We're just friends...or are we.? |[ carlando]|

" slip away... " - 27

~ bummer qualifying is tmr cuz I don't wanna wake up at 5:30 am 😭

(Also sorry for not posting much! After the horrible floods that happened in Spain, I've been keeping in touch with some of my distance friends. Making sure their okay and so on. I will try to post daily or every two days, but understand that this is a hard time for my friends and I'm trying to support them and stay by their side.) 🙏🏽

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The sun-drenched days in Spain had become a soothing balm for both Lando and Carlos. This trip was meant to be a chance for them to unwind, a much-needed escape from the pressures of their racing lives. They had arrived at Carlos’ family home a few days ago, greeted by the warm, familiar embrace of his parents.

They were friends, of course, but Lando couldn't shake the feeling that the truth was hovering just out of reach. He wasn’t ready to share his feelings with Carlos’ family, and thankfully, Carlos understood. For now, they could enjoy their time together without the weight of expectations.

As they settled into a comfortable routine, Lando cherished the quiet moments with Carlos. They spent afternoons exploring quaint local shops and enjoying delicious meals prepared by Carlos’ mother, whose cooking was legendary.

Evenings were often spent in the cozy living room, laughter mingling with the flickering glow of the TV screen as they watched lighthearted movies. The whole experience felt dreamlike, and Lando often caught himself stealing glances at Carlos, marveling at how easy it was to be with him. They were creating memories, and Lando wanted to bottle up each one, savoring the joy of being together, even if they had to keep their true relationship under wraps for now.

On this particular evening, Lando found himself curled up next to Carlos on the couch, the fabric of their clothes brushing against each other. They were halfway through a rom-com that had both of them chuckling at its absurdities. Lando felt himself relax into the warmth of the moment, his heart racing not from the excitement of racing but from the closeness he shared with Carlos.

As the plot thickened, Carlos' eyelids began to droop, and before long, he had succumbed to sleep, his head resting gently against Lando’s shoulder. Lando smiled softly, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment, even as he felt a flutter of anxiety about his unspoken feelings.

Lando tried to focus on the movie, but his mind began to wander, contemplating how much longer they could keep this facade up. Just then, the shrill ring of Carlos' phone broke the stillness of the room. Lando glanced down at Carlos, who remained blissfully unaware, his breathing steady and deep. He hesitated, glancing at the phone and then back at Carlos, who was still sleeping soundly. Lando didn’t want to disturb him, but he felt a nagging sense of duty to answer. After all, it might be important.

With a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, Lando reached for the phone. He typed in the familiar passcode, something they had both shared in trust, but to his surprise, it didn’t go through. Puzzled, he tried using the Face ID feature, only to find that it, too, failed. His heart began to race, and a sense of unease crept in. What was Carlos hiding? There was a sudden pang of worry that shot through Lando. He felt an unsettling mix of emotions, wondering if he was intruding into something he wasn’t meant to see.

In a moment of impulsiveness, Lando recalled a trick he had seen on TikTok. It involved using the phone's camera to unlock the device with the owner's face, provided the phone was in a certain position. With a determined smirk, he gently lifted Carlos' head, adjusting the angle of the phone toward his own face, feeling a rush of exhilaration as it unlocked.

- “Not too bad, Lando,”

he thought to himself, feeling a brief sense of victory. He quickly navigated to the recent calls, heart racing with anticipation as he pressed on the most recent caller.