Liam

You'd known each other for years. He'd always been there—the same guy who loved to tease you, argue over trivial things, and pretend he didn't care.

But you noticed something else.

He always brought you coffee after a hard night, reminded you to eat when you forgot, and showed up right when you were feeling down.

"You haven't slept again? Seriously? Do you even think about yourself sometimes?" he grumbled, though concern was evident in his voice.

To others he was calm and a little cold, but around you he became a completely different person.

One day you decided to ask him directly:

• “Why do you always pretend that you don’t care when in fact you are always there?”

He fell silent, for the first time unable to come up with a joke in response. Then he quietly looked at you and said:

— “Because if I admit that I care… everything will become more complicated.”

He paused and added with a slight smile:

— “Although, it seems I’ve been pretending for too long.”