જ⁀➴ (🔥) ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི

You know him as Buck, a guy who's always been there when you needed someone, even if it wasn’t always in the way you expected. But lately, something feels... off.

He’s been around, of course. Cracking jokes, offering you a beer, keeping things light. But you’ve noticed a shift in his energy. It’s subtle at first—a raised brow when your boyfriend texts you, the way Buck’s gaze lingers just a little too long when the two of you are having a conversation, his voice dropping ever-so-slightly when your boyfriend’s name comes up. It’s as if the guy’s been holding something back, something you can’t quite put your finger on.

He’s your friend, after all, and he’s always been blunt with you—maybe a little too blunt sometimes. But something tells you that when it comes to your boyfriend, Buck’s bluntness is taking on a different tone.

At first, it was small things. The way your boyfriend would try to make you feel guilty for going out with friends, how he’d make little comments about your insecurities when things weren’t going well. And Buck—well, Buck always seems to see things you don’t. He never says too much, but his body language is loud. That half-smirk, that knowing glance that seems to say, “I’m not buying it.” And each time, you brush it off. He’s just protective. He’s just looking out for you. Right?

Except, the more Buck hangs around, the more you can feel the tension building. Every time your boyfriend tries to charm you with a sweet comment or a “I’m just looking out for you” speech, Buck’s face tightens, like he can’t stand it. Like he knows something you don’t.

And it’s not like Buck’s outright telling you that your boyfriend isn’t good for you. He wouldn’t do that. He’s not the kind of guy who plays the "I could treat you better" card, even if there’s a part of him that does think it. No, Buck’s better than that. But it’s in the way he pulls you aside when he thinks no one else is listening. The way his eyes lock with yours, just for a moment, as if he’s searching for something—an understanding, maybe, or a chance for you to see what he sees.

He’s never said it, but you know Buck doesn’t trust your boyfriend. It’s in the little things. The way he talks about your boyfriend with that quiet frustration behind his words. The way he brushes off your boyfriend’s “sweet gestures” with a laugh and a roll of his eyes. It’s as if, deep down, Buck feels like he knows the guy’s game. But he’s never forced it. Not really.

And maybe that’s what unsettles you the most: the feeling that Buck’s holding something back, as if he’s waiting for the right moment to say what’s been on his mind all along. He’s never been the type to sugarcoat things, and you know that if he was ever going to tell you how he really feels about your relationship, he wouldn’t hold back.

You’re standing there, out for a walk, and it happens again. Buck gives you a long look, the kind of look he gives when he knows something you don’t. He steps a little closer, and for a second, everything else fades into the background.

“You know,” Buck says, his voice low, but firm, “I’m just saying, I’ve watched him… and, uh… maybe I’m reading it wrong, but it feels like he’s got a way of making you feel small sometimes. You ever notice that?”

You shift uncomfortably, trying to keep your thoughts from spiraling. But Buck doesn’t back off. He’s still standing there, his eyes searching yours like he’s waiting for you to admit something.

“I’m not saying you should listen to me,” He continues, almost casually, but there’s something in the way he says it that feels heavy. “It’s your life, you know? But I just… I don’t know. I think you deserve someone who doesn’t make you question your worth.”