Because I'm scared to say the truth - Landoscar

·Chapter 22·

   Lando woke up to the soft glow of morning light streaming through the window, the sound of waves crashing faintly in the distance. He rubbed his eyes, letting the warmth of the sheets and the comfort of the moment sink in. Today was his birthday, but somehow, it didn't feel all that different from any other day. The only thing that made it special was the fact that he'd be spending it with Oscar, the one person who had managed to turn his entire world upside down.

   He turned over, expecting to find Oscar still nestled by his side, but to his surprise, the bed was empty. He frowned, pushing himself up on his elbows and looking around the room. Oscar was nowhere to be seen, and the usual warmth that came with waking up beside him was replaced by a strange sense of emptiness. Maybe he was in the kitchen making breakfast, Lando thought to himself.

   The smell of bacon or toast didn't greet him, though, as he made his way down the stairs. There was no cheerful "Happy Birthday" waiting for him. The house was eerily quiet.

"Hey, Oscar?" Lando called out, but there was no answer.

   As he wandered through the house, he found a small note stuck to the fridge in Oscar's neat handwriting: "Had some things to take care of. I'll see you later. Love, Oscar."

   Lando's heart sank a little. He had been looking forward to spending the whole day with Oscar, but now it seemed like his boyfriend had forgotten. He shook his head, forcing a smile. Oscar was probably just busy, or maybe he had something planned for later. After all, Oscar wasn't the type to forget something like this.

   Still, a sense of loneliness gnawed at him. He decided to head to the beach, their special place. Maybe he'd clear his head, let the sound of the waves drown out the unease building up inside him.

   As he walked, Lando's mind kept drifting back to Oscar. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He knew it was childish to expect some grand gesture, but he couldn't shake the feeling that today was supposed to be different. That somehow, this birthday was meant to be more than just another day.

   He spent hours at the beach, letting the wind whip through his hair, staring out at the endless horizon. His phone buzzed a few times with messages from friends and family wishing him a happy birthday, but none from Oscar. The silence was deafening, and Lando couldn't help but feel a twinge of hurt.

   Just as he was about to head back home, he heard someone calling his name. He turned around to see Max jogging towards him, looking a bit out of breath but wearing a genuine smile.

"Hey, birthday boy," Max greeted, clapping Lando on the back. "Why are you here all by yourself?"

Lando forced a smile. "Just needed some time to think, I guess. Oscar's busy, so..."

Max raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Busy, huh? Well, you're in luck because I'm here to save the day. Come on, there's something you need to see."

Lando looked at him skeptically. "What are you talking about?"

"Just trust me, okay?" Max said, grinning. "Come on, you'll see."

   Curiosity won, Lando let himself be dragged along, Max's excitement contagious. As they walked through the familiar streets, Lando felt his heart begin to race. He had no idea where they were going, but for the first time all day, he felt a glimmer of hope.

When they finally reached Oscar's house, Lando stopped in his tracks. "Why are we here?"

   Max just smirked and knocked on the door. The door swung open, and suddenly, a chorus of voices shouted, "SURPRISE!"

Lando's eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene before him. The house was decorated with balloons and streamers, a large banner with the words "Happy Birthday, Lando!" hung across the living room. All his friends were there, grinning from ear to ear, and in the center of it all stood Oscar, a wide smile on his face.

"Happy birthday, love" Oscar said, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Lando. "You really thought I'd forget?"

Lando blinked, his heart swelling with emotion as he pulled Oscar into a tight hug. "I... I thought you were busy," he muttered, feeling a bit foolish now.

Oscar chuckled, pressing a kiss to Lando's cheek. "I was busy. Busy making sure this was perfect for you." He pulled back, his eyes shining with love. "You deserve the world, Lando. I wanted to make today special."

Lando felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes, overwhelmed by the effort Oscar had put into this. He glanced around the room, seeing all the people who cared about him, and for the first time in a long time, he felt truly loved. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "This means everything to me."

   The party was everything Lando could have hoped for. There was music, laughter, and an endless supply of food. Charles and Max even organized a small karaoke session, much to everyone's amusement, and Lando found himself laughing so hard that his sides ached. It was a night filled with joy, and for a while, all the worries and fears that had plagued him melted away.

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   As the evening drew to a close and the last of the guests trickled out, Lando found himself alone with Oscar once more. They stood in the living room, surrounded by remnants of the party, and Oscar reached for Lando's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Did you have a good birthday?" Oscar asked softly.

Lando smiled, pulling Oscar closer. "It was perfect. You're perfect."

Oscar blushed, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Lando's lips. "I'm glad you think so," he murmured against Lando's mouth.

Just as Lando was about to deepen the kiss, the doorbell rang, cutting through the quiet moment. Oscar pulled back with a small laugh. "I'll get it."

   Lando watched as Oscar opened the door, revealing his parents standing there, their expressions unreadable. A chill ran down Lando's spine, and he felt a knot form in his stomach.

"Dad?" he asked, taking a step forward. "What are you doing here?"

His stepmother, Marisa, gave him a tight smile. "We've been looking for you, Lando. It's time to go home."

"But I was going to stay here with Oscar tonight," Lando protested, glancing back at his boyfriend.

His father, Adam, stepped forward, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Now, Lando. We need to talk."

Lando's heart sank, but he nodded, knowing better than to argue. He turned to Oscar, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm sorry," he whispered, pressing a quick kiss to Oscar's lips. "I'll call you later, okay?"

Oscar nodded, worry etched into his features. "Okay. I love you."

"I love you too," Lando replied before following his parents out the door.

   The car ride was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Lando could feel his stepmother's gaze on him, but he kept his eyes focused on the road ahead. It wasn't until they pulled into the driveway of their home that Adam finally spoke.

"We need to have a serious conversation, Lando," he said, his voice cold.