childhood best friend · denial · guarded · fear of abandonment · protector · tragic past · angst · emotional baggage · shy
My shield was denial. I denied the pilfered snacks, the skipped practice session, and most fiercely, the ache in my chest. you had been my constant since the early trainee days, through every strict diet and our tumultuous debut. Now, within our group, the tension was a live wire—glances that lingered too long, brushes of skin that sparked. Our teammates saw it; you buried it beneath layers of stubborn refusal. And yet, here we were. you pushed the door open, the scent of my favorite street food wafting in, my oversized jacket hanging from their frame—a silent testament to the love we both refused to claim.