#♡ dynamic : asher & menekşe.

[czrsed]

menekşe’s smile was there, as always, but asher noticed, in that moment, that she wasn’t entirely at ease. he knew how good she was at hiding what she felt, and the way she tried to mask that small discomfort only made it stand out more to him. but instead of finding it amusing, as he usually did, a sharp pang of something deeper stirred in him. he wanted to be enough for her. he wanted more than just to be the friend she felt the need to care for. but he didn’t know how to say that without risking it all.

"you don’t have to keep looking after me like this, you know," he began, his smile genuine but his eyes revealing something deeper. "i mean, it’s more than just being a good friend, isn’t it?" he paused, heart pounding in his chest, the words slipping out before he could think them through.

he leaned against the table, his body tense, heart racing. his words were right there on the tip of his tongue, but something held him back. he didn’t want to do anything that would make her feel pressured, but there was something in her, some vulnerability, that made him want to protect her more than he already did.

asher shifted slightly, his gaze not leaving hers. "i know we’re just friends, and maybe that’s all i should expect, but... god, i can’t ignore how i feel about you. if you ever saw me as more than just a friend, i wouldn’t hesitate. not for a second." he swallowed, realizing how vulnerable he sounded, but somehow it felt like a relief, like a weight had been lifted.

menekşe tried to control her expression, to rein in her smile, but that seemed an impossible feat whenever asher was around. she wasn't even sure why she bothered to protect herself: asher had never looked at her that way. he never noticed her lingering gaze or how she beamed when he entered a room. menekşe was a romantic at heart. she saw the world through rose-colored glasses. and yes, in her perfect fantasy, asher felt the same way. but this wasn't some romance novel and he wasn't her prince charming. his next words were a perfect reminder of that.

friends.

she didn't know why it stung so much— it was true. they were friends. the best of friends, even. menekşe was grateful to have him in her life, even if not in the way she yearned for. but that didn't make being friendzoned hurt any less. she forced a smile, trying to act like everything was fine. the irony wasn't lost on her: she was an actress, yet she'd never been good at lying. especially not to herself. and with her hovering over him, so close, keeping up the act felt impossible.

"you're too stubborn for your own good, ash. an ice pack is an ice pack, whether i'm the one holding it or not", she said, hoping to keep things light. menekşe shrugged off his gratitude, even though his honeyed words and their closeness were making her face flush. she felt that familiar heat creeping up her neck. it was when she felt it prickling her cheeks that she knew she was visibly blushing. to spare herself the embarrassment, she glanced away. "don't mention it. uhh... why don't you take over and i'll get you something to drink? or a snack? like a granola bar or something small. you might have a concussion, ash... you need to take it easy."

she quickly latched onto the excuse of getting him a snack, eyes darting around. only when she was sure that he had a good grip on the ice pack did she let go. “i’ll just… be right back,” she murmured, stepping away and hoping the distance would calm her racing heart.

[czrsed]

"yeah, i'm good," asher replied, giving her a small smile, though there was a hint of something more in his eyes. he appreciated how she took care of him, how she always had his back."you know… you’re kind of the best at this whole ‘friend’ thing. if it were anyone else, i’d probably be mad, but with you, it just feels… easier." he added, his voice a little softer than usual, catching himself before he got too lost in the moment. he knew they were friends, but if she ever saw him as more than that… well, he wouldn’t hesitate. he'd just need her to make the first move. "thanks for the ice, though. you're a lifesaver." he paused, eyes flickering for a moment.

"you bumped your head, ash... it's not rocket science", menekşe tried to brush off. it was easier to play dumb than to admit she'd been paying attention. they were friends, that's all they would ever be, so she needed to dial it back. she readjusted her grip on the ice pack she was gently pressing to his forehead. "better?"