My love, marshmallow (3)
Hailey laughed, looping her arm through Ryder’s as they walked along the street, after getting the galeto they decided to have quick stroll through the market
Hailey
You’re not even listening to me, are you? *pout*
Ryder
Huh? No—I mean, yeah. Totally *chuckles awkwardly*
Hailey
*She raised a brow*
Hailey
You’ve been zoning out since we left the beach *trying to sound sad*
Ryder
*tried to play it off with a grin*😁
Ryder
Maybe I’m distracted by your beauty *flirt*
Hailey
*giggled while acting shy*
Hailey
*kept talking, about random things while laughing*
Ryder wasn’t listening.
His eyes flicked to his phone
again. No new messages. No Lian.
Ryder
<is he still with Jay?
Still smiling at whatever dumb jokes that guy told?>
*he thought*
Ryder’s jaw tightened, and he looked away.
He hated the thought more than he’d admit.
Hailey
*giggling*
I’m glad we’re finally alone. Just us. No shadows.
Ryder
*glanced at her, then back at his phone screen. Still no text from Lian*
uh-huh
Ryder
Yeah? You happy I’m all yours tonight? *trying to maintain his usual flirty tone* 😉
Hailey
*Smiling up at him*
Mhm. You’re way more fun when he’s not around
Ryder
*paused mid-step and raised eye*
Hailey
*flirtatious*
Mhm. Finally some peace. No interruptions. No clingy stares.
Ryder
… What do you mean? 🤨🤨
Hailey
*Rolling her eyes like it was obvious*
Lian..... Always trailing after you, clinging to your arm like a shadow, It’s kind of pathetic, no offense.😒
Ryder
*Stopped walking completely*
He looked at her, really looked at her this time.
And something in his expression went still—like someone flipped off the light behind his eyes.
Ryder
*look at her coldly*
Hailey
Oh, come on. He’s always trailing behind you like some lost puppy. Doesn’t He have any pride? he isn't kid 🙄
Ryder
*removed her hand from his arm* you don't get to talk about him like that *a bit cold*
Hailey
*Confused.
Then scoffed*
Hailey
Relax. It’s just a joke ☺️
Ryder
keep him out of your jokes Hailey *said sharply*
Hailey
Right...... But you’re always dragging him along, Ryder. Maybe he needs to find someone else to cling to.
*trying to act cool*😗😌
Hailey
ummm ......maybe someone like ..?? Jay ? *looked at him*
The name tasted bitter in rider's own mind.
And the idea of Lian leaning on someone else—not just clinging, but choosing—hit somewhere it wasn’t supposed to.
Ryder
*Grip tightened around the phone*
<Why hadn’t Lian texted me ?>
Ryder
He dont need anyone *voice clear and sharp*
The silence between them was sharp now,
Hailey
*Looked away, scoffing lightly under her breath*
Ryder
*Stood up without a word*
Ryder
so... You are not a kid too, and ig you can also go back on your own
He couldn’t sit there anymore.
Couldn’t listen to her talk like that—about Lian.
About his Lian.
Hailey
*just looked at his disappearing figure while gritting teeth*
Ryder
*Pace quickened as he made his way through the quiet streets, ignoring the buzz of cars and voices around him*
He just needed to see Lian
Ryder
<I’d walk into the room and Lian would be there, sitting on the bed with his knees hugged to his chest, sleeves swallowed by that ridiculous oversized hoodie>
*thought*
<looking all cute, just like a marshmallow>
Ryder
<Maybe he’d look away first, and he is mad. Maybe pout. Maybe go quiet, but ik how to make him happy>
Ryder smiled—just a little. Stupid. Soft.
He could already hear himself teasing him
And just like that—Ryder would finally breathe right again.
His fingers curled tighter around the key card as he reached the hotel entrance.
Ryder
<I'd say sorry in every way Lian needed to hear it. And maybe, just maybe, Lian would smile again. Maybe he’d call me “idiot” in that tiny voice he used when he was trying not to forgive me too fast>
*he smile totally forgetting about Hailey*
The key card clicked. Ryder stepped in, heart beating a little too fast, a little too loud.
Ryder
<You are mad at me, angel?
Come on, talk to me.
You know I hate it when you're quiet >
*open the door while thinking of ways to talk to him*
His breath caught.
He looked around—quickly.
Bathroom door? Open.
Bed? Untouched.
Shoes? Gone.
Ryder
Lian? *called him out*
He walked in a slow circle, then checked the closet like an idiot—like maybe he’d find him hiding, curled up, pouting. But there was nothing.
Ryder looked at his phone its already dark outside, almost night where can lian go ?
That’s when the panic finally set in.
His fingers curled into his palms.
Ryder
<What if he got lost?
What if something happened—he’s not from here, he’s— too gentle, too innocent, too trusting for this world>
*thought*
Ryder’s stomach twisted. His chest went tight, he didn’t even think. He shoved the door open again, bolting down the hall, panic rising in his throat.
And just as he turned the corner—he crashed into something soft and small and warm.
A sound—soft and startled
There, on the floor, was........
Lian
*Eyes wide, arms slightly out, and a spilled packet of chips crushed under his hoodie sleeve*
Lian
*Blinked up at him, pouting at the mess, hair tousled by the wind, cheeks still faintly pink—like he'd been crying but scrubbed it away before anyone could see* 😗🥺
Lian
*Muttering, distracted*
… I just bought that…
*looking at the spilled chips and haven'looked at the one he bumped into*
A pure foodie ,only cares about his food 😁
Then he looked up properly in intensions to get angry. but......
Lian
*smiled. That sweet, clumsy, practiced smile he wore like armor.* 😁
Ryder its you?
Lian
*still sitting on ground*
But he knew one thing for certain—
The second he saw that stupid, tired smile...
He finally felt alive again.
Ryder
*Didn’t move at first. His brain was still catching up, heart still slamming in his chest from the panic seconds ago*
The faint red around Lian’s eyes. The kind you get after rubbing too hard, too fast—trying to erase proof of tears.
Ryder
*Something pulled in his chest*.
Ryder
*Dropped to one knee*
Lian
* blinked at him, confused.*
Ryder
*Didn’t ask anythingl. didn’t push. He just reached out—gently took Lian’s wrist, checked his palm. Dusted off his hoodie. Ran a soft hand over his hair*.
No bruises. No scrapes. Still here. Still warm.
Ryder
*Let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding*
Ryder
*and then finally smile, the smile that's only for lian, but he don't know that yet*
He stood, pulling Lian up with him, fingers brushing the sleeve that had wiped those red eyes
Ryder
<You cried. And I wasn’t there.
That won’t happen again>
Ryder
come… I’ll get you more. *quietly*
Lian
*Perking up*
Really? 😀
Ryder didn’t even hesitate
Ryder
All of it. Whatever you want 😊
Lian’s eyes lit up, wide and full of sudden joy.
Lian
And shrimp crackers? The spicy ones?
Lian
And those jelly cups? The ones that wiggle?
Lian giggled—pure, bubbly, like he’d forgotten he ever felt anything else. He grabbed Ryder’s wrist without thinking.
Lian
*blushed at nickname but kept hia cool* Let’s go
Ryder
*Let himself being pulled, stunned*.
Ryder
*His heart was doing something strange. Swollen. Warm. A little breathless*
Ryder didn’t know what it was.
He just knew he wanted to hear that laugh again.
Again and again. Forever, maybe.
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