In the lingering golden rays of the setting sun, Second and Victim strolled down the familiar path leading home. The biting wind passing through the trees was a harsh contrast to the warm light, but Second, with his head full of stories from their day at school, barely noticed it. He was bubbling over with tales of his day with Red, describing the way Red's eyes lit up when they talked about animals, the way his laughter bounced off the classroom walls, and how Red had even managed to get a snake to his house.

"And then, Red said this hilarious thing about the teacher's hair, you wouldn't believe it!". Second launched into another story about his afternoon with Red, bouncing on the balls of his feet, oblivious to the growing tension beside him. Victim, however, was not listening. His face was twisted into a grimace, his teeth grinding together in silent frustration. He'd barely looked at Second since they left school, his eyes fixed on the ground, his mind seemingly a million miles away.

"Can you stop talking about Red for one second! It's driving me nuts!". Victim exclaimed, his words like a thick, prickly thorn that inflicted a sense of confusion and hurt in Second. Second raised his eyebrows, taken aback by the sudden outburst.

"What? I'm telling you about what you missed! It was actually really fun! It was... it was like-". Second faltered, unsure how to explain the feeling of genuine warmth and joy Red brought to his world. He was used to Victim's cynicism, but this time, it felt like a direct attack.

"Like what? Like some kind of pathetic, happy-go-lucky cliché?". Victim snapped, his frustration getting the better of him.

"Are... you okay? You seem... off" Second's voice held a hesitant note. He could feel himself shrinking in Victim's presence, wondering if he had unintentionally trampled on his friend's feelings.

"Off? No, I'm just perfectly fine, listening to your endless gushing about Red! You've been doing nothing but talking about him all day!". He scoffed, his voice laced with a bitter edge. The wind seemed to pick up, whistling through the empty streets, carrying with it a sense of tension that hung heavy in the air. Second, hurt and confused, stopped walking, his gaze fixed on the ground. He knew something was wrong, something deeper than Victim's usual sour mood. He just didn't know what it was.

"What? I-I'm just telling you about my day. Red was just part of it". Second frowned, confusion clouding his face.

"Just part of it? It feels like he's the only part that matters. You've completely forgot about me!". Victim's voice rose, sharp as a knife.

"Victim, that's not true! Besides, I told you we're going to hang out with Red, but you suddenly disappeared and never showed up". Second protested, his voice catching in his throat. He remembered even Red asking where Victim is and Second felt embarrassed, knowing that Victim probably didn't want to be with Red.

"You did? And you didn't even consider looking for me? Honestly, I thought I was the one who mattered to you". Victim retorted with held-back fury, his teeth gnashing in anger. Second, hearing these words, felt a deep stab of guilt, his heart aching with regret. He realized his actions, born of pure innocent enthusiasm, had hurt Victim deeply.

"I'm so sorry, Victim, I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I just... I was having a good time with Red, that's all". He stammered, attempting to make amends for his ignorance.

"Having a good time? You're practically infatuated with him! You've been practically drooling over him all day. Don't deny it!". Victim snarled, his eyes flicking between disbelief and disgust.

"Victim, I'm not! We were just hanging out! You're reading too much into it". Second's frustration began to simmer, feeling really tiered of arguing about something this simple. But he didn't realize he was making Victim more and more pissed off.

"Am I now? Then here's the truth. You think Red just wants to be friends with you? Don't be naive, Second. He's just some dog-and-pony wannabe, using you to get close to someone popular like you".

"What? Red would never do that! You don't even know him!" Second stared at his friend, disbelief etched on his face. Victim was his friend, best friend. But now, Second's heart itched with hurt, the so-called truth Victim was telling seemed like nonsense!

"Oh, I know him alright. I know how these things work. You're too trusting, Second." Victim's voice was cold, hard. But then, his angry and agitated features changed to a more gentle and kind face, his hand rested on Second's shoulder like a feather. But to Second, it didn't feel that friendly.

"I'm trying to protect you, you don't even realize it. I don't want you to be heartbroken when you discover how awful Red is. Don't you trust me?". Victim's voice shifted to a softer, more manipulative tone. And as usual, Second would put all his trust to Victim and do what he thought was best for Second. But not this time, this time was different, Red was different.

"I trust you, Victim. always trusted you. But I can handle myself. You need to accept that Red's my friend too, and I trust him, he'll never hurt me". Second insisted, his voice shaking slightly.

Red was someone Second never imagined to having in his life, someone who actually listened to him and didn't make fun of the things he liked. And Second loved Victim too, but sometimes, he can be too much to handle, never seemed interested on what Second liked and it always made him feel childish.
Still, Second never gave up on Victim, thought maybe he'll see that Second was trying to help him blend in with all the others students, even if Second himself have no one other than Victim.

"Trust?". Victim spat the words like venom, laughing under his breath like he completely lost it, or just had enough of Second being so stubborn.

"He's already stolen your attention. Soon he'll steal your friendship too! I'm the one who's always been there for you! But you still chose him over me? Unbelievable!!".

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, I didn't realize you felt that way. I just...". Second muttered, guilt gnawing at him, but Victim interrupted him with a furious smirk.

"Just what? Just happy to be replaced? Just delighted to have someone new in your life? You're blinded by that fake smile of his! Maybe you should just ditch me altogether and be his little puppet".

Victim's voice rose again, his face contorted in anger that he didn't realize what he said. Second, in the other hand, looked at Victim speechless, his chest tight and could only stare with disbelief. How can he say that? After everything Second did for him, after years of trying to be a good friend, years of doing every single word Victim tells him without hesitation, and the only thing Second wanted is to have one friend, but just to be yelled at by the closest person he had? It just made him feel... not sad. Angry. He was angry.

"That's not fair!". Second snapped back, his patience finally exhausted, and Victim looked at him startled.

"He's been nothing but nice to me. To you! He wants you to feel comfortable, to feel like you're part of things! But, Nooo! You just HAVE to make a big fucking deal out of nothing. You wanna be alone for the rest of your life? Fine! Go ahead, be all alone with your jealousy and suspicion! See if I care, Victim!!".

Second yelled after Victim, the words stinging on his tongue as his eyes started sparkling suddenly. Victim stood there, speechless for a moment, then fury flooded his face. Victim turned around, his eyes brimming with hurt and betrayal, but he didn't reply. He just cast one last defiant look at Second before disappearing around the corner, the sound of his hastening footsteps echoing in the cold, empty street.

Second let out a long, deep breath that fogged up in the chill air. The streets had grown eerily silent around him now that Victim was no longer there. He thought about running after him but, for the first time in his life, felt like he couldn't 'fix' this. He ascribed it to a glitch in their regular programming, but this seemed so much more than that. This wasn't one of their silly arguments that got resolved the next day at the school gate. This was deeper, darker, something they had never ventured into before.

He felt guilty for yelling at Victim like that, but then his mind drifted to why were they even fighting. He thought about Red, who always tries to bring people together, Red, who listens to his every word, and Red, who understood his heart in ways Victim never did. With a harden face, another decision was clear in his mind; he didn't want to chase after Victim to apologize every time. He had made a new path as a friend of Red, and he was going to follow that pathway through the complications life threw his way.

And with a solid resolution, Second made his way back home, perhaps to spend the weekend in solitude, processing the enormity of the situation.

If Victim wanna act so hard to reach, and if he really think Second would come back to apologize, he was dead wrong. If Victim want to fix things then he have to be the one to admit that he's wrong.

(I know what you're thinking, and I know I said two chapters every Tuesday, but I really didn't have much choice! I had to!!

So, I did mention that I'm at my grandma's house, which is kinda sucks, but I didn't even had any time to write literally anything at all and barley managed to do this. Surprised it turned out good considering the fact that I wasn't even paying that much attention to it, so I'm glad it's not THAT BAD. And it's not like anyone in there gives you space to even relax, especially when all the kids there wants to hangout with me and I'm the type of person who can't say no to someone 🥲.

And in top of that, my ADHD is getting outta hand and I just get lazy while writing or just space out, and I lost my medicine somewhere and can't find it. Which is hilarious!!

So, yeah. Those are my excuses and I'm still sorry for making so much excuses and I really hope you'd understand.

Dark and Chosen's chapter is next!! See you next week ♥️).