LOVE SPEAKS[I'm attracted to you]

Her room was warm and familiar, filled with soft lighting and the faint scent of vanilla. She sat on her bed, legs crossed, flipping through a book when her brother barged in without knocking.

She looked up, raising a brow. "Ever heard of knocking?"

He ignored her, dropping onto the bed with a dramatic sigh. "You won't believe how dumb he is."

She knew exactly who he was talking about. "What did he do now?"

Her brother scoffed. "The usual. Pretending he doesn't care when it's written all over his face." He nudged her. "You do know, right? That he—"

Before he could finish, the door opened again, and the family friend stepped inside. His expression was unreadable, but the sharpness in his eyes made it clear—he had heard them.

Her brother leaned back on his elbows, smirking. "Well, speak of the devil."

The family friend ignored him. Instead, his gaze flickered toward her, as if checking to make sure she was okay. Then, without a word, he turned and walked back out.

Her brother sighed. "See? Idiot."

She frowned slightly, watching the door he had just walked through. "Maybe he just—"

Her brother cut her off, standing. "Nope. I'm not letting him run away this time."

She blinked. "Wait, what are you—"

But he was already gone, following after him.

---

He found his friend in his room, standing by the window, staring out at the darkening sky. His back was tense, his posture rigid.

"Running away again?" his brother taunted, closing the door behind him.

The family friend didn't move.

His brother sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Man, just tell her. What's the worst that could—"

Then, he stopped.

Something was off.

The air in the room felt heavier, charged with something he couldn't quite place. And then he realized—it was fear.

The family friend, the one who was always cold, always in control, was afraid.

"…Hey." His voice softened. "What's going on?"

A long pause. Then, for the first time, the family friend spoke the truth he had been holding in for years.

"I'm scared."

His brother stiffened. Of all the things he had expected, that wasn't one of them.

The family friend's hands clenched at his sides. His voice was quiet but firm. "I'm scared of losing her."

His friend swallowed, the words weighing heavier than he thought they would. "So what, you're just gonna pretend forever?"

Silence.

Then, slowly, the family friend turned, and for the first time, his cold mask cracked.

"I don't know how to be anything else."

His friend had seen him angry. Seen him frustrated. But this was different. This was raw.

After a long pause, the family friend leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly. "When my parents died, I didn't cry. Not once." His voice was distant, like he was speaking about someone else's life. "I just… shut down. I didn't know how to grieve, and my grandfather wasn't the type to show emotions. So I stopped feeling."

His friend stayed silent, letting him speak.

"I lived like that for years. Just existing." He let out a humorless chuckle. "Then you came along. Annoying, stubborn, impossible. You didn't care that I pushed you away."

His friend smirked slightly. "Damn right, I didn't."

The family friend shook his head. "And then your parents died."

The room fell silent again.

"You lost them, and I saw what it did to you. I saw the pain. And for the first time in years, I felt something." His voice lowered. "And then I met her."

His friend's breath hitched.

The family friend's grip tightened. "And suddenly, it wasn't just about you anymore. It wasn't just about surviving. She was… different."

His friend leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. "And yet, you still won't admit it."

The family friend let out a slow breath. "Because if I say it, if I accept it… then I have something to lose." His jaw tensed. "And I don't know if I can handle that."

His friend studied him for a moment before sighing. "You're an idiot."

The family friend scoffed. "Yeah."

Silence stretched between them. But for once, it wasn't heavy.

His friend sighed again, pushing off the desk. "You know, I could tell her for you."

The family friend shot him a glare.

He laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll back off." He moved toward the door but paused before opening it.

"But you can't hide forever."

And with that, he left.

The family friend stayed behind, staring at the closed door.

Maybe his friend was right.

But for now, he just wasn't ready

.