among the first things i had written for this story was the epilogue, so here it is.

Nothing has ever been the same.

Brice made a fatal mistake agreeing to show up at the street where everything began. Surprised to see only him, that starry eyed brunet standing there with a bag clutched in his arms, he strolls up to him. He's heard the news a thousand times, something he's been dreading ever since January. He should have basked longer in their time together. Now, it's too late. Time slips out of their hands like a slinky toy.

"I guess—" Brice pauses while gazing Seto in the eyes. "I guess this is goodbye."

Seto swings the bag over his shoulders and shoves his hands into his pockets, as if trying to coney that he was unaware of the events that were to come next, "Four years isn't that long, it'll be over before you know it."

"It won't be the same without you here," Brice shakes his head, unenthusiastically. "It's so selfish, but I don't want you to go. I'm happy you got accepted into Princeton, but that's so far away."

"It'll be over before you know it," Seto insists. "I'll be visiting for holidays, too."

"I won't be able to text you that often, you're going to be busy."

"I'll make sure I'll be able to reply as much as I can."

"You'll find new friends there, I'm sure of it."

"Brice, you know I'm not the sociable type." A laugh escapes the blond's lips.

"Yeah, but will we still be best friends after all that time passes?" There's a heavy silence, hesitation, until Seto sighs.

"Of course."

The two smile at each other. Brice is glued to the curb, watching him stroll away into his car that's packed to the brim with boxes. Seto opens the car door, gets inside, and closes it. Brice gives a wave as he hears the engine start. He watches the car shrink out of sight down the road.

He's fidgety, with his feet refusing to move and the smile dissipating from his lips. There were no hugs, no kisses, no final goodbyes. Hell, Seto didn't even bother to look back. Brice slumps, finally pouring out the tears he's been holding back ever since the rejection. He collapses, shaking and holding his head, burying his face into his knees. Will it be heartbreak or death?

He's tempted to take out his phone, to text Seto that he had forgotten something just as an excuse to see him one last time. It's only been three minutes and hell, it's like an eternity has passed. Brice shakily takes out his phone, giving into his inner thoughts. Typing in his password and rubbing his eyes, he attempts to recollect himself. There, he opens the familiar chat conversations of the past, then decides to send a message.

+

I still love you.

unable to send message, recipient is offline.

+

the end.