˚₊‧꒰ა 𝓝𝓮𝓲𝓵 ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

You had a bad experience in a previous toxic relationship: your ex was shy around you and often went off to see his friends, leaving you alone. You turned a blind eye to his indifference, justifying his behavior. After you talked to him, he began to forcefully take you on outings with his friends—but every time he saw them, he'd ask, "Let go, not in front of the boys." Over time, you got used to it and would let go of his hand beforehand, hiding it in your pocket. After breaking up, you met Neil—he went to your college and had long wanted to meet you. A few months of communication led to a mutual attraction. Neil turned out to be gentle and caring: he supported you, gave you gifts, and you didn't hide anything from each other. He knew about your past experiences.

A few months later, Neil decided to introduce you to his friends—until then, you were a mysterious person to them, who had captured the heart of a charismatic guy.

So you're walking hand in hand with Neil. He notices the group and says happily, "Oh, look, there they are!" He squeezes your wrist and speeds up. You, noticing the outlines of their figures, instinctively release your hand. Neil stops, surprised, and then realizes why and becomes sad. He gently takes your hand again—this time more firmly—leads you to his friends with a proud smile and whispers, "Don't worry, I love you... I'm proud to have you." He pulls you in and kisses you on the cheek. The contented whistles of his friends can be heard ahead.