This was requested a long time ago, and I'm really sorry this took so long! I know this is not going to make up for it, but I hope you do enjoy this chapter.

And my apologies that this is rather short and not the greatest! I tried with this one. ;-;

. . .

"Do you believe in fate?"

"Why would you ask of that, Laurence?" Aphmau queried, tilting her head innocently.

"No reason." He spoke. "I feel as though it's interesting to wonder what life would be if you chose to live it differently."

"That would be interesting, honestly. I could probably spend all day just imagining what if I acted a certain way to people or wanted to be with someone else."

"I feel as though I would be with you if I couldn't be with Aaron. But then again, it's hard to know since I know that you and Garroth had a crush on me for as long as I can remember." She continued.

"I get that."

"I'm sorry if that sounded harsh in any way. Are you-?"

"I'm not hung up still. I'm learning to accept the fact that you're happy with Aaron." Laurence spoke with softly closed eyes, swiftly cutting her off. "But I will admit that sometimes the idea of us being together comes up from time to time."

"Hmm, I see." She hummed with a slow nod.

Of course, it wasn't always like that.

It was absolutely crushing once Laurence realized that the idea of them being together will never be a reality. Not only that but the fact that he had to move on and learned to love someone else. 

And soon, that feeling manifested into jealousy and becoming overprotective of the person he knew that he could never have.

Every time that he saw her and Aaron together, that crushing feeling hit him hard. He'll admit that the limits that he and Garroth went to were extreme and unnecessary. But love made him do stupid things and what did those stupid things lead him to?

 It led him to disappointment and heartbreak.

He regrets wasting his time on trying to pursue her only for Aaron to swoop in and take her. But he honestly should have expected it since they were way closer than he would have thought.

Maybe it was just fate that she and Aaron were meant to be together.

Maybe it's fate that even in another life, she would always be happy with someone else.

At times, he would be left thinking that there was something wrong with him or something that he did wrong. He kept believing that since no matter what he did, she always went back to one person.

Aaron.

It made it seem like there was no point if she was only going to end up with the person she liked from the beginning.

Maybe then, he wouldn't have wasted time trying to win a fight he was destined to lose from the start.

"Are you okay Laurence?" She asked softly, grazing her hand over his own.

"I'm fine, it's just-" He paused briefly. "I-It's nothing."

"Are you sure? You don't seem okay."

"Seriously Aphmau, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." He smiled winsomely at her, making her chuckle softly.

"Alright then." She said. "But I probably should be heading out now; Aaron's about to be home and I have to start on dinner."

They waved each other goodbye at that, Laurence watching the petite woman walk to her house across the street. He saw her turn back to him and smile brightly before heading inside.

The brunette felt warm and fuzzy on the inside at the motion, but the looming feeling still lingered deep down. Laurence was content with the situation, but couldn't shake off that slight desolate feeling.

He was happy for her.

He just had to move on.

. . .