When We Were Us [BxB]

Kiss

The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the cobbled streets of São João. Everything was bathed in a golden light, the kind of light that softened the edges of the world, making it feel like a dream. Lucas walked a few paces behind Matheus and Isadora, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as they meandered through the narrow alleyways, the smells of grilled fish and freshly baked bread drifting on the evening air.

They had been walking for over an hour, with no real destination in mind—just moving through the town as they often did at the end of the day. But tonight felt different. There was an undercurrent, a tension Lucas couldn't quite name. It lingered in the way Matheus kept glancing at Isadora, the way her laughter seemed to fill the space between them, leaving Lucas in the background, a silent observer.

Lucas stayed quiet, letting their voices blur into the sounds of the evening—the distant hum of the ocean, the occasional murmur of a passerby, the clinking of glasses from the cafés lining the streets. But inside, his thoughts were anything but quiet. They were loud, insistent, crashing over him like the waves he could hear in the distance. The soccer game earlier had shaken him, left him feeling untethered, unsure of where he stood with Matheus, or with himself.

Matheus had always been the star—on the field, in their town, in Lucas's life. And Lucas had always been okay with that, content to orbit around him, close enough to feel the warmth of his presence but never daring to get too close. But now, with Isadora in the picture, everything felt off-balance. It was as if Lucas were being slowly pushed out of orbit, watching helplessly as Matheus and Isadora drew closer, their connection deepening with every passing day.

They reached the edge of town, where the narrow streets gave way to a rocky cliff overlooking the sea. The waves crashed against the rocks below, loud but soothing, a reminder of the vastness that stretched beyond their small world. Matheus and Isadora stopped at the railing, leaning against it as they looked out over the water, their backs to Lucas.

For a moment, everything was still. The sky was painted in hues of pink and orange, the sun casting a warm glow over the water, making it shimmer like liquid gold. It was the kind of moment that felt suspended in time, like something important was about to happen, even if no one quite knew what it was.

Lucas lingered a few steps behind, watching them. He saw the way Matheus's hand hovered near Isadora's, not quite touching but close enough that the intention was clear. The air around them crackled with unspoken energy, and Lucas felt his chest tighten. The knot of jealousy and confusion he had been carrying for months seemed to tighten with it.

Then, it happened.

Matheus turned to Isadora, his movements fluid and sure, and before Lucas could even register what was happening, Matheus leaned in and kissed her. The sunset framed them in perfect silhouette, their bodies outlined by the fading light, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.

Lucas felt his heart break.

The kiss wasn't long—just a few seconds, maybe less—but it was enough. Enough to shatter the fragile balance Lucas had been clinging to, enough to make everything he had been avoiding feel real. He stood frozen, his breath catching in his throat, his body locked in place as he watched them pull apart, their smiles small and intimate, shared only between them.

Isadora looked radiant, her dark skin glowing in the golden light, her eyes bright with something Lucas couldn't name. She touched Matheus's arm lightly, her fingers lingering in a way that made Lucas's stomach churn. Matheus looked like he hadn't planned the kiss, like he was surprised by it, but not in a way that made him regret it.

For Lucas, it was a quiet betrayal.

He had known this was coming—had felt it building for weeks—but seeing it happen, watching Matheus cross that invisible line, made it all too real. The weight of it pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating, until he could hardly breathe.

Lucas turned away, blinking against the sting of tears that threatened to spill. His chest felt tight, as though his heart were trying to escape, too full of everything he hadn't said, everything he had tried so hard to ignore. He took a few shaky breaths, his hands trembling in his pockets, his thoughts spiraling in a hundred different directions.

Matheus didn't notice. He was too caught up in the moment, too focused on Isadora. And why wouldn't he be? She was everything Matheus had always been drawn to—confident, beautiful, bold. Lucas had no place here, no right to feel the way he did.

But that didn't stop the ache in his chest, the overwhelming sense of loss that swept over him as he stood there, watching Matheus and Isadora side by side, framed by the setting sun.

The walk back to town was silent. Lucas trailed a few steps behind, his head down, the sound of their voices a distant hum that he barely registered. The sun had dipped below the horizon, the sky now a deep indigo, with stars just beginning to blink into view. The warmth of the day was fading, replaced by the cool breeze coming off the ocean, but Lucas felt none of it. All he could feel was the hollow ache in his chest.

When they reached the town square, Matheus and Isadora finally turned to say goodnight. Isadora smiled, her hand lingering on Matheus's arm as she said something Lucas couldn't hear. Matheus smiled back, but his eyes flicked to Lucas for the briefest moment, his expression unreadable. There was a question in his gaze, one that seemed to ask, Are you okay?

But Lucas couldn't respond. He just nodded stiffly, turning away before the words could get caught in his throat.

He walked home alone, the quiet of the town only amplifying the storm inside him. His mind replayed the kiss over and over, the way Matheus had leaned in without hesitation, the way Isadora had responded, the way Lucas had felt like he was witnessing the end of something he hadn't even realized was slipping away.

When he got home, the house was empty, quiet except for the faint sound of the ocean outside his window. He collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his mind racing, emotions churning like the waves outside.

He couldn't do this anymore.

The realization hit him hard, a wave of certainty that washed over him, leaving no room for doubt. He couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine, that watching Matheus and Isadora together didn't hurt. He couldn't keep ignoring the feelings he had buried for so long, hoping they would go away if he just stayed silent.

That night, as he lay in the dark, the weight of everything pressing down on him, Lucas made a decision.

He was going to tell Matheus the truth.

He didn't know how Matheus would react, didn't know if it would ruin everything between them. But he couldn't stay silent any longer. The kiss, the months of tension, the slow unraveling of their friendship—it was too much. He had to say something, even if it meant losing Matheus for good.

Lucas rolled onto his side, staring out the window at the dark sky. The stars were bright tonight, scattered across the vast expanse, each one burning with its own quiet fire.

Tomorrow, he would tell Matheus everything.

4o