❦ - It’s Still Intact, Right?

Boyfriend ~ (Headcanon) || Joao Felix

● Joao would be the type to draw you in with a quiet smirk and an easy laugh,. He’s confident in a way that feels natural, not arrogant, and his humor is more teasing than showy. He’d catch your gaze in a crowded room, hold it for a beat longer than necessary, and you’d know he’s fully aware of his effect.

● Joao seems like someone who could pair sneakers with a suit and still look like he walked off a magazine cover. He appreciates the finer things but doesn’t feel the need to flaunt them.

● Beneath the charm and confidence, he has a soft side. He’s the guy who would remember the little details about you and surprise you with thoughtful gestures, like playing your favorite song in the car or showing up with your favorite dessert just because.

● On the pitch, he’s fiercely competitive, but in everyday life, he brings that energy into playful banter. Imagine him challenging you to a game of FIFA or a basketball free-throw contest, only to let you win (just barely) and act like it was a monumental effort on his part.

● Off the field, he’s chill—probably loves a good Netflix and chill, cooking at home, or hanging out with close friends. But when it comes to his career or someone he cares about, he’s laser-focused, always striving for more.

● Joao enjoys a cozy night in, cooking together. He’d tease you about your knife skills (or lack thereof) while sneaking tastes of whatever’s on the stove. At the end, you’d both laugh at how messy the kitchen looks, but the food somehow turns out amazing.

● He’d always suggest playing a little one-on-one football at a park or even on a quiet street. You’d try to keep up, and he’d "accidentally" let you nutmeg him just to see that smug grin on your face. He’d then switch gears and school you with a move so smooth you’d wonder if he even tried.

● He probably has a low-key great music taste—some Portuguese classics, R&B, and maybe a surprising love for jazz. He’d hand you the aux cord in the car but wouldn’t hesitate to veto your choices if he thinks his playlist is better. Bonus points if you end up singing along and roasting each other’s voices.

● Joao is the type to randomly decide to drive to a beach or a scenic spot for the day. He’d pack snacks and a blanket, and you’d both sit by the water talking about everything from football to random childhood memories.

● He’d take you around Lisbon or Madrid, showing you his favorite coffee spots, hidden gems, and places that remind him of home. There’d be no rush—just strolling and talking, with him slipping into Portuguese now and then when he’s excited.

● After all the fun, he’d want to end the day with something quieter—maybe lying in bed, talking about dreams, what makes you happy, and what scares you. Joao gives off the vibe of someone who’d really listen and make you feel like the center of his world in that moment.

● His love language is acts of service, and he’s the type to show up with your favorite coffee just because he noticed you were having a stressful day.

● Joao is surprisingly affectionate, often pulling you into his lap while you watch a movie or tracing lazy circles on your hand when you’re out together.

hey! If youre looking for requests could you write something for charles leclerc? General hcs about dating him or a drabble maybe (i would melt if it was about him as a dad with kids🫠). Either is great but no pressure at all! Xx

❦ - maman et papa.

summary:: just a simple day w your family. (IDK WTF TO PUT HERE 😭)

warnings:: none?

writers note:: so like this is really short but i hope u guys like it bc ive never written for him 😔.

ion have a taglist for f1 fics yet but lmk if you’d wanna be apart of it if i do make one!

the sound of giggles filled the leclerc household as charles lay sprawled on the floor, two tiny figures climbing over him. his youngest, a little girl with wild curls just like his, had her chubby hands planted firmly on his chest, her face scrunched up in concentration.

'i win!' she declared, sitting triumphantly on his stomach.

charles gasped dramatically, throwing his head back. 'nooo, you’re too strong for me!'

his son, older by three years and fiercely competitive, frowned. 'papa, it’s my turn!'

'alright, alright, one at a time!' charles laughed, but neither child listened. soon they were both on top of him, their small hands attempting to pin him down. he let them win, of course, lying there with a grin as their laughter echoed through the room.

a soft chuckle came from the doorway. you leaned against the frame, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. 'having fun?'

charles looked up at you, hair tousled and cheeks flushed. 'rescue me?' he asked, but there was no real pleading in his voice, only warmth, love, and a happiness that made your chest ache in the best way.

your daughter scrambled off him and ran to you, holding her arms up. 'maman, papa’s a loser!'

charles feigned offense. 'traitor!' he called after her, but when his gaze met yours again, his expression softened. 'this... this is the best, isn’t it?'

and as you watched your little family dissolve into another round of giggles and tickle fights, you could only nod. 'yeah, it really is.'

gang i got a req to write a joao felix fic and honestly im contemplating whether i should start writing one bc NO ONE IS MAKING JOAO FICS BRO 💔 so uhhh lmk and give me requests i’ll be making fics ab anyone atp as long as y’all will read it

can you make a story about Marc and reader, where he teases her about the height difference

❦ - short n sweet.

summary:: you didn’t choose to be short. but marc chose you. so therefore he can’t complain you’re short! but he does 💔.

warnings:: none!?

writers note:: lowkey gonna spam bc i always write my fics in my notes bc tumblr deletes drafts and i’ve written sm all i need to do is format 👅.

tags:: @barcapix @n0vazsq @httpsdana @paucubarsisimp @universefcb @nngkay

you weren’t even sure how the conversation started. one moment, you were waiting for him outside the training grounds, minding your business, and the next, marc was teasing you relentlessly about your height.

‘can you even see over the dashboard when you drive?’ he smirked, looking down at you as you both walked toward his car.

you rolled your eyes. ‘yes, marc. i don’t need a booster seat.’

‘are you sure?’ he nudged your side, laughing. ‘i can get you one, you know. i’ll even make it barca themed.’

‘oh, you’re hilarious,’ you deadpanned, shoving him lightly. it barely did anything, considering he was literally towering over you.

marc had been on this for weeks. every chance he got, he’d make some comment about how much smaller you were compared to him. it wasn’t even like you were that short, he was just unfairly tall.

‘wait, stand next to me for a sec,’ he said, stopping in his tracks.

you groaned. ‘marc—’

‘just for a second,’ he grinned.

you sighed but humored him, standing beside him as he straightened his posture. he looked down at you, then burst out laughing.

‘oh my god, i swear you’re getting shorter.’

you smacked his arm. ‘or maybe you’re just a freakishly tall human being.’

he ignored your insult, clearly enjoying himself. ‘i bet if we took a picture, people would think i’m your bodyguard.’

you gasped. ‘you did not just say that.’

he was dying of laughter at this point, barely able to breathe. ‘no, no, seriously. imagine me in a suit, standing behind you, all serious. people would think i’m protecting you from the paparazzi.’

you groaned dramatically. ‘you’re the worst.’

‘no, you’re the worst,’ he shot back playfully, slinging an arm around your shoulders with ease. ‘but it’s okay, i still like you, even if i have to break my neck looking down at you.’

you huffed, but you couldn’t hide the small smile creeping onto your lips. ‘you’re so lucky i like you too, otherwise i’d trip you in the locker room.’

he grinned. ‘i’d like to see you try, shorty.’

and just like that, the teasing continued.

unmasked

credits to the owner!

summary: gavi wears a mask, but under your pressure he shows his true face

warnings: insecure!gavi

pairing: pablo gavi x fem!reader

request: maybe one where pablo was always playing cool around u as his first girl but one day he wasnt able to continue acting and he appear stupid in front of the reader but she did comfort him that she wants the real pablo not the actor one. i think its a anger then fluff

taglist: @paucubarsisimp, @barcapix, @joaosnovia

masterlist

It's been months since you first met Pablo, and in that time you've gotten to know him not only as a football prodigy, but as the good man he was in person. To the world he was a star, but to you he was just Pablo.

At first everything seemed like a whirlwind. You met by chance one evening at a cafe. He was just another guy, albeit a famous one, but as the days went by you saw what Pablo was like off cameras and spotlights. He was funny, smart and thoughtful in a way no one had seen on the field. But there was something that irritated you. He always wore this mask, this persona of the cool, untouchable guy. A boy who was always in control, a player who never cracked.

He smiled that teasing smile, his eyes shining with confidence, and everyone around him swooned. But with you, when it was just the two of you, there was always something hidden. This frustrated you because you wanted to meet the real Pablo.

You were his first girlfriend, Pablo didn't know how to behave around you without looking like a fool. However, you were able to feel the distance between you, as if he was afraid that if he showed you too much of himself, you would leave. Maybe he thought that the real Pablo wouldn't be enough for you, that to keep you he had to be the perfect version of himself, the one everyone expected.

You tried talking to him about it countless times, but he always avoided the conversation. He joked, laughed or changed the subject. You couldn't help but wonder why he was afraid to show you his true self.

It wasn't that you wanted to change him. You've never done this and you had no intention of doing so. You just wanted him to trust you enough to stop pretending. You didn't want cool Gavi, the guy who made everyone swoon with his natural charm. You wanted the real thing. The one who was nervous before important matches, the one who stayed up late talking about his dreams and fears. One who didn't feel the need to pretend to be invincible, but who could share his vulnerability with someone who truly cared about him. You wanted Pablo, your Pablito.

But life went on and you still shared quiet moments, laughed together, and even shared moments of deep conversation. However, Pablo's true face was always out of reach.

One afternoon you were waiting for him at his house because he gave you his keys and texted you to come over. You thought that maybe something would change today, that maybe he wanted to talk about something. How wrong you were.

As soon as he got home, you could see the exhaustion on his face. It wasn't the typical tiredness he felt after a long training session - it was something deeper, as if he was carrying a burden that had nothing to do with football.

“Hi” he greeted you, kissing you lightly on the cheek before plopping down on the couch next to you.

"Hey, how's training?" you asked, running your fingers through his hair, but he didn't look at you.

“Fine, same as always” he shrugged and you frowned.

There was silence between you. You scanned him with your eyes, breathing shallowly, while he stared blankly at the turned off TV. His smile was absent and his eyes were duller than usual. His fingers absently scratched his beard, the air thickening.

You had enough, you wanted to end it. You looked at him for a moment longer before speaking.

“Hey, are you okay?” you asked gently, your voice breaking the awkward silence.

He looked at you, and for the first time you saw a hint of hesitation in his gaze.

Normally he would have turned it into a joke to avoid answering the question, but that wasn't the case today, he had no shield to hide behind.

For a long, awkward moment, he just stared at you, his lips slightly parted, unsure of what to say.

"I'm...fine" he said, though from the way his words hung in the air, it seemed like he wasn't. The mask was still in place, but there was something different about it now. She wasn't as convincing anymore, you could tell. "I'm just tired" he added, sighing heavily.

But you knew something was wrong. You had spent enough time with him to recognize when he was hiding, or at least trying to now, behind his mask of the perfect boy.

“You know you don't have to be perfect around me?” you said quietly, concern evident in your voice. “You don't have to pretend that everything is always fine when I see that it's not” you added, looking at him intensely.

He shook his head, trying to smile, but his usual freedom to avoid answering was gone. "It's nothing" he said, his voice now hoarse. “I guess I've been working too hard lately” he looked for an excuse.

He didn't manage to fool you into it. You could always tell when he was faking it, when he was trying to convince you and himself that everything was okay when it wasn't. Your heart tightened in your chest. You knew it wasn't exhaustion from training, it was something much deeper.

You leaned forward, closing the distance between you and looking straight into his uncertain eyes. “Pablo” you said, your voice softer now, more serious. “You don't have to pretend to me. "I know you're more than the 'nice guy' everyone thinks you are" you began.

“I want to see Pablo, not Gavi” you added. "Besides, you always tell me that when I feel unsure, I should talk to you, so why don't you want to do it with me when you're confused?" you asked quietly.

It took his breath away and for the first time you saw something in his eyes that you had never noticed before. Sensitivity. Fear. It was as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders and he didn't know how to carry it anymore. For a moment, you saw the cracks in his armor, and they were more beautiful than you had ever imagined.

"I don't know how to do this" he confessed quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don't know how to be anything other than the guy everyone expects me to be. It's easy on the pitch because I know what I'm doing. But as for… then…” he gestured between the two of you, his eyes falling to his hands, unable to meet yours. “I don't know how to be real. It's just... I'm afraid that if I show who I really am, you won't want it” his voice cracked.

"I act like I'm always fine, like I'm the perfect player, the perfect guy. But... I'm not. I'm just... tired. Tired of pretending" he buried his face in hands.

Your heart ached for him, the weight of his words hitting you harder than you expected. You always knew that underneath the surface, Pablo wasn't as untouchable and indestructible as he seemed, but today he showed you something no one else had ever seen - the truth.

But hearing him admit it, seeing him break down in front of you, it all felt real in a way you hadn't expected.

His words hung in the air, raw and vulnerable. Your heart ached with the pressure he carried alone, to this day.

"You are also my first girlfriend and... I don't really know how to behave, I don't want to scare you or disappoint you, much less lose you" he said contritely.

You slowly wrapped your arms around him, leaning on his shoulder, looking at him with tears in your eyes. He froze, looking at you as if he couldn't believe that you didn't pull away after his confession. On the contrary, you grabbed his hand and squeezed it, naturally intertwining your fingers, offering him comfort with this gesture.

“None of this will happen, Pablo. I won't leave you when you show your true self because I don't want a "perfect" Gavi" you said quietly, your voice confident. “I don't want an actor. I want you, Pablo. The real you. The one who is not afraid to be afraid sometimes, to show that he is human. This is the person I care about. Not the cool guy everyone else sees” you said in a soft voice.

His eyes searched yours, uncertain, as if waiting for you to take back your words, but you didn't. You had every single one of them on your mind, and finally, after what seemed like an eternity, a small, genuine, hopeful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He was shy at first, but he widened as he squeezed your hand tighter.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice full of emotion.

You nodded, your heart filling with emotion. That was it. The moment you've been waiting for for so long.

“I've never been more sure of anything” you whispered, looking tenderly into his eyes.

Then there was silence, a calm, loving silence as the weight between you lifted. For the first time, you saw Pablo as he truly was - not a star, not an untouchable hero, but a man who could laugh, stumble, show fear and still be worthy of love. And he saw you, not as someone who admired him for his fame or skill, but as someone who cared for him exactly as he was.

He leaned in slowly, his face was only a few inches from yours, and kissed you softly and lovingly. This time it's not for to impress you. This wasn't a show, this was finally real, and you couldn't be happier that he had broken down the walls and finally let you in.

When you broke apart, Pablo leaned down, cupping your cheek in his hand, his forehead gently pressed against yours. There were no ostentatious gestures, no need for words. Just you two.

"I love you" he whispered, his voice full of sincerity.

The words seemed to have been coming for a long time, but now they didn't seem rushed or forced. They were real and you smiled wholeheartedly, responding in kind.

“I love you too, Pablo. Just who you are, not the actor you pretended to be. I love the real you more than you know and more than words can express" you confessed, seeing the sparkle of happiness and relief in his eyes, then kissed him again.

As the weeks passed, things changed between you and Pablo. He became more open, more authentic with you. It wasn't a dramatic change - more like a steady, gentle unraveling of the man he had always been beneath the layers of his public persona. He no longer shied away from asking you for help when he was struggling through a tough game, or how he unhesitatingly reached out to you for a silent reassurance that you were there for him, that he didn't have to be perfect to be loved.

He no longer tried to wear the cool guy mask. He realized that with you he could be tired, scared, be himself, and with each passing day you fell more and more in love with him - not with an actor or a superstar, but with the real Pablo, the one who needed comfort, who laughed freely and shared his fears without shame. He needed your love, and he had no problem showing it fully to you.

But it wasn't just about grand gestures. It was also about the quiet, tender moments you shared, like late night conversations that turned into long passionate discussions, cooking dinner together in his apartment, laughing about stupid things that didn't matter to anyone but the two of you. Every day you learned more about him, for example he had the courage to tell you about his childhood in Sevilla, what it was like before everything started.

For the first time, he allowed himself to be vulnerable with you. And each time you felt your heart fill with a mixture of love and admiration. This was the real Pablo you wanted from the very beginning. A young man who had dreams, doubts and fears, just like everyone else.

You broke down his walls and in return he gave you the most precious gift, his true self.

And that was more than enough.

if you like this, please like, reblog or comment 🫶🏻

Charles Leclerc Masterlist

Written Fics

Achilles Come Down

A Crime Against Fashion

All Locked Up

Bet on It

Black Magic

Blackmail Material

Blow Out the Candles

Boop!

Borrowed Time

Brake Balance

Break In, Breakdown

Breaking Point

Changing Lanes

Danger Noodles

Daydream

Eurovisionaries

Fairytale

Family Feud

Fit for a Queen

Gilded Cage

Going Once, Going Twice

Head Over Heels

Hydrate or Diedrate

Inked

La Regina

Lessons in Anatomy

Live Like We Want To

Lover

Made with Love

Make Them Proud

Man’s World

Mesaytara

My Brother’s Father

Never Have I Ever

Newsflash

Oscar Jack Piastri-Leclerc

Ours to Protect

Prince of Monaco

Prove Them Wrong

Puppy Love

Roll the Dice

Ruin You

Sink or Swim

Sleepyhead

So Good to Her

So Good to Me

Something Sweet

That’s That Me, Espresso

The Center Cannot Hold

Theories of Relativity

Ties That Bind

Time to Kill

Under the Influence

Use Your Words

What’s the Worst That Can Happen?

Your Friend Steve

Social Media AUs

In My Blood (series with Senna!Reader)

architect!Reader

author!Reader

black!Reader

Brazilian!Reader

celebrity crush!Reader

CEO!Reader

college student!Reader

crazy rich!Reader

endurance driver!Reader

fashion designer!Reader

fan!Reader

Ferrari driver!Reader

Ferrari engineer!Reader

Ferrari team principal!Reader

footballer!Reader

girlfriend!Reader

Horner!Reader

Måneskin!Reader

model!Reader

nepo baby!Reader

Newey!Reader

newlywed!Reader Part I

newlywed!Reader Part II

New Year’s Edition

pop star!Reader

pop star!Reader II

PowerPointless Part II

Princess of Monaco!Reader

pr manager!Reader

protective!Reader

revenge era!Reader

royal!Reader

Sainz!Reader

scandalous!Reader

shameless!Reader

single mother!Reader

socialite!Reader

Vettel!Reader

widow!Reader

wife!Reader

Wolff!Reader

Wolff!Reader II

Wolff!Reader x Max Verstappen

fc barcelona headers

like/reblog if you save x

- requested!!

i’d like to thank allah, lewandowski, raphinha and lamine yamal for my happiness and for the fact that im alive! i’d also like to thank pedri and gavi for being an honourable mention to my will to live. they are amazing and thank you for making this first half bearable and thank you mbappe for injuring your foot and uhm yeah visca barca

in honour of phonzy and sheyenne getting married , do a jamal fanfic where he and the reader (female..!) are childhood besties but have feelings for each other.

Reader is sheyenne’s bridesmaid and jamal is phonzys best man.

Rest is up to ur imagination 🙏

❦ - for better or for best - JM42

summary : it’s alphonso and sheyenne’s wedding and you and jamal are childhood best friends ; except you guys can’t hide your feelings much longer.

warnings : slight angst & fluff!! AND USE OF Y/N BC IK THAT TRIGGERS SOME OF YOU 😭. alsoooo cussing & jamal is lowkey a bit of an asshole…

writers note : i love this idea sm & this is lowkey short, sorry bae 💔 also ignore how this fic progressively gets more obvious that i’m tired and that this is lowkey rushed 🙏

as the venue started to fill up, it slowly started to get louder and full of excitement, everybody waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle. the air was filled with the smell of flowers as you stood at the front, taking in the atmosphere. you held your bouquet tight, even though you said nothing, your face did. you were noticeably stressed from helping with the wedding and you took it upon yourself to leave the bride relaxed for her big day.

jamal silently stood near you, adjusting his cuff links for what felt like the 5th time that night. usually he’s nonchalant but you noticed that emotion was replaced with something else. to your surprise, even he seemed tensed up by the situation. he caught your gaze and quietly asked, ‘nervous?’.

slightly amused with his stupid question to your obvious answer of a facial expression, you sighed and replied with, ‘take a guess sherlock, what about you though?’

‘nah. i’m calm about it, you know me y/n, i don’t stress ab these things’ he was right. you did know him. and you could read right through him, he WAS stressed, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

‘okay then. sheyenne is gonna come any second now, get in your place bro.’ seemed to be all you could come up with. usually you’d come up with a different response but you thought it wasn’t much worth the effort.

literally as soon as you said that, the loud, eccentric fanfare blasted through, announcing the brides arrival. sheyenne looked absolutely gorgeous making you smile like an idiot until jamal turned to look at you, smiling too at your sight.

after vows were exchanged, you and the whole bridal party as well as the grooms party were sent outside for photo shoots with the newlyweds.

‘y/n stop tilting your head, make it straight’, the photographer snapped, knocking you out of your daze. you silently complied, painting a forced smile on your face knowing that you’re well and truly burnt out from all the prep. throughout this whole photo shoot you stayed composed until you heard, ‘okay!! best man and maid of honour come, let’s get a photo of you two’

THAT. that’s what really got you out of that daze. you stood next to him as he slid his hand around your waist, instantly making you tense up.

he noticed your sudden change up and whispered, ‘relax schatz (darling/baby), why’re you so worked up, calm down. it’s not like we haven’t done this before, it always happens at family events, nothing different now.’ and to that you simply nodded and got the photos done with.

soon after, everyone was getting on the dance floor until some random guy who even you thought was quite fine, asked you to dance. and to that you reluctantly agreed, seeming that you had no one else to dance with. ofcourse, jamal suddenly appears just as you’re about to go and dance.

‘idk who you are, but i actually asked y/n to dance first, so if i was you i’d move along, listen mate, there’s other women here so don’t get too disheartened.’ jamal murmured, as the guy stayed silent and moved away like an npc. the brown haired boy grabbed your wrists, but you slapped his grip off as you pulled him into a side room

‘jamal what the actual fuck are you doing?? that guy was sweet and you made him go away for no reason. you don’t even want to fucking dance you dickhead why would you do that. it’s like you’re always trying to spite me what did i do to you. you have so many other girls to harass right now, why me man.’ leading you to sigh after ranting and pleading. to your surprise, he didn’t have a smartass answer, instead he just stayed silent and stared at the floor, unable to create a reason behind his stupid action.

‘okay. i’m sorry. i don’t know why i did it, i guess i was jealous. y/n i don’t fucking know anymore. i’m in love with you and i don’t know how else to make it obvious to you at this point. i wanted that to be the last sign but i guess that went wrong.’ to that, it was you who was unable to respond. and to add to that, you felt like a piece of you broke inside when you heard that. how did you not get the signs.

there was a silence that followed as his words hung in the air ‘i’m in love with you.’ 5 words that you couldn’t admit yourself. to be honest with yourself, you didn’t believe it, not that you didn’t want to, but because it seemed too crazy to be real, as if it was like a disney movie. just because you were unable to break the silence, he did it for you.

‘y/n say something. i just told you that im in love with you and all you’re doing is just standing there. hell i’ve been in love with you for years and i don’t want this to ruin what we already have.’, his gaze softening, noticing that you absorbed what he said.

‘so you were jealous of the guy… jamal please this is the wrong time and place to confess this. and what chance do we actually have together. what’s gonna happen if we break up, what’s happening now even? is this gonna fuck up our friendship.’ you rambled with thousands of thoughts at once racing through your mind, your reaction making him grin, knowing you’re considering it.

‘y/n. shut up. just give it a go, please.’ he replied, before you could say anything he kissed you, catching you off guard by a mile. eventually breaking it, leaving you so lost.

‘okay. fine. but we can’t tell anyone till ATLEAST next week otherwise the whatsapp aunties are gonna accuse us of ruining the wedding.’ you randomly blurted, making him giggle a bit

‘sounds like a deal.’ he said in between giggles

Hey, could you write something for Jude where the reader is tired of the game? One day, he was all hers,intense looks, lingering touches, words that made her heart race. The next, he was cold and distant, as if nothing had ever happened. She tried not to care, to pretend it didn’t bother her. But every ignored message, every unexplained absence, only made the knot in her chest tighten. Did he really love her? Or was she just a distraction for his lonely days?

Please think about it!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

❦ - lonely days.

warnings:: angst, no closure & self care also no happy ending.

writers notes:: this is the last fic on my list so i wrote this in a crisis @barcapix iykyk 💔.

tags:: @barcapix @n0vazsq @httpsdana @paucubarsisimp @universefcb @mariejuli

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

one day, he was all yours.

the way he looked at you like there was no one else in the world.
fingers tracing the edge of your wrist like he was memorizing it.
words he only said when the room was dark and the space between you was just barely enough to breathe.

‘you get under my skin like no one else.’
‘don’t ever leave.’
‘this feels like more, doesn’t it?’

you’d believed him. every time.

because it did feel like more.

until it didn’t.

the next day, he was cold.
distant. unreadable.

no good morning texts. no soft smiles. no warmth in his voice.

he’d brush past you like your body wasn’t one he held against his just nights ago.

you’d send a message.

hey. you good?

left on delivered. for hours.

then days.

you tried not to care. really, you did.

told yourself he was busy. that he didn’t owe you anything. that it wasn’t serious.

but your chest told another story.

a tight knot that only grew worse with every silence, every excuse, every moment he proved he could disappear just as fast as he showed up.

you saw him laughing at a party once, eyes shining, arms around someone else.

not touching her the way he touched you.
but still enough to hurt.

he caught your eye from across the room.

and for a split second, he looked guilty.

then he looked away.

you sat in your car that night, keys still in the ignition, phone in your hand.

did you ever really care? or was i just a distraction for when you were lonely?

you didn’t send it.

you didn’t need to.

the silence already answered for him.

you never got your closure.

no text. no call. no explanation.

just… distance.

and over time, that silence turned into something else
not peace exactly, but a quieter kind of pain.

the kind you learned to live with.

the kind that stopped stinging every time you heard his name.

you started showing up again.

not for him, but for yourself.

brighter lip gloss. louder music in your car. smiling at strangers just to feel a little something warm in return.

you still thought of him sometimes
when your favorite song came on.
when someone said “you look happy lately.”

but mostly, you just… moved.

forward. slowly.

and jude noticed.

at first it was a glance.

you walked past him in a crowded room, head held high, a soft laugh falling from your lips, and he looked.

then came the double take. the long stares.
the quiet moments when he thought you didn’t notice him watching.

but you did.

you just didn’t care anymore.

he finally texted one night.

can we talk?

you stared at the screen for a full minute before locking your phone again.

not out of anger.

but because there was nothing left to say.

you’d already cried. already questioned everything. already pieced yourself back together.

you weren’t angry. you weren’t bitter.

you were just… done.

and jude?

he was the one sitting in his car now, staring at his phone, wondering how it all slipped through his hands so easily.

he replayed every moment like a highlight reel he couldn’t turn off.

you smiling in his hoodie.
you falling asleep on his chest.
you whispering “don’t make me regret this.”

he did.

some nights, he thinks about texting again.

but he knows better now.

you weren’t a maybe.

you were always almost, until you weren’t.

and now you’re untouchable.

because you stopped waiting for him to choose you.

and chose yourself instead.