Note:
"WAHHH ITS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I PUBLISHED A CHAPTER, HUHU I AM SO SORRY!! I WAS BUSY WITH MY PROJECTS AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO POST, I AM SO SORRY!"
"Still busy, but I might publish twice a week only now.... So so sorry!"
Warning:
Claire
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Chapter 27: “Lines Drawn in Silence”
The weeks dragged on, and the tension between Ray and Matthew only deepened. Ray’s resolve to keep his distance hadn’t wavered, but it was wearing him thin. The weight of Claire’s cruel words was like a chain around his neck, and every time he saw Matthew, the guilt grew heavier.
Meanwhile, Matthew was struggling to make sense of it all. The friendship he had treasured for years now felt like it was slipping through his fingers, and he was powerless to stop it.
---
In the hallway, before lunch
Matthew walked past Ray’s locker, hoping to catch his eye. Instead, Ray closed the door without so much as a glance in his direction.
“Ray, wait,” Matthew called out, stepping closer.
Ray froze but didn’t turn around. “What is it, Matt?” His voice was flat, almost emotionless.
“Why are you avoiding me?” Matthew demanded, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “You can’t keep pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.”
“I’m not pretending,” Ray said curtly.
“Then talk to me!” Matthew said, his voice rising. “What happened? What changed?”
Ray clenched his fists at his sides, willing himself to stay calm. “Nothing changed, Matthew. I just need space.”
“Space?” Matthew echoed, his voice laced with disbelief. “From me? Since when do you need space from your best friend?”
Ray flinched at the word best friend. “Maybe it’s for the best,” he muttered before walking away, leaving Matthew standing there, his heart pounding with hurt and confusion.
---
At the cafeteria
Claire watched the exchange from her table, a sly smile playing on her lips. She leaned closer to Vivianne, who was sitting beside her.
“See that?” Claire whispered, nodding toward Matthew. “It’s like I told you—Ray’s just a leech. He’s finally showing his true colors.”
Vivianne raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “And why do you care so much? Shouldn’t you be minding your own business?”
Claire’s smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered. “I’m just looking out for Matthew. Someone has to.”
Vivianne hummed noncommittally, her gaze drifting toward the doors where Jarren and Ray had just entered the cafeteria together.
---
At Ray and Jarren’s table
“Let me guess,” Jarren said, smirking. “That was Matthew, wasn’t it?”
Ray sighed, poking at his food with his fork. “Yeah.”
“You’re really sticking to this avoidance thing, huh?” Jarren said, leaning back in his chair.
“It’s for the best,” Ray muttered.
“Says who?” Jarren asked, his tone challenging.
Ray didn’t answer, but his silence spoke volumes.
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For Him, I Stayed
RomanceTitle: For Him, I Stayed shi0shi_ (This was originally named as "Love Her, Not Me") "He searched the world for love, never seeing it with him all along." Ray and Matthew met as freshmen in high school, instantly bonding over shared interests and a...
