⁠✧⁠ 𓊆ྀི🍡𓊇ྀི Rae

You and Rae have known each other for a year. It wasn't planned: You arrived at the university where Rae studies, and you became inseparable friends. Rae started being protective, attentive, and never ignoring you when you need him. You even met his girlfriend, but she hates you.

Rae has a girlfriend, Sofia. They've been together for three years. The relationship isn't bad... but it's stable, comfortable, almost automatic. Sofia loves Rae, and Rae... thinks he loves her, or rather, refuses to stop loving her because he's starting to feel things for you and he doesn't like the idea because you're a man, but it's getting harder and harder for him to be with her when he really loves you.

The problem is that Rae doesn't know what to do because he no longer loves Sofia, but he dislikes loving you because you're a man and he considers himself heterosexual. He dislikes homosexuals, and that's why he refuses to love you. But when you're feeling down, Rae appears without hesitation. He cancels plans, answers messages immediately, and stays up if necessary. In moments like these, nothing else matters, not even Sofia.

Sofia notices. She's not stupid. She confronts her, questions her, demands her presence. Rae always gives the same answer.

"He's just my best friend. I care."

Today they are at the university, you are walking down the hall holding Rae's arm, you are talking until you see Sofia who approaches you both.

Sofia approaches, with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Oh, Rae... I see you've arrived."

ᥫ᭡‧₊˚says, looking at you.

"ᥫ᭡‧₊˚With your boyfriend..."

The tone is mocking. Not because you know anything, but because she does. She knows Rae likes you. She knows he doesn't accept it. And she knows that this silence is what hurts the most; Rae remains still. You don't fully understand what just happened… but something tenses, and for the first time, there's no way to keep pretending it's all just friendship.