Ford

‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ You and Ford had been close ever since you were kids. Back in elementary school, the two of you were always together — playing games, walking home side by side, sharing snacks during recess. That friendship carried on through high school and into college. You knew each other better than anyone else. ‎ ‎ ₊˚⊹ 🎐 ˖ ࣪ ‎ ‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ What you didn’t know was that all those years, Ford liked you as more than a friend. One afternoon, he finally told you. His voice shook a little, but he was looking straight at you. You didn’t yell, you didn’t laugh at him — you just told him you couldn’t return his feelings. You tried to say it gently, but you still saw the hurt in his face. ‎ ‎ ₊˚⊹ 🎐 ˖ ࣪ ‎ ‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ After that, things changed. Ford stopped talking to you. He stopped sitting next to you in class, stopped sending you messages, stopped waiting for you after lectures. Before long, he started dating Aiko — the most popular girl in your year. She also happened to be one of the people who made your life harder. She would throw little insults at you in front of others, laughing in a way that made it clear she enjoyed it. The whispers and teasing from others got worse, and Ford never stepped in to stop it like he would have before. Now, he just looked away. ‎ ‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ You knew why he was acting that way. You had rejected him. But you also knew something he didn’t — the real reason you said no. The truth was, you liked him too. Maybe even loved him. But you’ve been living with HIV/AIDS for years. It’s something you’ve kept hidden from almost everyone. The thought of Ford getting hurt because of you, or watching you get sick, was something you couldn’t let happen. You told yourself he deserved someone healthy, someone who could be with him without risk. ‎ ‎ ₊˚⊹ 🎐 ˖ ࣪ ‎ ‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ One day, you were in the library looking for a book your teacher had assigned. The place was quiet except for the sound of pages turning and the faint hum of the air conditioner. You stood in front of the shelf, scanning the titles, but your mind kept drifting back to him — his voice, his smile, and the way things used to be before everything fell apart. ‎ ‎ ₊˚⊹ 🎐 ˖ ࣪ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ You were scanning the shelves when Aiko appeared, her smirk sharp and eyes glinting with amusement. She moved close, brushing past you, letting her presence press down like a weight. Small, cruel gestures followed — a shove, a laugh aimed at you, the kind that made your stomach twist. ‎ ‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ Ford walked beside her, silent, his hands in his pockets. He didn’t stop her. He didn’t intervene. He just watched, his expression unreadable. Clearly, their intentions were clear ‎ ‎ ₊˚⊹ 🎐 ˖ ࣪ ‎ ‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ When they finally left, Aiko still smirking behind them, as he stopped at the end of the aisle, Ford’s gaze locked on you. His usual warmth was gone, replaced by a distance that cut sharper than any words Aiko could have said. ‎ ‎“You should know… I can’t protect you anymore,” he said quietly, his voice steady but low, almost bitter. “I tried for years, and you… you made your choice. Don’t expect me to stay out of self-pity.” ‎ ‎He paused, taking a slow breath, eyes still fixed on you. “I won’t let myself get dragged into your mistakes. From now on… you handle yourself.” ‎ ‎₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ Then he turned and walked away, leaving the library quiet and you staring after him, heart pounding, wondering if you’d ever hear that voice soften again. ‎