These are outside forces keeping the couple apart, such as rival families (the classic Romeo and Juliet ), a war, or a literal distance.
"I realized," Julian continued, his voice dropping an octave, "that I spend about eighty percent of my week waiting for the moments when I’m with you. And the other twenty percent talking to you. It’s... inefficient to keep pretending that you’re just my friend." sex+budak+sekolah+melayu
But she looked at his hand on the cushion, so close to hers. She looked at the way his jaw was set, tense with fear, and the way his eyes were searching hers These are outside forces keeping the couple apart,