Back Story: Three

DAYS passed and soon turned to months, then to years. What they thought was just a year of being roommates lasted until they graduated. They even became best friends.

Charles was comfortable calling his best friend Gab, short for Gabrielle. Similar to Angelo who calls him Nick, short for Dominique.

But that friendship was ruined by that single phrase.

"I love you, Nick."

Charles can see the sincerity and pure love in Angelo's eyes. But damn! That's their rule number one! No falling in love with each other.

"I... I can't... You're mistaken, Gab. That's breaking rule number one—we're not allowed to even like each other—"

"Fvck the rules! I don't give a hell about them, Nick. You are the only one who set that rule even though I never said yes.”

“No, Gab. Don’t do this—”

“Don’t do this? Does it seem like it was my choice to fall for you? How many times have you pointed out that you don't want to like a friend? How many times have you slapped me with the fact that you can’t love me?” Angelo was close to crying but he did his best not to. 

“And I’m sticking to that, Gab!” Charles couldn’t help but raise his voice, but he soon realized the effect when he saw Angelo’s reaction. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout at you—”

“Just give me a chance, Nick. Please. I’ll show you it’s worth breaking the rules—”

“I-I can’t, Gab. Please. ‘Don’t be like that. There are tons of people in the world, please, not me.”

Angelo kept shaking his head. “I love you. I love you so much… At first, I thought it was a plain attraction. I know I'm bisexual, but I also didn't expect it. You're my best friend so trust me, Nick. I just woke up feeling this—like you're the most important person in my life, and I like it, Nick. I like the fact that I fell in love with you." Angelo's feelings were mixed up. Love, joy, fear, and apprehension as he sees the resistance in Charles’s eyes. "Please Nick, give me a chance. Fine! Don't think of me as your best friend, but as a guy who's deeply in love with you."

Angelo wanted to hope. He knew how caring and loving Charles was. He knew for a fact that Charles doesn't like him getting hurt, at all. Charles doesn't want him crying. And right now, he's hoping... Hoping that Charles would break his rule for him... for us.

But he was wrong... So fvcking wrong.

"I don't wanna lose a friend like you but you left me no choice, Gab. Let's cut our ties." With that, Charles left the room and left Angelo, down on his knee, heart getting shattered.

"And I thought he, at least, liked me back," Angelo whispered to himself. He continued to cry and tried to lessen the pain he was feeling right now. How it sucks falling in love for the first time and ends up getting rejected.