𝕴 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉 𝖞𝖔𝖚 ; ʟʟᴏʏᴅ ɢᴀʀᴍᴀᴅᴏɴ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

chapter fourteen: this can't be the end.

♫ ❝She's got you mesmerized while i die. Why would you ever kiss me? i'm not even half as pretty.❞♫

THIRD POV.

                Y/N donned a black turtleneck and slipped into a pair of loose-fitting jeans, the chilly weather providing a convenient excuse for his choice of attire. In truth, the garments concealed a painful secret – a testament to the bruises around his neck and stomach, inflicted by his mother.

Despite the constant discomfort that came with every step, as the bruises on his stomach pulled at him, and the sharp twinge in his neck whenever he spoke, Y/N was driven by an overwhelming desire to see Lloyd. He yearned to explain himself, to assure Lloyd that his absence hadn't been intentional, but rather a result of being forced to spend time with his ex-girlfriend under his mother's strict command.

Y/N knew that his actions could easily be misconstrued, and he wanted to make things right. His heart ached for Lloyd's presence, the longing to connect with the young man who had won his heart so completely pushing aside the physical pain that lingered.

Y/N ignored the pain that radiated from his stomach as he hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder and began to descend the staircase, each step a reminder of his mother's brutality. Upon reaching the kitchen, he noticed his phone lying innocently on the counter, his mother nowhere in sight.

Without hesitation, Y/N retrieved his device, slipping it into the depths of his pocket as he prepared to leave the confines of his home. Today, he wouldn't be riding the bus to school; instead, he would be walking. This decision was not one borne out of preference, but rather a calculated measure to appease his overbearing mother.

As Y/N stepped out into the brisk morning air, the chill serving as a temporary distraction from the ache in his stomach, he couldn't help but think about the reunion that awaited him. The prospect of seeing Lloyd again, of finally being able to explain himself and clear the air, buoyed his spirits, providing a much-needed source of comfort as he traveled the familiar path to school.

Lloyd, left to his own devices on the bus, sat in solitude, a stark contrast to the usual presence of Y/N, The lack of interaction from his fellow passengers only served to amplify his feelings of loneliness.

His gaze fixated on his phone, specifically on Y/N's contact, his expression reflecting the heavy weight of his heart. The comments he had read under Y/N's post had left him shattered, the revelations therein causing a rift in the confidence he once had in their relationship.

As the bus drew closer to the school, Lloyd's steps were heavy as he disembarked, his frown a testament to the turmoil within. The absence of Y/N, whose mere presence was enough to lighten Lloyd's spirits, hung heavily in the air.

Just as he was about to succumb to the weight of his melancholy, a familiar voice pierced through the silence, causing him to turn his head. Kai, a beaming grin on his face, approached Lloyd, his intent clear - to lift his spirits and dispel the clouds that seemed to have settled over his friend's countenance. "Come on lighten up, Lloyd!"

Lloyd's response to Kai's attempt at cheering him up was curt, his words laced with a harsh edge. "I'm not in the mood, Kai," he snapped, his fingers tightening around his phone, a lifeline to the person who had been consuming his thoughts.

Kai, undeterred by Lloyd's cold reception, pressed on, his tone light and reassuring. "Listen, I get it. You and Y/N haven't talked in roughly two days, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world," he said, his shoulders rising in a casual shrug. "Me and skylor once didn't talk for months."