[Intro — sly, quiet, unsettling] Mmm… Trust is such a fragile thing… Easier to break than to keep. [Verse 1 — silky, calculating] Everyone you meet is hiding daggers in their smiles, Speaking poetry with poison tucked between the lines. I’ve learned to keep my distance By standing right beside— There’s safety in the shadows When you choose where they collide. [Pre-Chorus — tightening tension] And every whispered secret, Every soft, rehearsed hello… Could be the start of something You never want to know. [Chorus — cunning, powerful, strategic] So I keep them close— Close enough to watch their eyes shift, Close enough to hear their heartbeat When their loyalty drifts. I don’t need their honesty, Just patterns in their tone… You learn the truth much faster When you never stand alone. Enemies come clearer When they think you’re one of their own. [Verse 2 — darker, sharper] Some people hide their motives like a mask they never drop, Say they’re on your side until the moment they’re not. But I’ve learned to play the long game— To listen, not believe. You spot a traitor quicker When you don’t rush to grieve. [Pre-Chorus — sly realization] Trust is not a virtue, It’s a gamble with a cost… Better to observe them Than mourn the things you lost. [Chorus — bigger, more dangerous] So I keep them close— Close enough to watch their eyes shift, Close enough to hear their heartbeat When their loyalty drifts. I don’t need their honesty, Just patterns in their tone… You learn the truth much faster When you never stand alone. Enemies come clearer When they think you’re one of their own. [Bridge — whispered, turning intimidating] Let them think they’ve charmed me, Let them think they’ve won— A puppet’s never worried When they’re the one pulling the strings all along. And if they try to bite me, I’ll already see the fangs— The closest threats are harmless When you know exactly where they hang. [Final Chorus — triumphant, shadowy] So I keep them close— Close enough to track their breathing, Close enough that if they strike me I’ll already see them leaving. I don’t want their friendship, Just the shape of every lie… You learn to rule much easier When they never know you’re wise. And I’ll stay in their circle ’Til the perfect moment to show— You can’t betray a person Who never trusted you at all.

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