It started with a fake relationship [Tighnari x Cyno]

Chapter 7

The next day, Tighnari arrived at college early. He walked to his classroom on his own, as Cyno wasn't there yet.

He made his way to his place and sat down.

Suddenly, he saw a shadow above him. He looked up and saw Al Haitham.

„ Oh my God, what happened to you?", Al Haitham gasped as he saw Tighnari's black eye.

Tighnari turned red.
„ Oh Uhh...I fell!", he lied.

„ You did not fall. I know you're lying!", Al Haitham said, „ Just tell me what happened. I won't tell Cyno, if that's what you're worried about I promise!"

Al Haitham gave Tighnari a pinky promise.

Tighnari took a deep breath.
„ It's not that I don't want Cyno to know...the thing is, Cyno was with me when it happened. We were on a date!", Tighnari explained as he turned red.

„ Oh yeah, speaking of Cyno, did you hear he caught a cold? He won't make it today!", Al Haitham explained.

Tighnari took out his phone and saw a message from Cyno writing to him that he wouldn't make it.

„ Well then, should we have lunch together? I can get to know you better!", Tighnari said, „ And I will tell you the actual real story about how I got the black eye!"
„ Great! Only if you're comfortable telling me, that is!", Al Haitham said smiling as he sat at his place.

4 hours had passed. The two boys headed to the cafeteria and sat down opposite each other.

„ So, tell me the story!", Al Haitham said as he took out his sandwich.

Tighnari felt nervous telling him.

„ Well you see...it's my dad!", he said.

Al Haitham looked shocked.
„ Your dad hit you?", he gasped, „ God, I am so sorry!"
„ He is abusive. He came to my flat uninvited while I was on a date with Cyno. I was knocked out as he hit my right in the eye. I was rushed to hospital and Cyno took care of me, then headed home and checked up on my flatmate Collei, who was really scared about my situation!", he explained.

Al Haitham stopped eating, walked over to where Tighnari was seated and hugged him tightly.

„ I am terribly sorry for you! You didn't deserve that. No one deserves that!", he said.
Tighnari smiled.
„ Thank you very much, Al Haitham!", he thanked.

Al Haitham sat back at his place and ate in silence for around 3 minutes, just like Tighnari did.

After those 3 minutes, he opened his mouth.

„ So, how did you fall in love with Cyno?", he asked.

Tighanri freaked out.
What was he supposed to say in that situation?

He took a deep breath.
„ Al Haitham, can I please tell you something in private? You can't tell a soul!", he begged.

„ It's best not to discuss here if it's that private. Come and follow me!", he said.

They both got up and walked to an empty corridor and stood next to a wall.
„ So, what do you wanna tell me?", Al Haitham asked.

Tighnari took a deep breath.

„ Cyno and I are in a fake relationship!", he admitted.

Al Haitham was confused.
„ What does that mean?", he asked since he was completely lost.

„ Cyno wanted me to be his fake boyfriend, so that his childhood best friend Crystal would stop having a crush on him and move on. We aren't actually in love!", Tighnari said.

He felt pain in his heart as he said those words.

Al Haitham looked like he had just seen a ghost.
„ Oh I actually thought that you guys were dating for real!", he gasped.

There was awkward silence for a few seconds.
„ By the way Tighnari, can I ask you something?", he asked.
„ Sure, go on ahead!", Tighnari replied.

„ How do you feel about Cyno? Do you...like him romantically?"

Tighanri freaked out.

„ Huh? No! I do not! I am straight. I like girls. I imagine myself marrying one. I can never imagine myself with a guy!", he growled.

There was yet again, awkward silence for a few seconds.

The silence stopped as Tighnari couldn't help it and burst into tears.

„ I hate this, Al Haitham. I am in love with Cyno. I don't ever want our fake relationship to end! I love him!", he cried.

Al Haitham hugged him.
„ I'm sure that he does like you back. The way he's talked to me about you...seemed like even if it was a fake relationship, that boy does really love you!", Al Haitham said.

Tighnari cried harder.