"Hey Brad, welcome to the last half of our lesson. We're humbled to have you in our presence." The lecturer deadpanned.
He gave her a shy smile, making sure to put on the innocent face. It really wasn't Brad's fault,he had stayed up late trying to finish her assignment and oversleep. If anything,it was her fault for giving them way too much work with no time to do it.
"I'm really sorry ma'am,it won't happen again."
She scoffed and pointed to an empty seat in front of the class, "That's been the excuse for the last 3 months."
He sat down and the rest of the lecture passed in a blur. This was his favorite class so far and he adored the lecturer despite how she always seemed to have it out for him. It reminded him of his mom.
His mom wouldn't be seen as a model mother by many but she meant the world to Brad. She was a little cold and too focused on her job but Brad understood that she was only working so hard for him,his father too. They weren't perfect parents but Brad was fine with them that way. He'd never known that kind of unconditional love he watched in movies so he had no expectations from his parents. All he had to do was follow their plans for him and they would be okay.
"Hi sexy." He stiffened when a voice whispered behind his back, "Have you been avoiding me?" He felt hands wrap around his waist from the back.
"I've been busy with my assignments. You know that Lena." He explained, removing her hands off his body.
Lena was the girl he grew up with,both of their mom's just expected them to get married and when Brad's father had suggested he date her,he didn't argue because Brad was a dutiful son and knew his parents had worked for him and the least he could do is not disappoint them.
Lena was beautiful. Jet-black hair that fell past her shoulders, brown skin that seemed to glow under the sun, big doe like dark brown eyes that looked almost black and a small button nose above her full pink,pouty lips. He could never fall for her though. He often felt that maybe he was just never meant to love and be loved.
She sighed, turning him around. "You know I don't mind if you don't want to be in a relationship anymore right?" She rubbed his arms when she saw a look of panic flash across his face. "We both know that us making this relationship open was just an excuse to be with other people,maybe we should just cut the bullshit all together and find our person, Brad."
"B-but my parents." He stuttered, feeling utterly pathetic for begging Lena to stay when he knew deep within him that she was right. That didn't stop him from being scared of the future though.
"We can talk to them together when we go for the holidays." Lena shrugged, "My parents will understand and so will yours if you finally speak up for yourself and make them realize you're your own person."
He let out a sad laugh, "I don't even know who I am. I've spent my whole life following a carefully laid plan, I'm a son first then whatever it is second."
She felt bad for him,how didn't he see that he owed his parents nothing?
"Well, you can use our breakup to finally find yourself, I'm always here for you if you need a friend." She reassured him. They might have never been in love but she loved him enough to want him to finally be happy because he deserved it. He was the sweetest guy and it was sad that he couldn't even see what he was out of the perfect son his parents had orchestrated.
"Can you-will you still come and keep me company after classes? I don't like being alone." He asked shyly, dark lashes creating a shadow against his pale skin.
Lena gave him a slow warm smile. "Sure,friends?"
"Friends."
"You should come with me tonight. I'm going out with a few friends and it would be great if you joined us, we can dress from my place, I'll pick you up after classes."
"I'm not good with people, incase you haven't noticed." He blushed, scratching the back of his neck,a nervous habit he really should break.
She waved him off, "That's fine, I won't leave you unless you want me to. You're still stuck with me."
"All right, come pick me up at 4:30pm, I'll be done with my shower by then. "
" We can do it at mine, just wait by the fountain, I'll pick you up from there. "
Brad nodded, then pulled her into a hug, the most genuine hug since the time they started dating. There was no pressure on whether or not he was good enough for Lena, just the crushing weight of his parent's expectations that seemed to be pulling him under with each passing day, suffocating him for so long.
He was a boy drowning. A fact known to him cemented by his fear to swim up to the surface of a life he had never known.
He couldn't remember a time when he wasn't being pushed under by need to please his parents and he had been okay with it for so long,he had no idea how to deal with the change that came with the unplanned break up.
He spent the rest of the time focusing on his classes and trying not to think about the party.
***
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO HATE BRAD😒
