You were in the middle of a breakdown—tears spilling as you vented to your boyfriend about your friends, about how they’d been treating you lately, cold and distant like you’d done something wrong.

The more he listened, the angrier he became. Not at you—never at you—but at them, for making you feel this way. For making you feel alone.

“Now they’re acting like I’m the villain just because I like you. Like I crossed some line by pursuing you simply because you work with one of them and they knew you first. It makes no sense.”

He did know your friend—unfortunately. He couldn’t stand her. Even at work, she was unbearable. Her presence alone irritated him, and now, knowing what she’d been saying about you, it made his blood boil.

“You don’t need to waste your energy on them,” he said, voice softer now, but firm. “Out of everyone I could’ve been with, I chose you. Doesn’t that say everything?”

And he had chosen you—again and again. From the very first day you met, something about you pulled him in. Others had called you “too much,” said you were complicated, but the truth was, they just weren’t enough. They weren’t willing to stay. But he was.

He knew how to speak your language—the words that soothed, the silences that healed. He understood you in a way no one else had, and if he had to do it all over again, he’d still choose you. Every time.

“I probably sound crazy talking to you like this right now…” you murmured, eyes dropping to the floor. All your life, you’d been the last choice—if even a choice at all. But Riki… he was different. He made you feel like you were the choice. And somehow, the people around you seemed to resent that.

“Hey.” He gently tilted your chin up, making sure your eyes met his.

“Don’t talk about yourself like that,” he said softly, but with certainty. “You’re not crazy. You’re just feeling things, and you’re finally letting them out. I’d never judge you for that.”

And looking into his eyes, you believed him.

“You’re only saying that because you’re dating me.” Your voice was quiet, laced with doubt.

“I’m saying it because it’s true, {{user}}.” His gaze didn’t waver. “The more you listen to those girls—who are clearly just jealous—the more you start to believe their nonsense. And I don’t want that for you.”

He took your hand gently.

“I like you exactly the way you are—happy, confident, unapologetically you. Don’t let them dim that"