Invisible String.

6. A shoulder to lean on.

Narrator's Pov: 

Recap: 

After a carefree day spent exploring the campus together with Anna, laughing and reliving old times, everything took a sharp turn. Just as Davis was beginning to open up again, he discovered Nysha's betrayal. The news hit him hard, shattering the lighthearted mood they'd built throughout the day. In an instant, their laughter faded, replaced by a heavy silence as Davis grappled with the painful truth.

...

He sat there in the café, frozen in silence, staring at the table, with anger and hurt flickering in his eyes. Anna watched him carefully, choosing not to disturb him at first. After a few minutes, though, she gently nudged his coffee toward him.

"You should drink it," she said softly. "You were hungry before."

He didn't respond, his gaze fixed somewhere far off. She tried again, urging him to eat the pasta, but he shook his head.

"I don't want to..." he muttered, pushing his chair back and getting up abruptly.

He walked out without a word, his steps quick and tense. Alarmed, Anna called after him, but he did not stop. 

"Davis? Hey... wait, please!" she called. 

She stood there for a moment, confused about what to do with the food, but then grabbed both coffees and hurried outside, searching for him. She spotted him sitting on the edge of the large staircase just outside the building, hunched over with his head in his hands. Slowly, she walked over, setting the coffees down and quietly sitting beside him.

He turned his face away, but she heard the quiet, shaky breaths.

"Are you... crying?" she asked, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

He shook his head in denial, but his shoulders trembled. She leaned closer, her voice firmer this time. "Look at me, Davis."

Reluctantly, he lifted his head, and she saw his red-rimmed eyes, the hurt etched deeply into his face. With the evening light fading, his expression looked even more heartbroken, the sadness casting a shadow over him.

"I feel so stupid," he whispered, barely able to meet her gaze. "Like I was blind to everything right in front of me."

She sighed, her voice soft but steady. "You're not stupid, Davis. You loved her—that's never stupid." She paused, trying to find the right words. "You know I've been where you are right now, feeling like an idiot for trusting, for giving everything. But love... it's not our fault for loving. It's their fault for betraying us. They're the ones who didn't see what they had."

Davis nodded, trying to absorb her words, but the brokenness in his eyes lingered. Suddenly, his phone rang, and his face sullen, eyes flickering with anger as he saw Nysha's name flashing across the screen. Without thinking, he stood up, ready to hurl his phone down the staircase. But Anna caught his arm just in time.

"Are you crazy? What are you doing?" she snapped, taking the phone from him. She glanced at the screen and shook her head. "You were really about to break your phone over this bitch?"

She silenced the ringer and shoved the phone in her pocket, her eyes determined. "Sit back down. You're not getting this back right now."

Reluctantly, he sank back onto the steps. She handed him his coffee, gently pushing it into his hands despite his resistance. "Drink it. It's a little melted, but it's still cold."

As he took a slow sip, his phone buzzed again. Anna's patience snapped as she pulled it out, "This motherfuckin wench..." Anna whispered, glancing at the screen. Nysha had already launched into apologies, her voice frantic on the other end. Davis started to get up, but Anna raised a hand, stopping him with a fierce look.

"Okay, listen here you bitch," Anna said, her voice sharp. "There's no apology or excuse for cheating. You were in a relationship yet you go fucking around, kissing other guys behind your boyfriend's back and you have the audacity to call and apologize thinking he'll take you back? NOT THIS TIME. It's done. Get it? Don't contact him again." 

With that, she hung up and slid the phone back into her pocket. 

Davis curled his lips into a cocky smile, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Anna. "What?" she asked, giving him a hard stare.

"Woah... why are you so mad? And that... that was awesome!" he said, pointing to where she'd stood, practically on fire, laying into Nysha over the phone.

She rolled her eyes. "Isn't it obvious? You're my best friend."

The campus lights flickered on, casting a warm glow as darkness began to settle. The sun was just a sliver on the horizon now. He held out his hand. "So... am I getting my phone back?"

"Just a second..." She took it out, scrolling and tapping on it.

"What are you doing now?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and amusement in his voice.

"Done." She handed the phone back to him, smirking. "I just blocked her from everywhere and deleted her number—before you could give it a second thought."

He stared down at the screen, realizing every trace of his ex was erased from his phone. Anna crossed her arms, watching his reaction. "What? Don't like it? Too bad. You needed to do it anyway. And if I catch you unblocking her, you're gone."

Davis shook his head with a small, genuine smile. "No, thank you. I would've had a hard time doing this without you." 

"You're welcome!" Anna declared, throwing her arms out and raising one foot dramatically, striking a pose.

Davis chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "What, you want another picture?"

She shot him a look. "Absolutely not."

They both burst into laughter, the tension finally breaking, and for a moment, it was as if the heaviness of the past hour melted away. In that shared warmth and silliness, the weight of everything that happened seemed to ease, and things felt a little lighter.

Just as they sat back down, Anna's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, then sighed, tucking it away. "Guess I gotta head back—it's late."

"You're taking the subway?" Davis asked, already getting to his feet. "I'll walk you."

"Alright," she replied with a small smile, and they both made their way toward the campus gate that led to the closest subway station. They talked casually  during the walk, the air cool with the evening settling in, and with each step, the bitter events of past felt more distant. 

At the subway entrance, before taking leave, Anna turned to Davis with a warm smile. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Take care, alright? I'll text you." She stepped forward, giving him a quick hug before waving goodbye.

As she began to walk into the station, something struck her. Glancing back, she saw Davis still standing thwew. "Wait right there, okay?" she called over her shoulder.

He blinked in surprise. "What? Why?"

"Just stay," she insisted, disappearing inside. A couple of minutes later, she returned with a burger from McDonald's outlet inside the sub. Davis's eyes widened, his face lit with surprise.

"Eat this, alright? Now I'm gonna go." She grinned before heading off, leaving him standing there, a bit speechless and awestruck. He looked down at the burger like his lover's eyes, and when he finally took a bite, he closed his eyes—it was perfect, made even better by the fact he hadn't eaten in hours.