For Him, I Stayed

Chapter 18: "Fractured Bonds"

Note:
"So uhm... Yeah.. More drama for the lovely Readers :)"

Warning:
Another Drama(idk what else to add as a warning.. so I just add random things as you can see)
______________________________________

Chapter 18: "Fractured Bonds"

The days after that night at Ray's house were heavy with silence. Matthew tried to focus on his classes, on his practices, on anything that could distract him from the hollow ache that had settled in his chest. But no matter what he did, his thoughts always drifted back to Ray.

Ray, who used to be the first person to greet him every morning. Ray, whose laugh used to echo down the halls when they joked about the most random things. Ray, who now avoided him like he was nothing more than a stranger.

Matthew had thought giving Ray space would help, but all it seemed to do was deepen the distance between them.

Claire, of course, noticed something was off. She sidled up to Matthew one afternoon during lunch, her sugary smile firmly in place. "Hey, Matt," she chirped, sliding into the seat beside him.

Matthew barely glanced at her, poking at his food. "What do you want, Claire?"

Claire feigned a pout. "Why so cold? I'm just worried about you. You've been looking so down lately."

"I'm fine," Matthew muttered, but his tone lacked conviction.

Claire leaned closer, lowering her voice. "This isn't about that... Ray kid, is it?"

Matthew's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, nothing," Claire said innocently, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "It's just... you've been spending so much time with him, and now you're all moody. I can't help but wonder if he's the cause."

Matthew scowled. "Ray's my best friend, Claire. Leave him out of this."

Claire's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly recovered. "Of course, of course," she said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "I was just asking. You know I'm always here for you, right?"

Matthew didn't respond, his gaze drifting back to his tray. Claire huffed quietly and left him alone, but her words lingered, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

---

Meanwhile, Ray had thrown himself into his music. The old piano in the abandoned music room had become his refuge, a place where he could pour all his emotions into the keys. He spent hours there after school, his fingers dancing over the ivory as melodies of heartbreak and longing filled the empty space.

The music became his solace, his escape from the chaos of his thoughts. But no matter how many hours he spent in that room, he couldn't shake the image of Matthew-the warmth in his smile, the sincerity in his eyes. The way his rejection had felt like both a relief and a dagger to the heart.

He couldn't bring himself to face Matthew. Not yet.

---

Matthew couldn't take it anymore. The silence, the distance-it was driving him crazy. He needed to talk to Ray, to fix things before it was too late.

After school, he headed straight to the music room, hoping to catch Ray before he left. Sure enough, he heard the faint sound of piano music as he approached.

Matthew paused outside the door, his heart pounding. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, but he couldn't let things stay the way they were. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open.

Ray stopped playing mid-note, his back stiffening as he realized who had entered. "What do you want, Matt?" he asked without turning around.

Matthew stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I want to talk."

Ray sighed, his hands dropping to his sides. "I thought we already did that."

"Not properly," Matthew said, moving closer. "I didn't handle things right the other night, and I need to make it up to you."

Ray finally turned to face him, his expression guarded. "There's nothing to fix, Matt. I told you, I just need space."

"But I don't," Matthew blurted out, his voice breaking. "I don't want space, Ray. I hate this-this silence between us. I can't stand it."

Ray's eyes narrowed. "You think this is easy for me?" he shot back. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to be around you, knowing you'll never feel the same?"

Matthew flinched, guilt washing over him. "I didn't mean to hurt you," he said softly. "I was just... scared."

"Scared of what?" Ray demanded.

"Of ruining everything," Matthew admitted. "Of losing you."

Ray's shoulders sagged, his anger fading into exhaustion. "You already did, Matt," he said quietly. "You just don't see it yet."

The words hit Matthew like a punch to the gut. He opened his mouth to respond, but no sound came out.

Ray turned back to the piano, his fingers brushing the keys. "Just go, Matt," he said, his voice hollow. "Please."

Matthew hesitated, his chest tight with a mix of emotions he couldn't untangle. But he knew pushing Ray any further would only make things worse.

"fine," he said softly. "But I'm not giving up on us, Ray. I'll fix this. I promise."

Ray didn't respond, the sound of his piano filling the room once more as Matthew left.

---

To be continued...