Aira realized something uncomfortable that evening.
Reyhan wasn't just afraid of hurting her.
He was afraid of being seen.
Not the careless version people talked about.
Not the confident menace everyone assumed he was.
But the part of him that hesitated.
That overthought.
That stayed quiet because speaking meant risk.
And the more she softened around him,
the more he tried to shield her from that part.
Which meant shielding himself too.
The next day, it showed.
They were paired again in class — fate, alphabet, or the universe being petty.
Reyhan handled everything.
Answered questions.
Organized notes.
Took responsibility like he was trying to prove something.
Aira watched quietly for a while.
Then she closed her notebook.
"You don't have to carry this alone," she said.
Reyhan blinked. "I'm fine."
"That's not what I said."
He frowned slightly. "I'm just making it easier for you."
Aira leaned back. "You're making it quieter for yourself."
That stopped him.
The teacher walked by, so the moment passed — but the tension didn't.
After class, Reyhan waited near the window while Aira packed her bag.
"You were quiet," he said.
"So were you," she replied.
He hesitated. "Did I do something wrong?"
Aira shook her head.
"No. You did something familiar."
He didn't like that answer.
They walked toward the courtyard.
"Reyhan," Aira said carefully,
"you don't need to protect me from your doubts."
"I'm not—"
"You are," she said gently.
"And you're doing it because you think being strong means being silent."
Reyhan stopped walking.
That rarely happened.
"You think I'm hiding?" he asked.
"I think you're carrying things alone," Aira replied.
"And calling it responsibility."
He looked away.
"I don't want you fixing me," he said quietly.
"I'm not," she replied.
"I'm refusing to let you disappear behind 'I'm fine.'"
That landed harder than comfort ever could.
Reyhan exhaled slowly.
"You don't know how loud my head gets," he admitted.
"If I don't control it… things spiral."
Aira stepped closer.
"Then let it spiral," she said softly.
"Just not without me knowing."
He looked at her — really looked.
"You won't think less of me?" he asked.
Aira didn't hesitate.
"No," she said.
"I'll think you trusted me."
Something in his chest gave.
Not breaking.
Opening.
"Okay," he said quietly.
"I'll stop pretending I've got it all handled."
Aira smiled faintly.
"That's all I wanted."
They continued walking.
This time, Reyhan didn't walk ahead.
Didn't fall behind.
He walked exactly where she was.
RULE #38: Don't protect him from himself.
Because growth doesn't come from hiding the cracks—
it comes from letting someone see them without leaving.