My love ,marshmallow (4)
The morning sun slipped through gauzy curtains, pooling gold across the floor of Room 304.
Lian stirred, hair flopped over his eyes, hoodie slipping off one shoulder. Ryder was already awake sitting, back against headboard, scrolling lazily through his phone. When he looked down and saw Lian curled beside him like that—face relaxed, still sleepy—something in his chest fluttered.
Ryder
*smile* get up sleepy head
Lian
Argh *groan in annoyance* nooo
Lian
*again snuggle into blanket*
Ryder
*pinch his cheek* noo more sleeping get up or else we will be late for breakfast 😁😁
Lian
*groaned in annoyance* okkk idiot
After few mins they got dressed and joined their friends in the breakfast lounge. The table was loud with sleepy laughs, bed hair, mismatched socks, and way too much syrup.
Ryder
*Sat beside Lian, as always. Unconsciously. Naturally*
And when Jay tried to ask Lian to walk with him to the local bazaar, Ryder cut in without thinking
Lian
*Blinked up at him, surprised for a second. But then he smiled soft, easy and nodded* 😁
Lian
Yeah. We have plans.😄
none of them know what plans were, so they took a little stroll to market to shop and then decided to watch a movie in this cozy environment
They spent the afternoon wrapped in a blanket burrito, legs tangled on the bed, snacks scattered between them. The movie was light and silly, and Lian kept giggling at the dumbest parts.
Ryder watched the screen.
But more often, he watched him.
He didn’t know when he fell asleep. Only that when he woke up again, Lian was curled up next to him, breathing softly.
And something in Ryder—something low and warm—settled just a little deeper.
By evening, the hotel buzzed with energy again. Their group was already dressing up, doing hair, fighting over accessories and mirrors. Ryder tugged on a black shirt, messing with the buttons, while Lian tried three different jackets before giving up and change the whole outfit AGAIN.....
Lian
Do I look like I belong in a club, or a boy band?
Lian rolled his eyes and smacked his shoulder with a hanger.
The club pulsed with bass, lights flickering over the crowd like strobes of color and chaos. Everyone was laughing, drinking, dancing.
Ryder stayed close to Lian
Even when two girls came over and tried to flirt—one leaning in close, fingers tracing the rim of his glass—Ryder didn’t even glance at them. He just tilted his head toward Lian, who was laughing with some friends near the dancing floor.
Ryder
*refused softly and said*
Not tonight.
*like he was convincing himself*
Ryder
*Leaned against the counter, the rim of cold glass of whiskey touched his lips, but he didn’t drink*
His gaze was fixed across the room.
Jay had his arm around Lian again—too casually, too easily. Pulling him close, whispering something against his ear that made Lian laugh
Lian
*Laughing his heart out*
Lian looked like he was glowing—cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling, hair messy hips moving along the beats, he twirled once, tipsy and carefree.
He smiled.
But it didn’t reach his eyes.
Ryder
<What the hell is he doing?
Why is he letting him touch him like that?>
Ryder
*chugged down his drink in one go, while looking at jay's hand placement on lian*
It's bothering him more than i should, he wants to shove that hand away from leans waist and place his own, his hands are itching to touch lian but don't know why
Every time Jay’s hand brushed lower, every time Lian leaned in to speak to someone else, every time Ryder wasn’t the one pulling that smile from him
his eyes darkens
Even he don't know ......
He didn’t know what the hell this feeling was.
But it burned.
And it only got worse the longer he stood there.
The table was a mess of laughter, half-finished drinks, and greasy food.
Lian was slumped against the backrest, chin in his palm, legs curled beneath him, eyes drooping but still full of light. He giggled at nothing—at the flicker of the candle, the fizz in his drink, someone’s offbeat joke.
Ryder hadn’t stopped watching him.
He counted every hiccup, noted how many drinks Lian had downed, how flushed his cheeks had become.
Ryder
<Time to take him back.
Just the two of us. Quiet. Safe>
*he thought*
He was about to stand when she returned.
The same girl from before—eyes glazed, mouth painted, voice sugary.
She slid up beside him and clung to his arm like she belonged there.
Lian
*looked at them ,suddenly the laughter died in him*
bit*h
Ryyyder~ You promised to walk me to my room, remember?
bit*h
*Hand dragged down his sleeve, fingers grazing his wrist*
Ryder’s jaw clenched.
He shifted to step back.
But he didn’t get to finish.
Lian was already rising, too fast. He wobbled, caught himself on the table, then straightened.
Eyes—glass-bright, mouth trembling.
Lian
*Muttering*
Of course. Go. Why wouldn’t you?
Lian
*he turned.
Stormed off*
Something in Ryder snapped.
He shoved the girl off without apology and darted after him—dodging tables, ignoring everyone calling after him—until he caught Lian right outside the elevator.
Ryder
Wait—what the hell just happened?
Lian turned around.
And everything hit Ryder at once.
His eyes were red.
His fists were trembling.
His whole body seemed to vibrate from holding something in for far too long.
Lian
*Sharply*
You always do this!
Lian
You flirt and act sweet, and you talk to me like I mean something—and then you leave. You laugh with other girls, you make me feel like maybe I matter, and then you go right back to pretending I’m nothing!
Lian
I.....I like you, Ryder! *sobs*
Lian
I like you… and I know I shouldn’t. I know you’ll hate me now. I know you’ll go back with her and forget I even—
*whispering with sniffles*
Tears slipped down his cheeks, silent and furious, like he hated himself for crying.
Lian
I *sniff* ...i’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin everything—
He didn’t think. Didn’t speak.
He just reached out—took Lian’s face in his hands, thumbs brushing the tears away like they hurt to see.
He cupped Lian’s face, leaned in—and kissed him.
The kiss was not rough. Not fast.
Just enough.
Lian froze.
His fists loosened.
And then, his eyes fluttered closed.
The next moment—he slumped forward, falling asleep in Ryder’s arms.
Ryder caught him.
Held him.
carried him and took him back to room
And for the first time that night…
he didn’t feel confused anymore.
He felt certain.
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