Lia didn't stop running.
Her vision was blurry, but she didn't care.
She just ran.
Her heart felt like it was breaking inside her chest with every step.
"Why…" she whispered shakily. "Why did you do that… Ethan…"
Her foot caught on something.
She stumbled hard.
Her knee hit the ground.
Pain shot through her leg.
"Ah—"
She gasped, clutching it tightly.
For a moment, she stayed there.
Silent.
Shaking.
But then—
She stood up again.
Even with the pain.
And kept running.
She didn't know how far she went.
She just needed air.
She just needed to escape the image in her mind.
Ethan… Madison… that kiss…
Her chest tightened again.
She turned a corner—
And collided with someone.
Hard.
"Ah—!"
Both of them staggered slightly.
A hand immediately steadied her.
"Hey—are you okay?"
The voice was calm.
Familiar.
Lia blinked through tears.
Ryan.
His eyes widened the moment he saw her face.
"What happened?" he asked quickly, scanning her from head to toe. "You're hurt."
She didn't answer.
She couldn't.
Her hands suddenly grabbed his shirt tightly.
So tightly it surprised him.
And then—
She broke.
Silent crying at first.
Then shaking sobs.
Ryan froze for a second… then softened.
Without saying anything else, he gently pulled her into his chest.
"It's okay," he said quietly. "You're safe. Just breathe."
Lia clutched him tighter, crying harder.
Her knees weakened slightly, and Ryan adjusted his grip, holding her steady.
They stood like that.
In the quiet space near the stairs.
Lia crying into his chest.
Ryan holding her carefully, like she might break.
His hand slowly moved to support her back.
"It's okay," he repeated softly. "You're okay."
Footsteps.
Fast.
Heavy.
Ethan.
He had finally caught up.
And he stopped the moment he saw them.
Lia… in Ryan's arms.
Crying.
Holding him tightly.
Ethan's breath caught.
"Lia…" he called, stepping forward.
But she didn't look at him.
Not even once.
That hurt more than anything.
Ryan noticed Ethan and tightened his hold slightly—not aggressively, just protective.
Ethan stopped walking.
His fists clenched.
But before anything could happen—
Voices.
Students.
Coming from down the corridor.
"Wait—isn't that them?"
"Isn't that Ethan?"
"And who's that girl with Ryan?"
Phones came out.
Flashes.
Whispers.
Recording.
Ryan looked up immediately, realizing the situation.
"This is getting messy," he muttered under his breath.
Ethan stepped back slightly, breathing hard.
He looked at Lia one more time.
But she still didn't look at him.
And that silence…
Was louder than anything.
Ryan gently guided Lia away from the crowd.
"Come on," he said softly. "Let's get you out of here."
Lia nodded weakly, still holding his hand.
As they walked away—
Students kept recording.
Already talking.
Already posting.
Already twisting the moment.
Later that day… whispers spread through school
"Did you see Lia and Ryan?"
"They looked like a couple…"
"Ethan was just standing there…"
Ryan paused for a moment as they reached a quieter area.
He looked at Lia.
Her tears had slowed… but her eyes were still broken.
And softly, almost carefully, he said:
"You don't have to go through this alone."
A pause.
Then—
"If you want… I can stay with you."
"Give me a chance Lia."
Lia didn't say anything for a long time.
She just stood there quietly… her fingers still slightly trembling.
Ryan didn't rush her.
He stayed close, but not overwhelming.
Just… present.
And for the first time that day…
Lia's breathing slowed a little.
Ryan watched her carefully.
"You're still shaking," he said softly.
Lia blinked.
"I don't… I don't understand," she whispered. "Why would he do that?"
Her voice cracked again.
Ryan didn't answer immediately.
Because some pain doesn't need explanation.
Only presence.
Lia slowly sat down on the nearby bench.
Her hands covered her face.
And then—
It came back.
Memories.
Ethan laughing beside her in class.
Ethan walking her home once when she was tired.
Ethan fixing her broken pen without saying anything.
Ethan calling her name like she mattered.
Her chest tightened.
"Why…" she whispered again. "Why does it hurt so much…"
Ryan lowered himself slightly in front of her.
"Because you cared," he said quietly.
Lia looked up through teary eyes.
Ryan hesitated… then gently wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Listen to me," he said.
"You're not the problem here."
That line hit her differently.
Like something inside her cracked open.
A long silence.
Then Lia spoke faintly:
"I just… want it to stop hurting."
Ryan's expression softened.
"You will heal," he said.
"But not alone."
Lia looked at him for a long moment.
And for the first time…
She didn't pull away.
She didn't move.
Just stayed there.
Close.
Safe.
Ryan's voice dropped slightly.
"You don't have to keep holding everything in."
Lia's lips trembled.
"I don't know what to do anymore…"
Ryan paused.
Then gently:
"Then stop trying to be strong for one second."
That broke something in her.
Lia leaned forward slowly.
Not thinking.
Not planning.
Just falling into the only comfort she could feel in that moment.
Ryan caught her gently.
Holding her properly now.
Carefully.
Protectively.
And then—
A soft, accidental moment.
Lia's forehead rested against him.
Then she turned slightly…
And their lips brushed.
Not passionate.
Not planned.
Just a broken moment of emotional release.
A first kiss born from pain, not love.
Silence.
Both froze.
Lia pulled back immediately, shocked.
"I— I'm sorry—"
But Ryan didn't move away.
He just looked at her… quietly shaken.
Before anything could be said—
A camera flash.
Across the hallway.
Madison.
Standing still.
Phone in hand.
Recording.
Smiling faintly.
"Interesting…" she whispered.
Later – Ethan's House
The room was dim.
Ethan sat on the edge of his bed.
His phone in his hand.
He had seen it.
The video.
Lia and Ryan.
The kiss.
His hand tightened around the phone until it shook.
"…what is this?" he whispered.
Footsteps came in.
His brother entered.
"You've been quiet since you came back," he said carefully. "What happened now?"
Ethan didn't look up.
He just held the phone out.
Silence.
His brother looked at it.
Then slowly:
"…this is what's breaking you?"
Ethan's voice cracked slightly.
"She moved on…"
His brother frowned.
"That doesn't look like moving on," he said quietly.
But Ethan wasn't listening anymore.
His chest felt heavy.
And for the first time…
He didn't know who he was angry at.
Madison…
Ryan…
Or himself