𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙇𝙊𝙍𝙉 || ᶜʰᵃʳˡⁱᵉ ˢˡⁱᵐᵉᶜⁱᶜˡᵉ ˣ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

V.

CHAPTER FIVE
꩜ .ᐟ

[Y/n] had discovered Charlie playing the Pac-man game. They knew they would find him there, as he often frequented that spot. He appeared to be on stage fifty, clearly getting the hang of the game and breeching through the levels . When he reached stage fifty-one, he smirked and bragged about beating them.

[Y/n] rolled their eyes at his bragging and pushed him aside to start playing themselves, not wanting him to enjoy the satisfaction of beating them. However, he quickly grabbed them from behind and yanked them away.

When Charlie pulled them away and lifted them up, they let out a yelp, which made him laugh heartily "You weren't expecting that, huh?" he teased.

[Y/n] let out a quiet laugh at his teasing, "You really got me," they said, tightening their grip on him, "But can you let me go now...?"

"No. I don't think I will."

"Charlie, you must put me down," [Y/n] chuckled, "I'm scared shit-less."

He laughed as he set them down, "Fine, my attractive friend."

"Attractive?" they questioned quietly, "I'm so far from attractive."

Their words made Charlie frown, "[Y/n]," he said, his voice gentle. This was then followed by the Pac-man game finally announced a '𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥,' "You are by far the most breathtaking person I' ve ever met. As well as gorgeous looks, you're responsible and level-headed. I would feel much safer as you as our leader than Phil because I honestly trust you with my life."

His words made [Y/n]. The persona everyone saw, the one he was referring to sigh, was merely a facade concealing their true personality. They were reluctant to reveal it, as it had already sabotaged numerous relationships — both friendships and romantic connections.

"[Y/n]..." Charlie's voice cut through the static of their mind, "Please, just let me be a bigger part of your life. I promise I'll be with you every step of the way," he was smiling broadly. This image of him blurred as their eyes started to tear up.

[Y/n] thought such a sweet guy deserved so much better than them.

Even through the haziness of their vision, they knew Charlie took their silence and tears as the answer, "Sorry, that was awkward and weird of me," he turned to begin walking away.

Just as he was about to move, [Y/n] threw their arms around him, their pent-up tears finally breaking through the dam. They tried to speak, but it came out as nothing more than incoherent wails.

He turned back around, pulling them closer and rubbing their back silently, not rushing [Y/n] as he waited for them to calm down. He understood that they needed this moment, and they couldn't thank him enough for his patience and support.

[Y/n]'s 'crying fest' lasted an hour, and after that, neither of them mentioned what had happened. They didn't talk to anyone about it, nor did [Y/n] respond properly to what Charlie had said before the tears started.

At present, [y/n] was seated in the fridge aisle, positioned in front of the dairy section. Gazing into nothingness, they delved deep into their swirling thoughts. They pondered how they had managed to survive for so long in this broken- down world. How had they endured, especially during those days when they felt completely abandoned and dejected; so utterly forlorn?

[Y/n] pondered how they had managed to endure for so long. Perhaps it was the survival skills they had acquired, or their innate ability to persevere. Or maybe they had been teetering on the edge, only to be rescued by their found family: Charlie, Elena, Tommy, Ranboo, Toby, Phil, and Obsidian. These people, and a cat, had become their lifeline, making survival not just possible, but meaningful. Though doubts still crept in occasionally, the love and support of their chosen family made the challenges more bearable, giving [Y/n] strength to face each day.

[Y/n] could have sat there and thought for hours, but the surprise of Charlie swooping in to pull them into a hug interrupted their thoughts. They relaxed into his arms while a grin found its way onto their face.

"So, uh..." he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "About earlier?"

[Y/n] took a deep breath and nodded. They knew this question would come at some time, "What about it...?"

"You, uh, said..." he stopped, his tone increasing in awkwardness, "I mean, I could only make out a little bit but I think you said that you'd like me to be by your side. Um. ..so I was just wondering, did you mean it platonically or...romantically. Bec—" he took another pause, recollecting his words, "—cause, I like you. Like, really, really like you and I want to know if you feel the same..."

[Y/n] momentarily gave him a blank stare before letting out a soft laugh, their way of releasing anxiety. This reaction, however, caused Charlie's face to shift from genuine concern to confusion and slight sadness.

"Charlie, I want you by my side forever..."

That was their answer.

ᯓ★

Weeks had passed since Charlie and [Y/n] got together, and things were going quite smoothly. But the worst had happened. Tommy and Elena had recently caught the flu, which was progressively worsening. Their symptoms were becoming more severe, causing growing concern among their friends

Due to the worsening conditions affecting two of their members, Charlie, Toby, Ranboo, and [Y/n] ventured out on a supply run. Unfortunately, their search yielded little. As they made their way back, the sun began to slowly sink behind them, casting long shadows across their path.

Suddenly, the crackle of mysterious speakers filled the air, and through the static, the faint hint of a man's voice could be heard.

"Stand down!" it called out, "The experiment is over, the causes have been redacted!" prompting the group to stop walking.

"What...?" Toby asked quietly, raising an eyebrow, while Ranboo clinged onto Toby's arm.

"The world will reset in ten seconds!" it then explained before counting.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

"Four."

"Five."

"Six."

"Seven."

"Eight."

"Nine."

"Ten."

"The world will now reset."

Charlie held onto [Y/n]'s arm, "I love y—"

His voice was cut off.

[Y/n] now finds themselves in a state of complete amnesia regarding the apocalypse. Their memories of their found family have vanished, leaving no trace of the bonds they once shared. Charlie, once so significant, has become a stranger - his appearance, mannerisms, and even his name have faded into obscurity. Most poignantly, [Y/n] can no longer recall the emotions Charlie once stirred within them, the connection they shared now lost to the void of forgotten memories.

However, Charlie still managed to linger in their mind, like a phantom from a past they could no longer recall. Despite the absence of concrete memories, a faint echo of their connection persisted. Deep within [Y/n], a small reservoir of love for Charlie remained, unacknowledged yet present - a subtle reminder of a bond that once was, even if the details had faded into obscurity.

Word count: 1130

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