Because I'm scared to say the truth - Landoscar

·Chapter 14·

The first rays of the morning sun crept through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft, golden light. Lando blinked awake, feeling the warmth of Oscar's body nestled against his own. A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched Oscar sleep, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. It was still surreal to Lando, this idea that someone so kind and gentle could choose him.

Oscar stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. "Morning," he mumbled sleepily, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"Good morning," Lando replied softly, his fingers brushing a stray curl from Oscar's forehead. "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I have in a long time," Oscar said, a lazy smile forming. "What's the plan for today?"

"Today," Lando began, his eyes lighting up with excitement, "I'm taking you on our first real date."

Oscar's eyes widened with excitement and a touch of nervousness. "Our first date?" he echoed. "What do you have planned?"

"That's a surprise," Lando winked. "But I promise it's going to be a day you won't forget."

After getting ready, Lando drove to Oscar's house so he can change. Oscar's mother, Nicole, greeted Lando at the door with a warm smile. She had always liked Lando, even before he and Oscar became close. There was something about his kindness and genuine care for her son that made her feel at ease.

"Take care of my boy," Nicole said, giving Lando a light pat on the back as he led Oscar to his car.

"You can count on me," Lando assured her, glancing back at Oscar with a grin. As they drove away, Nicole watched from the doorway, feeling a sense of pride and happiness that Oscar had found someone who truly cared for him.

Their first stop was a quaint little café by the seaside. They sat by the window, sharing a plate of pancakes and talking about everything that came to mind. Oscar felt completely at ease with Lando, laughing at his jokes and listening intently as Lando recounted stories from his childhood.

"You never told me you were afraid of ducks," Oscar teased, his eyes twinkling.

"That's because it's embarrassing," Lando chuckled, playfully nudging him. "They're terrifying, okay? Have you seen how fast they move?"

"Oh, yeah, truly terrifying creatures," Oscar laughed, shaking his head.

After breakfast, Lando took Oscar to a small amusement park. It wasn't crowded, giving them the chance to enjoy each ride without any pressure. They went on roller coasters that made their stomachs flip, bumper cars that had them laughing until they couldn't breathe, and even the Ferris wheel, where they shared a quiet moment at the top, looking out over the shimmering ocean.

"This is amazing," Oscar whispered, leaning into Lando's side. "Thank you for this."

"I just want to make you happy," Lando replied, his voice soft and sincere. He turned to face Oscar, their eyes meeting. Slowly, Lando leaned in and brushed his lips against Oscar's, a gentle, tender kiss that made Oscar's heart race. It was as if the whole world melted away, leaving just the two of them in that perfect moment.

"I could get used to this," Oscar murmured, his cheeks tinged pink.

"Me too," Lando whispered back.

As the day began to fade, they decided to take a walk through a nearby park, each holding a cone of ice cream. The sky was painted in hues of pink and orange, the warm glow reflecting off the water. They walked slowly, their fingers intertwined, savoring every second.

"I've never felt this way before," Oscar admitted quietly, glancing up at Lando. "Like... everything is finally falling into place."

"Me neither," Lando confessed, squeezing his hand gently. "But I'm glad it's with you."

Just when everything seemed perfect, shadows moved behind them. Unbeknownst to them, Carlos and Max had been watching from a distance, their faces twisted with jealousy and bitterness. They had seen Lando and Oscar together earlier and decided to follow them, curiosity turning into something darker.

"Let's see how he handles this," Max muttered, pulling out his phone and snapping pictures of Lando and Oscar together. "If he wants to keep secrets, then we'll make sure everyone knows."

Carlos, who had harbored feelings for Lando for years, watched in silence, his heart aching with resentment. "Send it," he said quietly, a hint of anger in his voice.

Max smirked, sending the photos to their classmates with a few taps. "Done."

It didn't take long for the news to spread like wildfire. Oscar's phone buzzed incessantly in his pocket. Confused, he pulled it out, his heart sinking when he saw the flood of messages and notifications. One by one, he opened them, seeing the pictures of him and Lando walking hand-in-hand, along with a torrent of messages from classmates, some supportive but most mocking him.

His eyes widened in panic when he saw Logan's name pop up repeatedly in his notifications.

Logan: Seriously, Oscar? With Lando? After everything?

Logan: You know he's just using you, right? He doesn't actually care about you.

Oscar's hands shook, and his breathing quickened. "Lando," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Look at this..."

Lando took Oscar's phone, his jaw tightening as he read the messages. "It's Carlos and Max," he muttered, frustration boiling within him. "I'm sure that they don't agree with me spending time with you so they did this."

"But why?" Oscar asked, tears welling up in his eyes. "Why would they do this to us?"

"Because they're jealous," Lando said bitterly. "But they're not going to ruin this for us. I won't let them."

Oscar nodded, trying to steady his breathing, but the messages kept coming. One, in particular, made his blood run cold.

Logan: I can't believe you'd do this to me, Oscar. I liked you for so long and you don't even notice. Now comes your bully out of nowhere and you start dating him? You're dead to me.

The words cut deeper than any insult, and Oscar felt his heart break. He had always considered Logan a close friend, someone who would support him no matter what. But this... this was something else entirely.

"It's okay," Lando murmured, wrapping his arms around Oscar. "I'm here. I've got you."

But Oscar couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, the weight of Logan's words pressing down on him. "Why can't people just let us be happy?" he whispered, tears spilling over.

"I don't know," Lando replied, holding him tighter. "But I promise, no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you."

As they stood there, holding onto each other as if the world around them was crumbling, Arthur happened to pass by. He noticed the distress on Oscar's face, and the way Lando was protectively holding him, immediately sensing something was wrong.

"Oscar?" Arthur called out, concern evident in his voice. "What's going on?"

Oscar pulled away from Lando, wiping his eyes. "Arthur... they found out. About me and Lando."

Arthur's face hardened, his jaw clenching. "Who did this?" he demanded.

"Carlos and Max," Lando answered. "They followed us and took pictures. Sent them to everyone."

Arthur swore under his breath, his hands balling into fists. "Those bastards... they have no right." He watched them, a small smile forming on his face. "You know something...you two... you'll be okay," he said reassuringly. "And anyone who doesn't see that? They're not worth your time."

"Thank you," Oscar said, his voice thick with emotion. "For this."