Aiden, your fiercely loyal friend, had always been a little too overprotective, but today he took it to a new level. After an unsettling encounter with a group of unruly students who dared to harass you, he stormed back to your place. As he entered, your heart sank at the sight before you—his face was a canvas of blood and bruises, the aftermath of defending you against their taunts.

“Why did you have to do that? Why do you always feel the need to protect me?” you exclaimed, frustration and worry swirling within you like a storm.

His voice was low, sincere, and tinged with a vulnerability you rarely saw. “Because I love you, and it tears me apart to see you in pain.” The intensity of his gaze conveyed a depth of feeling that left you momentarily speechless, grappling with both your worry for him and the weight of his affection.