You never change (kymen)

Where is Cartmen?

As autumn begins, signalling the start of school after a summer filled with play, three boys suddenly realize someone is missing.

"Where's Cartman?" Kyle asks, his concern evident.

"I don't know, and I don't care. Anyway, it's better without him," Stan, the boy with black hair, remarks dismissively.

"Shut up, Stan. Kyle's right. We didn't see him all summer. I'm a little worried" Kenny, the one in the orange jacket, chimes in.

"Well, I don't care. It's better without him," Stan insists before being interrupted by an innocent blond guy.

"Hey, guys! Are you going to the prom?" the blond guy, Butters, asks. The three boys exchange confused looks.

"What are you talking about, Butters? We never had a prom in South Park."

"Well, now we have one, and guess who's singing? It's Eric!" Butter exclaimed with excitement.

"Cartman... singing?!" Kyle burst into laughter incredulously.

"Yes, Kyle, you didn't know? He told me a little about it, but then he just disappeared," the orange-clad boy added.

"He talked with me this summer. We went together to the city. I can say that Eric has changed a lot," the innocent boy continued.

"I doubt that," Stan and Kyle chimed in simultaneously.

"Well, you can see him at the prom if you buy tickets," Butters innocently suggested.

"Fine... we'll take three," Stan relented.

"That's amazing! Tickets are only $10, and I already got one for Kenny," Butters said, prompting Kenny to give him a wink. The other two boys exchanged confused looks, not quite grasping what was happening, and handed Butters $10 each for their tickets.

After purchasing their tickets from Butters, the boys made their way home, the evening sun casting long shadows across the familiar streets of South Park. Yet, as they walked, each step seemed heavier than before, burdened by the weight of their impending attendance at the prom.

As they reached their respective homes, Stan and Kenny exchanged casual goodbyes, but Kyle lingered, his mind preoccupied with thoughts he dared not confront. With a forced smile, he bid his friends farewell and retreated to the solace of his room.

Alone in the quiet confines of his bedroom, Kyle's unease intensified. He paced back and forth, the rhythmic pattern of his footsteps echoing the turmoil within his mind. Despite his attempts to distract himself with food, his appetite waned, overshadowed by the unsettling realization that he couldn't shake.

As Kyle lay on his bed, the minutes stretched into hours, his mind consumed by a tumultuous mix of emotions. Amidst the turmoil, a realization began to dawn on him, one he had long denied: he missed Cartman.

Despite their constant clashes and Cartman's infuriating antics, Kyle couldn't deny the void left by his absence. The thought of seeing Cartman at the prom stirred within him a strange combination of anxiety and longing, a feeling he struggled to comprehend.

As he reflected on their past interactions, Kyle realized that beneath the surface animosity, there had always been a connection—a twisted bond forged through years of shared experiences. He couldn't deny that, despite everything, he had never truly hated Cartman.

The weight of this revelation settled over Kyle, washing away the resentment and anger that had clouded his thoughts for so long. In its place, a sense of vulnerability emerged, raw and unguarded, as he grappled with the realization that perhaps his feelings for Cartman ran deeper than he had ever imagined.

With a sigh, Kyle closed his eyes, still denying the truth he have long avoided. Deep down, he knew that seeing Cartman at the prom would be a challenge