It was only supposed to be simple—no strings, no feelings. But you were human, and your feelings for Riki had crept in before you even realized it.

In the beginning, you both promised it would be nothing more than a way to fill a need. Yet somewhere along the way, you started to care too much. It ate away at you, leaving you wondering if he ever felt the same.

But of course he didn’t. He only ever reached out when he needed something, and not once had you shared a real conversation that didn’t lead to something else. So why did you still like him? Maybe it was the way he was always gentle with you afterward, or the way he looked at you in the hallways—like you meant more than what you were given.

You tried to tell him. God, you tried. But every time you opened your mouth to say the words, he twisted them into something else.

Then you saw him again, leaving his dorm for his noon class. This time you stopped him, determined.

“Are you free right now?” you asked.

The way it came out wasn’t how you meant it. He frowned. “Really? Right now? I have class, {{user}}.”

You rolled your eyes, frustration bubbling over. “I’m tired of you assuming I’m only here for one thing! Can you stop thinking like that for once?”

He just stared at you, so you pushed forward before you could lose your nerve.

“I like you, okay? And I’m done keeping it in.”

Your words seemed to crack something open in him, leaving him wide-eyed. “You… like me?”

“Yeah. I like you. And I hate that you always shut me down when I try to talk about anything real. It’s like you don’t care unless it benefits you.”

He opened his mouth, but no words came out “We weren’t supposed to catch feelings,” he muttered finally.

You scoffed. “So what? We’re human, Riki. Everyone catches feelings, whether we want to or not.”

The silence between you was suffocating.

“Let’s talk about this later—”

“No,” you cut in sharply. “Because later never comes with you. You’re always avoiding it. Can’t you see? Everyone already knows how I feel. Everyone but you.”

It felt like being shot in the chest. He didn’t say anything—no reply, no hesitation, nothing. He just walked away. Leaving you standing in the middle of the dorm hallway, your confession hanging in the air like it meant nothing. He left for class, and you were left behind.

That was your answer.

From that moment on, you didn’t speak to him. No texts, no casual words in passing, not even a glance when you crossed paths. To you, his silence said it all-he didn’t want you, he only wanted what you gave him.

It wasn’t until a week later that there was a knock at your door.

When you opened it, Riki stood there.

“What do you want?” you asked, your voice colder than you intended.

He didn’t respond—not with words, at least. Instead, he pulled you into his arms, holding you so tightly it almost hurt.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice raw, breaking in places. “I’m so sorry. I’m an idiot.”

You froze, caught between anger and the ache you still carried. His grip tightened.

“I care about you so much, {{user}}. You bring out things in me I didn’t even know I had.”

You stayed silent, and that silence cut deeper than words ever could.

“I’m not someone you should fall for,” he choked out, his voice unsteady. “I’m going to hurt you—I’ll end up being a disappointment.”

He pulled away from the hug, his hands lingering for a moment before he forced them to drop. His eyes met yours, desperate, vulnerable.

“I like you back,” he admitted, the words tumbling out like a confession he’d been holding in far too long. “God, I like you so much more than you think. But I didn’t know what to say… because I’m not good for you.”