~Oliver's POV~

"Len!" I called after the blond, but he just kept running.

Ritsu narrowed his eyes, grabbing my wrist. "Why do you care about him? You have me!" He spat, pushing me up against the lockers again.

"N-no!" I shouted, pulling against Ritsu's grip. "I-I don't love you...!"

Ritsu's eyes widened slightly, and he pulled away. "So...you're saying that you love him then...?"

I flinched. "I-I...." I looked away. Did I love Len...? I've said it before, but was that just me being weak.... "I do...."

Ritsu clicked his tongue. "Get out of here," he commanded, pushing me away from him, covering his eyes with his bangs. I could tell he was crying.

"R-Ritsu...."

"Get out!" He shouted, clenching his fists. "Just go find him and get out of my sight already!"

I rook a step back. "T-thank you...." I mumbled before running off to find Len.

I started calling his name as quietly as I could, as not to disturb the classes. Yes, even I could be respectful. Who knew, right?

It was a while before I actually found Len, and I regretted not looking in every place I could find, because I wanted to find him quicker than I actually ended up doing.

"Len!" I yelled, and ran over to him. He was leaning against a wall in a corner, sitting on the floor and crying. "Len, I'm sorry! Ritsu forced me! It's not like I wanted to kiss him, okay?!" I was panicked.

Len shoved me away. "Piko told me he took you during lunch, Oliver! Lunch! That was a whole hour ago!" He spat, glaring daggers at me with his tear-filled eyes.

My chest throbbed. "I...I know, but.... I couldn't help it! I kept trying to pull away but then I imagined it was you and I just...!" I placed my hands over my face, beginning to cry as well. "I just wanted you to come back to school.... I couldn't see you at all since you went to the hospital two days ago, and I just.... Yeah, I know, it's dumb, and I was being a moron, but I missed you. I...love you, Len. A lot...." I wrapped my arms around his chest, hoping that he wouldn't push me away as I cried into his shirt.

I was glad that Len didn't pull away, but he didn't hug me back either. He just sat there with his arms hanging limp and his head tilting back against the wall as if he was dead.

"Oliver, I...." Len started to speak, but he cut himself off.

"Len, please..." I begged, hugging him tighter, hoping that more tears wouldn't skip from my eyelid.

"I want to trust you.... I really do. But seeing how easily you can just skip up like that...." Len shook his head, biting at his lip to keep himself from stuttering. "I just...can't."

I started to cry again. "Len, please, don't leave me.... I don't know what I'll do if I lose you.... Please...."

Len stayed silent. "I'm sorry...." He mumbled, resting his forehead against the top of my head. "I can't do this anymore.... You're just...playing with my feelings. Oliver, I can't take it."

"I'm not!" I shouted, shaking my head. "You're the only reason I haven't hated life, okay?! Please, Len! I'm begging you! I love you so much! I don't want you to hate me!"

Len hesitantly wrapped his arms around me. "Oliver," he whispered, "I love you too, but...how do I know you won't leave me again? How do I know you won't get tricked? How do I know that I can even trust you?"

"You can!" I cried. "I promise, Len! I won't ever leave you! Please, please, please!" I trembled violently with misery and the fear of losing Len. He seemed to hate me now. I...I don't want him to hate me!

"Oliver...." Len furrowed his eyebrows, lifting my chin up and looking into my eye. It was tinted red and puffy from crying, and my cheek was stained with tears. "I...could never hate you. But—"

"No!" I screamed, cutting Len off. I shut my eye tightly, shaking my head back and forth. I couldn't stop the tears. "No, no, no, no, no!"

"Oliver," Len started, holding my face in his hands, "please calm down...."

I sniffled, my hands shaking as I gripped the fabric of his shirt tightly as if he would drift away from me if I let go. "I-I'm...not strong.... I can't speak my opinion, I hide behind a front, and I can't live without you.... I-I'm really not a strong person.... I'm just...w-weak...." I spat the words out, gritting my teeth.

Len looked away for a moment before he sighed, pressing a soft kiss against my forehead. "You...promise me you won't mess with my feelings...?" He spoke as if he was uncertain of whether or not he should be doing what he was.

I shook my head rapidly.

"A-and...you'll never go with another guy, right...?"

I shook my head again. "N-not to do...bad things...."

Len nodded, rubbing his nose against mine gently, causing me to giggle. "Good." He smiled at me, and I couldn't help but smile back. I was so happy.

"L-Len.... M-maybe we should...be, y-you know, official...." I blushed as Len pressed more kisses against my forehead, moving down to kiss away the tears.

"You mean...?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded.

"Y-yeah...." Len smiled, nodding as well. "I-I'd like that...."

"T-then...." I started, but Len silenced me.

"I'll say it," he assured, blushing. "Oliver, would you...be my boyfriend...?"

I smiled, sniffling as I wiped a few more tears away from my eye. "Y-yeah...."

Len pulled me into a soft kiss, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as I kissed back.

The pain in my chest had vanished. In fact, it felt a bit lighter than before.

Maybe that's what love feels like....