Looking at him with knitted eyebrows, you contemplate. A wave of sadness washes over your features, casting a shadow over your initial cheerful demeanor. There's a subtle quiver in your voice as you assure, "Tyty.. I'm going nowhere, right? Even—we've spent so much time together these days after dad—and mom.. Damn I still live beside you—"

"I know, it's just—" Tyler's voice tinged with sadness as he sighs, "we never go to school together anymore.. we don't eat together.. and we have separate classes more often—"

"Wha—I didn't want to interrupt you Ty, you know what Lucy does every time—even when you're just standing next to me—"

"It doesn't matter, Em. It's not our problem if she worries too much about things she can't control—"

Suddenly, you push his chair enough for you to lower yourself to the floor—elbow touching the floor while saying, "Ok bestie, tell me what you want—" however, the impact sends a jolt of pain through you—causing you to flinch, groaning a "ok that hurts—"

"Get up, idiot!" Tyler demands, his hand reaching to pull your arms upwards—but instead, you tackle him, resting your arms on his thigh. Your chin rests in your palms, gazing at him while fluttering your eyelashes.

"As a compensation, you'll get five Burgers this month, just pick the when."

Looking away slightly, he scoffs, "You're unbelievable, W—" but then pauses, his expression turning contemplative.. until finally, he raises an eyebrow in a slight annoyance and weary manner before emphasizing an—

"Emily."

With a look of bewilderment, you pout, "Awww, no Winny this time?" giving him your best puppy eyes. But he just raises an eyebrow, further questioning you. "I'm sorry I was so busy Tyty.. you know how clingy Dom is these days—"

But at the mention of your 'boyfriend', he rolls his eyes—immediately stands up from his seat without delay, and walks away. Retracting your head in confusion, you exclaim, "Ty.. is it just me or.. every time I talk about Dom you—"

"I don't like him."

Tyler's words cut through the air like a sudden gust of wind. You knit your eyebrows in disbelief, a gasp heard as you left stunned. "T—Ty—he's your bestfriend—"

"Because I know him!" Tyler shouts, voice tinged with frustration. Exhaling a sharp scoff, he lets out an irritated shake on his head before looking back at you, ranting, "He always talks about dating multiple girls—he never takes any of them seriously!"

With a troubled expression, you begin to stand up, folding a hand over your chest. Lifting your head to him, you ask, "I know him too, Ty. We've been friends since—what? Junior high. So yeah, I know how he was—"

"Forget about junior high! At the afterparty! When you were busy taking care of Uncle John—you know what he did—?!" Cavill pauses, as if weighing your reaction. But fuck it, he thought. You have to know what your boyfriend did behind your back. This is his role as a bestfriend too, right?

"He's back to how he used to, Em! I find him kissing with another girl at the fucking party! I told you! I fucking told you!"

His voice laced with frustration, panting like he just ran a marathon—but then he glares at you in bewilderment. Cos instead of giving the normal reaction of someone who just got cheated—you seem too calm. It's more like.. you're a little bit faking your 'startle'. Like.. you're.. hiding something—

"I guess I.. didn't.. took care at him—I was too occupied with my problems so—so I guess it's normal if he.. if he slips up a bit—we—oh yeah we actually made up—"

"What?"

His menacing low voice cuts you off, sending shivers down your spine. He approaches you slowly.. head tilting.. eyes narrowing in a deadly focus—looking like he's about to slice you with his glare as he says,

"I told you he cheated on you, and you're defending him?"

Your heart pounds hard in your chest. Gulping, you try to make your argument make sense, saying, "Listen—"

"Seriously?! I don't like him with you, Em!"

"Ty—you don't know how hard it is for me—to make time for you and Dom. I learned from past experiences—I don't want to be neglected like when you first started dating—"

"Huh? Wait wait wait—" he gestures his hand in front of his chest, stopping you. with an irritated, perplexion plastered on his face, he shouts, "Now I'm at fault?!"

"Ty, that's not what I—"

"Since when is this about me?! He's cheating on you, and you're making excuses for him—?!"

"God—Ty, we even—we betrayed him together, remember?"

"It was—! Ok—fuck! We said our sorrys, alright? And it can't be helped we—"

"It can't be helped? You're saying when we cheat we could use an excuse?!"

"That's not what I'm saying, what I meant was we—wait." Tilting his head in further aggravation, Tyler shakes his head as he questions, "Why—why the fuck are you so confusing?! You made him an excuse to make him look good and then you say we couldn't use an excuse when we cheat?!"

Almost getting busted, you rattle your brains to find another way to steer him away from the topic. "Listen, I know my boyfriend, okay? He loves me so much—"

"Oh for fucks sake—"

"Fuck! You really want to do this right now?! Let's fucking do this—"

"Why of course, mi lady—!"

"You're so worried about Dom being a cheater—but that might happen because he's lonely! Remember good ol' Taylor?! Oh yeah, she's a fucking bully!"

"You did not. just bring her into this conversation—and for the fucking record? She doesn't bully people out of pleasantries, Emilia—"

"Who the fuck make excuses for a bully—"

"Fuck! What's the fucking difference?! Cheating is fucking worse!"

"People make mistakes, Ty! And I forgive him! So it's not your problem anymore!"

For a moment of silence, everything goes quiet. Tyler, looking like his breath went ragged, seems on the verge of going rogue. Throwing his head back in annoyance and running his hands through his hair, he hisses,

"Not my problem anymore? Not my—not my problem anymore?!"

"Stop Ty it's really—!"

"For fucks sake, Em! How the fuck do you think it felt when I saw him fucking betray you—?!"

"Ty he—"

"When I saw him fucking kiss that rando—can you even fathom how my blood boiled—"

"You're like this right now—but when you–!"

"Do you know how it felt?! It felt like I was about to shred him into pieces—!"

"You don't know what it feels like when you kiss her!"

Tyler's eyes widen as he takes a step back. He stares at you, his eyes fervently searching the lines of your face. For a moment, everything goes silent. His mouth opens as if to speak, "Em I—" but then closes again. He gulps, his brows drawing together, a look of helplessness engulfing him.

"You don't know what it feels like—when you asked me to bear sitting in your car with her! And when you—" you choke, the memory seeping through like a hurricane. "When in front of me you—when the two of you—in front of—"

You want to continue–but you can't. The words sticking in your throat as tears threaten to fall. Turning away, you hug your body tighter, moving to a different familiar part of his room. You stop, taking a shaky inhale, desperately trying to calm yourself down even just a little. When you finally decide to turn around, you find Tyler looking at the ground, the same anguish in his eyes. He notices you turning, so he finally lifts his gaze to meet yours.

Rooted to your spot, the two of you exchange a miserable gaze. Tyler's eyes are serious when you try to hold back your tears. You look away briefly, biting your lip to keep yourself from crying—before you look back at him.. voice barely a whisper when you say,

"You have no idea—what it felt like.. to see you choose someone—over and over again, Ty. And when you choose Lucy over me—"

The words catch in your throat as you look away, biting the ends of your tongue. Cursing at yourself. How the fuck on earth you could you slip your tongue like this.

Tyler retracts his head as he takes a step back, as if your words are a gusting wind that shakes his ground. Hesitantly, he steps towards you, hand half-extended—unsure if he should reach out. His voice trembles as he finally speaks, "Em, I never meant to—" but the words catch in his throat, and he clenches his fists, "I never wanted to hurt you. I just—"

Without thinking, you walk quickly to the door, desperate to escape. Your hand is already on the handle, ready to open it—

When his hand grips the handle over yours and slams the door closed! Tyler takes your shaking hand and urgently turns you around so you're pressed against the door. When he makes sure your eyes meet his, he whispers,

"Em, what do you mean—"

"Just forget it—"

"Em, look at me!"

You jump in a startle—the whole room went silent. You close your eyes tightly—forehead creasing, looking down.. until you feel his fingers on your chin, gently lifting your face so you're forced to open your eyes to find his hazel eyes burn through you.

"What do you mean—" he pauses, still looking at you, eyes filled with pain. "What do you mean when you see me.. kiss—" he stops and slightly gulps, unable to finish his sentence, feeling guilty even reliving the moment. Your head tilts, lips slightly quiver when you quickly look away, confused and embarrassed—not wanting to cry in front of him.

With an urgent yet soft voice, Tyler whispers, "Winny.."

"Please, Ty, I don't want to talk about it.."

Bewildered, Tyler takes in your gestures.. your averted gaze.. your sniffling as you try to hold back tears—

"Em, why didn't you tell me how you felt—"

"Because it doesn't matter. It just–won't and–you're my bestfriend, Ty. It wouldn't change anything anyways—you always have someone, and now I'm with—"

"It'll change everything!"

Tyler's eyes search yours, hoping for a sign, a flicker of hope that maybe.. just maybe.. things could be different. His grip on the door handle goes tighter as he tries to manage to contain the torment within him.

You stare at him, tears start to stream down your face. But in a flash your expression hardens as you whisper, "Tell me, then," fixing the way you stand against the door, you try to stand taller. Your dark brown eyes pierce through his hazel eyes as you mutter, "What do you think will change?" Unsure of what to say—the fear of ruining things paralyzes him. "Which part do you think will change if–" you choke, searching his eyes as he searches yours—until finally.. you take a deep breath.. ready to let this all go.

"Which part do you think will change.. if I'll still love you the same, Ty?"

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Cecylia Costania @rcpcswrites