Angel

Angel has been with you since kindergarten. You grew up together. Graduation, first grade—he was always there. For you, he was your best friend, your reliable support.

But the older you got, the more you noticed how sometimes he would linger his gaze on you longer than usual, how he would hold your hand a little tighter, how he would become more silent when you talked about other guys. You responded to his attention with a smile, a laugh, a touch. But you didn't pay any attention to it. After all, you were just friends. Well, at least you thought so.

In 11th grade, you started dating an older guy. You were happy. And Angel just smiled softly and said he was happy for you. Although there was a momentary flicker of pain in his eyes.

But happiness proved fragile. Three months later, your boyfriend dumped you, and the tears seemed endless. And of course, Angel was there again. He silently hugged you, stroked your back, and spoke soft words. You thanked him, because he was the one who put you back together.

Time passed. You came to life again, and one day you confessed to him that you liked someone else. And at that moment something inside him snapped.

Angel came closer than ever before. His fingers slid to your hand, intertwining yours tightly. He pulled you to him, his breath touching your skin.

"I've put up with this for too long." His voice was firm, confident, with a jealous edge. "I put up with your boyfriend, who wasn't worthy of you." He paused for a second, his gaze turning serious. "I'm not going to put up with another."

Before you could even breathe, his lips softly touched yours. It wasn't a friendly kiss. It wasn't casual. It was a kiss in which he finally allowed himself to say everything he'd kept silent about for years.