Because I'm scared to say the truth - Landoscar

·Chapter 19·

Lando pulled up to the house, his heart hammering in his chest. His grip tightened around the steering wheel for a moment before he finally forced himself to let go, his knuckles aching from the tension. The house, secluded deep in the woods, looked as calm as ever. But Lando's mind was anything but.

This was where they had spent they're first moments together, where they had laughed, cried, and built something real. Now it felt like everything was on the verge of breaking apart, and it all seemed so fragile. He wasn't sure if he could fix this, but he had to try. He had to find Oscar.

Stepping out of the car, Lando rushed up to the front door. The quiet around him felt eerie, unsettling. Pushing open the door, he immediately saw it—Oscar's backpack lying carelessly on the couch, as if he had tossed it there without a second thought. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed his phone sitting right next to it. Oscar must have left it here and went to the lake.

For a brief second, Lando felt a flicker of relief. At least he knew Oscar was close. But that feeling was quickly replaced by a sickening dread. Why had Oscar left his phone behind? Lando's stomach twisted as dark thoughts clouded his mind. Oscar wouldn't have just left like that unless something was seriously wrong.

Without wasting another moment, Lando ran out the back door, his feet pounding against the dirt path that led to the lake. It was where they could escape, where they could be themselves without anyone watching or judging.

But now, as Lando got closer, the peace of that place was shattered by the sound of crying.

Lando's breath hitched, and he slowed his pace. He could see him now—Oscar, sitting on a large rock that jutted out into the lake, his knees pulled up to his chest, tears running down his face. The sight hit Lando like a punch to the gut.

Oscar looked so small, so vulnerable, and so heartbreakingly alone.

But what made Lando's blood run cold was the fact that Oscar was perched on the edge of the rock, his feet dangerously close to the water. He remembered vividly that Oscar didn't know how to swim. The water here wasn't deep, but it was enough to be dangerous if Oscar slipped.

"Oscar!" Lando called out, his voice thick with fear.

Oscar's head snapped up at the sound of Lando's voice, his tear-streaked face full of shock and pain. For a moment, they just stared at each other. Lando could see the raw hurt in Oscar's eyes, and it nearly broke him.

"Don't come any closer!" Oscar shouted suddenly, his voice cracking. "If you do, I'll... I'll jump into the water."

"Oscar, please," Lando said softly, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to explain everything. What happened that night... it wasn't real. You were drugged. That girl—she took advantage of you. It wasn't you and I know that. Please, just listen."

Oscar's sobs grew heavier, his body trembling even more as he shook his head. "How can I believe that, Lando? I saw her... I remember her... and you didn't stop it! You didn't come for me! How can I believe that you still love me after what happened? After you brought Carlos to you're house the day after."

Lando's chest tightened at the sight of Oscar breaking down in front of him, consumed by the lies Carlos had fed him. He knew he had to be careful-Oscar was teetering on the edge, both literally and emotionally. One wrong move and it could all fall apart.

"I didn't know what Carlos had done," Lando began, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't know he drugged you until afterward. I was tricked, just like you. I thought you... I thought you were with her because you wanted to be. Carlos made sure I believed that. But I swear to you, Oscar, it was all a setup. He wanted to break us apart. That girl, she took advantage of you because you weren't yourself. You didn't choose her. It was all Carlos's plan to hurt us both."