Boundless

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 (𝟑𝟒)

Mattheo

I never thought I'd be the type to get engaged at eighteen. Hell, if you'd asked me a year ago, I would've laughed in your face at the idea of marriage. But now? Now, with Olivia? It was the only thing that made sense.

She had always been my first and last love, the only person who had ever truly seen me—the good, the bad, and the absolute mess of a person I could be. And still, she chose me.

Even now, sitting in the common room, the weight of the ring in my pocket, it didn't feel real. But it was. We were engaged. Olivia was going to be my wife.

The first person I told was Enzo. Not because I planned to—I barely had time to process it myself before he walked in on me staring at the ring, turning it over in my fingers like I still needed proof it was real.

He stopped dead in his tracks, looking between me and the ring. "What the fuck is that?"

I smirked. "A ring, genius."

"Yeah, I can see that." He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Don't tell me—" His voice trailed off as realisation hit. His mouth fell open. "No fucking way."

"Yes, fucking way."

"You're engaged? To Olivia?"

"Who else would it be?"

Enzo dragged a hand down his face before breaking into laughter. "I mean, I can't even be surprised. You've been in love with her since before you knew what love was. Damn, Riddle, you really went and did it."

Before I could respond, Theo walked in, followed by Pansy, Daphne, and Blaise, all of them stopping short at the sight of Enzo and me.

"What's going on?" Pansy asked, raising a brow.

I sighed, knowing there was no way I was getting out of this without telling them. I pulled the ring from my pocket, holding it up for them to see.

Pansy gasped. Daphne's eyes widened. Blaise let out a low whistle, and Theo... Theo just blinked.

"You're actually engaged?" Theo asked, his tone unreadable.

"Yeah," I said, shrugging like it wasn't the biggest decision of my life. "Olivia proposed."

That got a reaction.

Pansy's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes going misty. "She proposed to you?"

"Of course, she did," Daphne said, shaking her head with a small smile. "They never do anything the traditional way."

"Merlin," Blaise muttered, shaking his head. "I mean, we all saw this coming, but still. Marriage, Mattheo?"

"Yeah," I said, and this time, the weight of it settled in my chest—not in a suffocating way, but in the kind of way that made me feel grounded. Whole. "Marriage."

Theo was still staring at me, unreadable as ever. But then, after a long moment, he nodded. "About time."

Pansy let out a soft laugh. "I always knew you two were inevitable."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile forming on my lips. "Well, it's happening."

But I didn't have time to dwell on that, not when there was one more person who needed to know.

Draco.

I found him alone in the Astronomy Tower, staring out at the horizon, the weight of his upcoming mission hanging over him like a storm cloud.

He turned when he heard my footsteps, his expression unreadable. "What do you want, Riddle?"

I pulled the ring from my pocket and held it up. "Olivia and I are engaged."

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, to my surprise, Draco actually smiled. A real, genuine smile.

"About time," he said, shaking his head. "I think she's been yours since the moment you met."

Something in my chest loosened at his words. I hadn't been sure how he'd take it, but the relief in his expression told me everything I needed to know.

"You're happy about it?" I asked, still half-expecting him to tell me I wasn't good enough for his sister.

Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't have a lot to be happy about these days, Riddle. But knowing that my sister will be marrying someone who loves her the way you do? Yeah. That's something."

I swallowed hard, nodding. "I'll take care of her, Draco. Always."

"I know you will," he said, looking back out at the horizon. "Just make sure she has the life she deserves."

I thought about Olivia, about the way she had whispered her fears to me in the Astronomy Tower, the way she had clung to me like I was the only thing keeping her tethered to the future she wanted.

"I will," I promised. "No matter what."

Draco nodded once before looking back at me, a small smirk playing at his lips. "Guess that means I'll be stuck with you as my brother-in-law."

I smirked right back. "Looks like it."

For the first time in a long time, Draco let out a genuine laugh. It was short, barely more than a chuckle, but it was real. And in that moment, I knew—we were all fighting our own battles, but at least we still had each other.

At least, in the middle of all this chaos, Olivia and I had carved out something real. Something worth fighting for.

And I would fight for her, for us, for our future. No matter what it took.