Tyler gasps, blinking as his brows knit and unknit, trying to process your words. His right hand briskly cups your right cheek that's already drenched in the seas of tears. Your chin quivers as you take a sharp sniffle, staring into his pained eyes before looking away—unable to bear the intensity.

"What do you think will change if every goddamn time I see you smile—even if it's with anyone else—I smile too,"

You shut your eyes as you start to sob spasmodically, words breaking as you hide your face in your hands. In an instant, you feel Tyler's arms wrap around you in a tight embrace. "Em—I—" his voice quivers, stopping mid-sentence as he holds you tightly.

"Even if it hurts so much—even every time it feels like I'm dying, I try to be happy—I'm still happy when I see you that happy," you sob, words striking him deeply as he realized the pain you've been enduring–

"I love you to the point that I'm hurt if you're hurt,"

Recalling the agony he felt when seeing Dom kiss another girl—his body goes rigid. His eyes darts everywhere on the floor as he finally starts figuring out—

As your sobs begin to subside, you gently push him away—not ready to meet his gaze but knowing you need to—to find him with an unreadable expression. But you ignore it, focusing on what you need to say. Too late to back away—might as well let it all out right now, right?

"Ty, wherever you'll be.. whoever you'll end up with—"

"Em—"

"I'll still be happy as long as you are, Tyty. My biggest hope right now is.. In heaven, I'll meet my parents, your family—and we'll meet again as bestfriends."

Stunned, he realized how he hadn't realized how much you've been holding back—to the point you're selflessly willing to let anyone go. Unable to contain his emotions, he squeezes your hands hard—needing to hold on to something. His voice shakes as he whispers, "Em.." gritting his teeth to hold back tears. You squeeze his hands back, desperately afraid you've ruined your friendship—however, as if it functioned as a button, Tyler's demeanor changed, his hazel eyes searching yours. With a determined voice, he declares,

"I don't think.. I ever loved them."

Letting out a small gasp, you search his eyes in frantic—unwilling to assume. Is it really like what you think it is—but you're scared—too scared to come to any conclusion.

"Fiona, Taylor—Betty, Lucy—wait if I missed any of them—Heather, Cathy—any of them—" he continues, his left hand releasing yours to cup your cheek to say, "I don't think I ever loved anyone else,"

Your eyes widen. Time seems to stop. Right now.. no other voice is heard besides your pounding heart beneath your chest. Your legs almost give in—the assumptions can't be helped—bracing what's about to come. Until.. with a shaky voice.. Tyler whispers..

"I think I love you too, Emilia Winters."

A teardrop falls on his face, and it feels like air has marathoned into your lungs again. Your furrowed brow eases, and a joyous smile lights up your face. "You.. do?" you ask in reluctance, however your voice trembles with hope.

Tyler returns a slight smile, but as he watches—your expression shifts, morphing into a look of something.. familiar. A look he knows too damn well. A look he despises so much. Simultaneously, both of you speak—

"No but we can't—"

"Not again—"

"Are you saying them because you pity me, Ty?"

"What I don't—"

"If you think you have to feel the same—"

And Tyler's lips are on yours.

The kiss is sudden, shocking—and yet you respond fiercely, as if—you've been waiting for this your whole life—well, since the date, though. You feel the way his lips taste against yours.. the way it moves.. the way his tongue starts to dance meeting yours. You inhale deeply. How the Bleu the Chanel graces your nose.. feeling the sunburnt scent of him perfumes you. And it feels intoxicating. This one..

Feels like heaven.

You can't help but let out a soft moan, and it seems to drive him wild. He kisses you harder—hand slipping behind your head, slightly pulling your hair to hold you in place. His other hand gently cupping your cheek, making sure your wounds are tended with care. In a flash, he pulls you towards the bed. You feel your thighs brush against its edge—but you push him away!

Your eyes locking with his—both of you breathing heavily, fire blazing in his eyes. In a quivering voice, you gasp, "What about the rules—"

"Fuck them."

He grunts, cutting you off with another kiss. Initially resistant, you eventually give in, moaning into his mouth. Your body grows hotter as you feel his hands roam over your body. His hands explore you. From your cheeks.. to your arms.. to your waist..

Gripping his fluffy black hair, you moan in pleasure. Your hands grips the edges of his shirt.. before sliding them.. desperate to have a taste of what's under. His skin feels soft under your fingers—

"Leave him."

Tyler whispers against your lips. Your heart skips a beat. If only he knew you had let Dom go since—

You push him away—hands flat on his chest, holding a good few inches so his face is away from yours. The two of you pant, an aftermath of his fiery kiss. Cavill's hazy gaze burns through yours as he's about to lean to you again—and you slap him lightly!

"Ty—! We really.. can't do this!"

Like a switch flipped, you notice how his eyes clear—as if waking from a witchcraft. Tyler blinks, the haze lifting. He stares at you, breathing hard, hands still resting on your shoulders. You both stand there, frozen—until you notice his eyes shift, irritation replacing the confusion. In a sudden, jagged movement, he pulls his hands away from you, recoiling.

"So you really won't leave him?" he fumes, his voice raw with disbelief, "even after all this—"

"Ty we're bestfriends for God's sake—and the rules—"

"You really love messing with people's feelings, huh?" he snaps, taking a step back—face now contorts into one of a grimace.

Letting out a scoff, you feel tension peaks to the crown of your head, causing you to snap back, "Like you don't?! Like using people to run from your feelings isn't your fucking habit?!"

"Fine! We're the same then!" he shouts, eyes blazing. Silence falls between you, both of you panting from the intense arguing. Your eyebrows knit in serious judgment—

"Then let's date."

Tyler's tone fiery, eyes locked onto yours. You freeze, the audacity of his words hitting you like a shockwave. You're about to open your mouth but close it—speechless at his sudden offer.

"I know your feelings. You know mine. Let's date."

He adds. Both of your eyes soften as you search each other's eyes. The intensity of his gaze is almost too much to bear—yet you can't look away. The fire in his eyes mirrors your own, and for a moment, you wonder if he's right. If maybe.. just maybe.. the chaos between you could finally be something more, something.. real. The room feels like it's closing in—but then you remember—

"You're insane—how are you so. selfish?!" you begin, but he cuts you off.

"Selfish?! I am using logic right now! Let's stop pretending—and be real with each other! Now we know how we feel, then let's be together! Leave Dom!" he demands, stepping closer again, his eyes burning with desperation.

"No! You have Lucy, Ty!"

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"Still—!"

"Enough with the excuses, Emilia!"

"Ty—Ty please.. you're usually the logical one here!" you tremble. Now there's only a small distance between you as you whimper, "We shouldn't cross the line—" when, reluctant but sure, he brushes the hair that's been bothering you.. and tucks them behind your ears. Your breathing gets harder as your heart pounds in your chest. Without realizing it, you lean into his hand, causing him to graze your cheek. Even his touch feels so electric now.

He stares at you for a long time, thinking. When your eyes meet his in a desperate gaze.. it feels like he just breathed fresh air for the first time. Determination returns to his demeanor as he whispers,

"We crossed the line, Winters. Might as well just land where we always wanted.." his voice is softer, persuading you—but you step back.

"It's not that simple, Ty!"

In frustration, he demands in agony, "What is it?! What else is the problem—"

"I'M SCARED, TY!"

Your outburst hangs in the air, the raw emotion cutting through the tension. Tears stream down your face as you struggle to catch your breath and his face softens, the anger draining away. His eyes surveys your torment as you continue,

"You know why?! Because the scariest part of starting a relationship with your bestfriend is knowing that one day—it has to end!"

Frowning, he lets out a sharp exhale, assuring, "Em, I told you I won't ever leave you—"

"There might be millions of sad songs in this world—and all of that couldn't even compare to the hurt I'm having right now. So if you're asking me to risk losing you after I lost everything, you're fucking cruel, Ty. Whether in sickness or in health—but that doesn't matter because it'll hurt either fucking way! And I don't want to be hurt anymore. Not after—"

You stammer, voice breaking. Tyler looks stricken, guilt washing over him as he realizes the depth of your pain. He's worried he could say something wrong—but still, in determination, he suggests, "Or it could save us?" he counters, his hands reaching out to gently cup your face. "Please, just take a chance. With me."

Shaking your head at his words, you tremble. "Are you hearing me at all, Ty?! I don't think you understand how scared I am of losing you—"

"You think I don't—"

"I'd rather break my heart than our friendship! We made the rules for a reason! Right, Ty–"

He tries so hard to understand where you're coming from. To grasp the magnitude of your fear—but it's too much. It's overwhelming. His feelings.. your neverending rejection..

Something in him snaps. Hearing the sickening fear over and over again.. the 'bestfriend' word.. the 'friendship' you cherished so much. The fucking rules. It burns something within him like a dangerous acid. And since what he wants and what you want never aligns..

Might as well keep the loop.

Clenching his hands, he notices how his wrists tightens around something steely. Darting his eyes on it, he surveys the way the two-line string circles his hands like a curse. How the silvery plates are just there, cold. Like the feeling of tears you two have shed because of this curse. A feeling that has built up moments after moments—making him despise the color so much—

SNAP!

The sound of the string breaking is sharp, resonating in the silent room. Tyler's eyes, filled with a mix of anger and sadness, meet yours. Shocked, you clutch your chest as you watch the dangling silvery plates scatter on the floor. The floss string lands near you with a gentle flourish, a stark contrast to how your heart harshly breaks into a million pieces. Everything that has been strained between you is now scattered before you both.

"Do you see now?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper as he reprimands, "I don't care about the rules anymore."

His words hit you like a sledgehammer. You stare at the broken bracelet, the finality sinking in. The bond that once held you together as something eternal has shattered along with the black and blue bracelet. Tears stream down your face as you step back, overwhelmed by the enormity of what just happened. Devastated, tears flow freely down your cheeks as you look at Tyler with hurt in your eyes. Desperately hoping to find a hint of remorse or regret, you search his eyes—but coldly, Tyler just stares back at you as he declares,

"We're not bestfriends anymore."

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Cecylia Costania @rcpcswrites

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The song that matches this Chapter's vibe:

https://youtu.be/qAJr0bzOe6A