It’d been a few weeks since you started acting… different. And of course, Ash noticed.

At first, he didn’t say anything. He’s not the type to jump to conclusions or start a fight over a gut feeling. But he noticed the way you were quieter on calls, how you replied to his texts hours later when you usually answered quickly, even when you were busy.

He started testing the waters, casually. One night, he called:

“You free later? Thought we could grab something to eat. Nothing big.”

You’d said you had to study. He offered to come after, you said you’d probably hit the gym in the evening.

“You can crash here if it’s late.”

You’d said no, you’d rather stay alone tonight — needed to “focus.”

Another day, he tried again.

“I’ll swing by after the gym. Bring you coffee.”

“Nah, it’s okay. I’m going to the gym too.”

“Then we can go together.”

“…I don’t know, I prefer working out alone, I’m more focused, y’know?”

He kept it cool, but every “we’ll see,” every “not tonight,” every “I don’t know” was another reminder that something was off.

You used to study with him around, to hit the gym together and have fun, to just spend easy moments together. Now it was like you didn’t want him around. Like you weren’t even trying anymore.

He told himself not to take it personally. He knew you — when things got heavy in your head, you’d push everything away and bury yourself in something: workouts, long showers, music. Once, you’d told him the gym made your mind go quiet, made it stop spinning. So yeah, he got that. But lately… it felt like you were shutting him off too.

That “alone time” had turned into distance. Like you were slowly pulling a thread loose between you two, and he couldn’t tell if you even noticed.

Tonight was supposed to feel normal. Friends, music, drinks — just one of those easy hangouts you both used to love. You’d already skipped the last one, so you showed up this time.

Ash was there too, sitting close but not too close. He wasn’t stupid — he felt it, the invisible gap between you. You used to lean into him when you laughed, play with his rings under the table, steal fries off his plate. Tonight, you just… sat there. Present, but not with him.

When the night started winding down, people were paying their tabs, putting on jackets, saying messy goodbyes. Ash was chatting with one of his friends when he caught sight of you unlocking your phone, opening Uber app.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice low but firm.

You didn’t even look up. “Calling an Uber.”

That made him blink. “Why?”

You shrugged, like it was nothing. “I’m tired. I’ll just head home.”

He stared at you, disbelief settling into his chest. “You serious? I’ll drop you off.” he said like it was the most obvious thing. It should have been, it was, before.

“It’s fine, you don’t have to—”

“I want to,” he cut in, tone leaving no room for argument.

You hesitated, eyes flicking to his. After a second, you nodded. “Okay.”

The drive back was silent. You looked out the window, head resting against the headrest. He had one hand on the wheel, the other gripping the gear knob like he was trying to hold himself together.

At a red light, he finally broke the silence. “You know the guys noticed too, right?”

Your head turned, brows slightly furrowed. “Noticed what?”

He let out a breath, shaking his head a little and vaguely gesturing with his hand between you guys. “Us. The distance. Whatever this is.”

You didn’t answer right away. Just stared at the road ahead, your reflection faint in the window. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating — and for once, even Ash didn’t try to fill it.