POLAROIDS || L. PARTRIDGE [ ✓ ]

3O. Say It

A FEW MINUTES EARLIER, in the restroom of the building Renza dragged Louis in, ready to tell him all the things she knew he needed to know. "You kissed June?" Louis asked, cocking an eyebrow.

She swallowed her spit and answered, unfazed, "Yes."

He took a shaky deep breath and looked away in dismay. "Don't act so upset now, Louis. You know you don't care anymore," she mumbled.

"I do though," he protested.

"Stop lying to yourself," she replied, "Seriously."

"I'm not. I care for you, Renza. You know that."

"You don't, okay?" She raised her voice and looked at him with an incredulous look in her eyes, laying her palm on his cheek. "And it's fine," she whispered. Her nose was starting to become red as her eyes watered.

"That's not true. I don't care if you kissed June. We can make things right and — " he started, but she cut him off.

"Stop it. We're toxic for each other! Don't you see what the public is saying about us?!"

"Why do you listen to what the public has to say? You — "

"No, Louis. Stop telling me what I want to hear!" She sobbed. "Because right now at this very moment, I want you to tell me exactly what I need to hear. No more lies, no more sugar-coating. Just say it, plain and simple."

He was taken aback. He knew what she wanted him to say, but Louis has no idea if she meant it. "Say it," she whispered. He didn't.

"Say it," her voice was now stern and steady, but he didn't falter.

"I said say it, Louis! Goddamn it!"

"Renza, I don't think I want to continue like this anymore," he said. Louis could feel his hands shaking. The girl let out a breath and chuckled.

"Was that so hard?" She asked. He shook his head slowly. Keese put her hands back to his cheeks as she smiled sadly and tiptoed to reach his lips. With a very hesitant breath, she placed her plump ones to his, kissing him with all she's got.

She then touched his collar, clutching them. This movement told Louis she didn't want him to go, but she had to. They aren't meant for each other. They never were.

Renza has accepted that and now, she has to let him go and be happy with someone else. She also knew she didn't feel much for him.

He was just another boy who made her swoon in a very short temporary time...

And that wasn't love.

Just another case of infatuation.

When they pulled away, Renza smiled and patted his shoulder, giving him that look one last time before saying,

"I'm sorry I did all those disgusting things to you. I think this is better for us. For you. I've been nothing else but a pain to you and Y/N. Not a word about this to anyone please? Just let them guess. I don't want to explain — I just . . . Louis, I'll be better. I promise you that."