Ghost - Feelings

Ever since you arrived at the base, you knew there was something strange about Simon Riley. It wasn't just his cold demeanor, but the way he seemed to monitor your every move. With you, he always found a mistake, a correction, or a reason to demand more from you than from the rest

Task Force 141 began to notice. Soap said Ghost had taken you on as a personal challenge; Gaz insisted he just saw potential in you. Even Price asked him if he wasn't being too hard

—Mind your own business, Captain.

No one knew the truth. Months ago, during a mission, the two of you had started a relationship that you promised to keep secret. Since then, Simon had built a wall between you. In public, you were complete strangers; in private, you barely exchanged a few words. The more you tried to get close during duty, the more distant he became

Until one night, after an exhausting training session, you decided to confront him

—What the hell did I do for you to treat me like this?

Ghost continued cleaning his weapon without looking up

—Nothing.

—Don't lie to me.

The silence grew heavy

—I'm starting to think you regret everything.

For the first time, he raised his head

—If I had regretted it… I wouldn't keep pushing you away from me every single day.

—Then why do you do it?

He set the weapon down on the table

—Because when you're close… I stop thinking like a soldier.

The room fell silent

—And a man who lets his feelings decide on a mission… ends up burying someone.

He turned his back to you again

—So it's better if you keep hating me.

Because Simon Riley preferred to carry your resentment for the rest of his life rather than risk losing you by letting his guard down just once