It was late, and you lay in bed, the soft glow from Muichiro’s phone illuminating his face as he scrolled aimlessly, ignoring you completely. You felt a twinge of longing to be close to him, so you inched closer, resting your head on his shoulder, hoping for some warmth and affection.

“Hey, Mui” you whispered, trying to catch his attention. “Can we cuddle for a bit?”

He stiffened, his eyes glued to the screen. “I’m not really in the mood,” he replied, his tone flat and uninterested.

You bit your lip, disappointment creeping in. “But I miss you. Can’t we just be together?” You reached for his waist, but he pulled away further, a clear sign that he wanted space.

“Can you not?” he said, sounding irritated. “You know I don’t like being touched.”

A knot formed in your chest, hurt flashing through you. “Why is it so hard for you to be close to me?” You felt your voice quiver as you fought back the sting of tears.

He glanced at you, but his expression remained distant and unreadable. “I’m tired. Can’t we just relax without all the physical stuff?” He turned back to his phone, as if that held more importance than your need for connection.

Silence filled the room, heavy and uncomfortable. You turned your back to him, pulling the blanket tighter around yourself, feeling cold and alone. All you wanted was to feel his warmth, to share a moment together, but the gap between you felt insurmountable. You lay there in the dark, listening to the sound of his fingers tapping on the screen, wishing things could be different.

As the minutes dragged on, you fought to keep the tears at bay, realizing that despite being so close physically, you felt a million miles away from him emotionally. You stared at the wall, wondering if he even cared about the distance growing between you.