This wasn't the hesitation of someone truly busy.

​This was a deliberate turning away.

​With that, the pursuit came to a sudden breakdown.

​Afterward, it dwindled to sparse, single-word replies. How could someone who came online four or five times a day for hours have no time to spare?

​The very last message to arrive was a simple goodnight wish.

​Yet, it was completely out of the ordinary:

“Good night wishes. By XXX.”

​They had been texting for years. Never once until that day had the other person seen that strange sign-off: “By XXX.”

​Curious and unsettled, the question went back:

“What is this ‘By XXX’?”

​The message was seen, but met with utter silence.

​Again, a follow-up was sent:

“We won't speak again until you tell me what ‘By XXX’ means.”

​That message too was seen. Left without a reply.

​They never spoke again.

​Why did such a trivial change in a routine message feel heavy enough to prompt a question?

And despite having been such close friends, why did that question remain unanswered forever?

​Solomon stepped into the house just as Salomi was reading this mind-game prompt aloud from her tenth-grade WhatsApp group.

​As bad luck would have it, he walked straight into her line of sight.

​“Ichayan, tell me! Why did he send a message like that on that single day? And even when asked, why didn't he give a reply?”

​Hearing only the tail end of the story, Solomon was at a loss.

​“My dear Salomi, I didn't hear a thing. I only walked in when you read the very end along with your dramatic monologue. How am I supposed to answer, girl?”

​“Oh, really?”

​“Then I’ll read it from the beginning once more. Come on, Ichayan, sit right here…”

​‘Lord save me… I walked right into a trap. Now I’ll have to sit through this nonsense again,’ Solomon thought.

​Before Salomi could scroll her phone screen back to the start, Solomon cut in quickly.

​“What’s the big riddle here anyway? The guy broke routine, sent a text, and didn't bother to reply when questioned. Isn't that all?”

​Solomon stroked his beard thoughtfully. If I don't give an answer she likes, I’m stuck listening to this entire thing from scratch.

​Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, he yanked his index finger free from his beard.

​“Ouch… plucked a hair, I think.”

​Rubbing his chin with a wince, Solomon looked at Salomi and said:

​“Look, this is a textbook breakup. He just got fed up, plain and simple. Now get up and serve dinner, will you, sweetie?”

​He layered on a generous dollop of butter to his plea.

​Hearing his words, a slight twinge of sadness crossed Salomi’s face.

​“Maybe you're right, Ichayan. It was probably a message meant for someone else, sent by mistake.”

​‘Good grief… she still won't drop it!’

​“Salomi, please! I’m starving. I haven't eaten a thing since lunch. Are you getting up or what?”

​Solomon’s voice rose just a fraction. Salomi lifted her eyes from the screen and gave him a sharp glare.

​Sensing that the discussion had shifted from the heartbreak story straight into a domestic crosshair aimed at him, Solomon quietly backed away toward the washbasin.

​“Oh sure… must be starving. After all, you went to work today, didn't you? Must be exhausted from such backbreaking labor… playing dice all afternoon at the recreation club!”

​Salomi’s sharp words echoed all the way from the living room to the dining table.

​Hearing that, Solomon managed an awkward grin, sheepishly waiting for her to bring the food.

​Yet, deep down, Salomi’s thoughts remained quietly stuck on that single, unanswered message…