Ryobo's POV ❄️

"I can understand and relate to that..." I sighed. "But, I will admit that he's really cute."

"Speaking of relationships...Is the crush you like, and secretly fell in love with, part of the resistance?" Gadget asked.

"Yeah...He's a part of the resistance." I answered.

"Who?"

"I-I like..." I began, trying to say it and drop the big hint.

But, I gave up and sighed as my dandere side kicked in, making me unable to tell Gadget that I really like and fell in love with him.

Then, I came up with the most stupid lie that I absolutely regret saying in front of him.

"I like Knuckles." I lied.

Gadget looked at me with a surprised look on his face as I looked away.

"You like...Knuckles?"

I nodded, hoping Gadget would buy it, even though it was a terrible lie.

"But, doesn't Rouge like him?" He asked.

Shit.

I forgot about that.

"Oh! Well...That was an error. I meant to say someone else instead of Knuckles." I lied again.

"Okay, then..."

I nodded.

"Th-The truth is....I...." I continued but failed to say it.

I started to feel my body trembling as tears began appearing in my eyes and running down to the sides of my face.

Before I knew it, I started crying, feeling completely overwhelmed.

"Ryobo! What's the matter?!" I heard Gadget ask worriedly as he rested his hands on both of my shoulders.

"I...I CAN'T SAY IT!" I shouted a little tearfully, before I continued crying.

Feeling Gadget pull me into a hug, I hugged him in return as I buried my face into his chest and wept.

"Shh...It's okay...It's okay..." I heard him say to me while he started rubbing my back, trying his best to comfort and to make me feel better.

"No...It's not okay..." I said, my voice slightly muffled.

"Huh? Why? What makes you say that?" Gadget asked after I looked up at him.

"Because I know they would reject me and say that they're in love with someone else.

And, I'm also the type of mobian who doesn't want to interfere in anybody's relationship." I explained as I sniffed and wiped the tears from my eyes.

Gadget and I just sat there in silence for a while after I said that.

"I see...Maybe I could help you out with that?" Gadget recommended.

I shook my head before I drank the remaining tea that was surprisingly still left in my cup.

"No..." I replied before everything went silent again.

"Ryobo..." Gadget started until I held my hand up, stopping him from whatever it is that he was about to say.

"Just...drink whatever's left of the tea I made for you...Then leave me alone for a bit...Please." I say tearfully.

Gadget hesitated for a moment, but nodded in understanding.

After he drank the remaining tea that he had left, he returned the cup and thanked me for letting him come in the room and chat with me until he left, shutting the door behind him.

From the moment that he left, I got up and cleaned the cups off before I returned to my bedroom and locked the door, once I putted the cups away.

Picking up a book, I looked over at the cover before I sat down on the bed and threw the book at the wall really hard.

"Wh-Why?" I asked myself after I buried my face into my hands.

"Why can't I just come out and say it to Gadget?"

Then I just hugged my knees.

For a while, I didn't say or do anything, since I was too upset at myself for not admitting and confessing my feelings to Gadget.

Instead, I just lied, which only made things harder for me.