For Him, I Stayed

Note:
"Okay okay.. I'm gonna go serious now, this is the time for me to be professional at, Drama."
"I should add 'To Be Continued?' part.. it makes the story exciting.. I think I'm gonna go insane."
"And... The story is still short, I'm sorry for my low motivation... I'm tired and busy 24/7. I am REALLY REALLY sorry..."

Warning:
DRAMAAAAA >:D
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Chapter 6: "Shifting Tides"

It was the start of Ray and Matthew's second year in high school, and things had changed subtly but noticeably. Over the summer, Ray had grown taller, and his once unruly hair had settled into a neater, more defined style. The braces he had hated for so long were finally off, and though he still wore glasses, they now suited his face better. Matthew, who had spent the summer traveling with his cousins, had come back with a tan and an infectious energy that made him seem more confident than ever.

Despite the changes, their friendship remained strong-or at least, that's what Ray wanted to believe.

Matthew had started attracting more attention from girls, a fact that didn't escape Ray's notice. He often found himself watching from the sidelines as Matthew laughed and joked with classmates, his easygoing charm drawing people in like moths to a flame.

Ray tried not to let it bother him. He told himself it was fine-Matthew deserved to be happy, and Ray wasn't going to stand in the way of that. But a small, selfish part of him couldn't help but feel left behind.

---

It was during lunch one day that the shift became more apparent. Ray and Matthew were sitting at their usual spot when a girl from their year, Claire, approached their table.

"Hey, Matthew," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you want to study together for the history test? I could use a partner."

Matthew blinked, looking momentarily surprised. "Uh, sure. That sounds good."

Claire smiled, clearly pleased, and left the table with a bounce in her step.

Ray poked at his food, his appetite suddenly gone. "Guess you're popular now," he said lightly, though his tone betrayed a hint of bitterness.

Matthew frowned, leaning closer. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Ray said quickly, shaking his head. "Forget it."

Matthew didn't push, but the tension lingered between them for the rest of the day.

---

That evening, as Ray walked home, he found himself thinking about Skyler. His older brother had graduated over the summer and was now studying medicine at a prestigious university. The house felt quieter without him, though Ray couldn't deny that it was also less complicated.

But Skyler's absence hadn't erased the memories of their strained relationship during high school. Ray still carried the weight of those unspoken feelings, the frustration of being overshadowed by someone who seemed so perfect.

And now, with Matthew drifting further into the spotlight, Ray wondered if history was repeating itself.

---

The next few weeks were a blur of classes, assignments, and awkward silences between Ray and Matthew. They still sat together at lunch, still talked during breaks, but something felt different-like there was a wall between them that neither of them knew how to tear down.

It all came to a head during a group project for English class. Their teacher had paired them with Claire and another student, Jason, to create a presentation about a classic novel.

From the start, it was clear that Claire and Jason were more interested in chatting with Matthew than actually working. They peppered him with questions, laughing at his jokes and subtly ignoring Ray's input.

By the time the group session ended, Ray was seething.

"Can you believe them?" he muttered as he and Matthew walked out of the classroom. "It's like I wasn't even there."

Matthew frowned. "What are you talking about? They weren't ignoring you."

"Yes, they were," Ray snapped, his voice louder than he intended. "But of course, you didn't notice because you were too busy soaking up all the attention."

Matthew stopped walking, turning to face Ray with a mixture of confusion and hurt. "What's your problem? It's not like I asked for this."

Ray crossed his arms, his frustration boiling over. "That's the thing, Matthew. You don't have to ask. People just like you. You don't know what it's like to feel invisible."

Matthew's eyes narrowed. "Is that what this is about? You think I'm leaving you behind or something?"

Ray looked away, unable to meet Matthew's gaze. "Forget it. It doesn't matter."

But Matthew wasn't letting it go. "No, Ray. Talk to me. What's really going on?"

Ray hesitated, his throat tightening. He wanted to tell Matthew everything-the jealousy, the fear of losing him, the feelings he'd buried since the day they met. But the words wouldn't come.

"It's nothing," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just tired."

Matthew didn't look convinced, but he nodded slowly. "Okay. But if something's bothering you, you can tell me. You know that, right?"

Ray forced a smile. "Yeah. I know."

---

That night, as Ray lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, guilt churned in his chest. The weight of his unspoken feelings, the words he couldn't say, were suffocating. Every moment he spent around Matthew felt like a tightrope-one wrong move and everything would fall apart.

And yet, Ray couldn't imagine a world without Matthew in it.

Matthew, who always smiled so easily.
Matthew, who didn't even realize the way Ray's heart raced when their shoulders brushed.
Matthew, who could never know the truth because it might ruin everything they had.

But even as Ray resolved to keep his feelings hidden, a voice in the back of his mind whispered that it was only a matter of time before the cracks in his facade became too large to ignore.

To be continued...