○●○

you missed work today. and you hadn't even touched your books to study.

your mother was going to visit you again, just as she said she would.

but when she arrived, you right away noticed her hostile demeanor and chose not to further irritate her. or at least, you'd try not to.

"have you made your decision?" was the first thing she asked you, her tone remained strict.

you already made up your mind the moment she made that offer to you in the first place. a big fat no.

however, would she comply to your decision so easily?

"i don't accept, i'm sorry."

your mother pinched the bridge of her nose, she had already anticipated your response but was still disappointed.

"and can you give me a reason why?"

"i simply don't want to marry someone who i'm not interested in."

"and why aren't you interested?"

you hesitated to give an answer. it was so clear what you wanted to say yet so difficult.

and you were aware of what her response would be if you were to mention having feelings for childe.

"well? why won't you say anything?"

you sighed while crossing your arms. "i don't know. i just don't want to marry him."

your mother wasn't pleased, she gave you a hard stare which you avoided to look back at.

a brief moment of bitter silence went by before she spoke again.

"you will marry him."

you shot her a puzzled look, while quirking up a brow. "what do you mean?"

"for the benefit of our company, you will marry that boy."

"you can't force m-"

"you will marry him, y/n. unless you give me an actual reason, i won't allow you to continue living alone and let our company turn down such an offer."

she had said many things in your life that had left you absolutely speechless, but this was definitely by far the worst.

you could have never imagined that she'd force you to marry someone. especially while knowing that you weren't the type of person to disobey her so strictly.

she knew you wouldn't argue back. in fact, the whole reason why she was forcing you was because she knew you'd eventually listen to her.

she tried asking kindly but it was all a facade. in reality, she needed you for the benefit of her company.

after all, if she really did simply care about you being so alone, she wouldn't have left you and travelled afar when you had just turned 18.

you furrowed your eyebrows, glaring at the woman in front of you in spiteful disbelief.

she took in a deep breath before heading towards the door.

"you'll meet the boy tomorrow. have a good day."

you didn't bother responding. you kept silent as she walked out the door.

while practically plopping down on the couch, you aimlessly looked at the ceiling.

there was one thought on your mind. childe.

it was clear there was no way out for you. even childe couldn't save you from this predicament.

he surely couldn't fight with your mother and that's what you feared. if you did tell him about this, how would he react?

would not telling him at all be better for him?

you felt yourself shrinking, feeling smaller and smaller the more you thought about it.

even if you'd rather get burnt alive, you knew you had no other choice but to comply to your mother.

you were going to marry that man.

and just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, you received a text from the very person you wanted to forever avoid now.

○
●
°♡°

4:32pm

[ childe ]

childe
y/n hi

y/n
hey childe

childe
today was so weird

dottore brought muffins at the meeting but they were all burnt.

crusty as hell

y/n
oh

childe
scaramouche threw a whole ass tantrum at him too, it was funny

he accused dottore for attempted murder lmfao

y/n
oh

childe
r u ok

ure being dry

y/n
there's smth i need to tell you

childe
there's smth i actually need to tell u as well

y/n
oh really

childe
yeah but u can go first

y/n
no wait you go first

childe
no u go first

mine prbly isn't as important so

y/n
okay

childe
what did u want to say

y/n
let's not be friends anymore

childe
what

y/n

i mean

it'd be better if we didn't talk anymore

childe
what...

that didn't make it any clearer

y/n
it's pretty clear

childe
haha alright nice joke

where's the slash jay lol

y/n
it's not a joke childe

childe
what, ure actually being serious?

y/n
yea

childe
i don't understand

why don't u want to talk anymore lol

y/n
i have my reasons

childe
and those reasons are

y/n
i can't say

childe
wdym

u suddenly don't want to talk to me anymore and u won't even tell me why

y/n
it's complicated

childe
well i sure as hell hope so

it'd be dumb if it was over smth simple

y/n
i guess

childe
this is gonna look clichéd as hell

but did i do smth that pissed u off

or said smth

if i did, i'm sorry but please don't leave

y/n
no you didn't do anything

childe
why won't u tell me what it is

y/n
i told you why

childe
but it doesn't make any sense

what the hell happened that made u suddenly hate me

y/n

i never said i hated you

childe
i can't think of any other reason

y/n
well it's not that

i need to go

childe
wait

ure actually leaving me?

y/n
i'm sorry childe

childe
no don't apologize

it's actually kinda funny lol

i should've known it was too good to be true

after all, u did say u were still processing everything that happened that day with dottore

maybe u finally processed it

y/n
wait this has nothing to do with that

childe
u don't need to deny if it is

i wouldn't be surprised

i guess it just hurts since i really did believe u wouldn't leave me

y/n
i swear i'm not doing this bcuz of you

or even bcuz you work in fatui inc

i just have no other choice

childe
wdym u have no other choice?

y/n
nevermind

childe
r u kidding me

y/n
i'm sorry i can't elaborate any further

it'd just be easier if we stop talking

childe
easier?

u think it'll be easier to just simply stop talking??

like all the times we spent together suddenly don't matter anymore

y/n
it'll be easier than retaliating

childe
retaliating?

is someone making u do this

y/n
no just forget it

childe
i can't forget it tho

y/n
why won't you try to understand my position

childe
bc u won't try to understand mine

u haven't even given an actual reason why u want to stop talking

and when i ask abt it, u completely avoid the question

y/n

i obviously can't give you the reason so why aren't you taking the hint

if i could, i would've told you

childe
there u go again

saying u "can't"

but what the hell is preventing u

y/n
just leave me alone

childe
if u wanted me to just leave u alone, u could've said that from the start

y/n
i don't want to

childe
ure being so confusing

or am i just too stupid to understand

y/n
can you stop blaming yourself

childe
who else am i supposed to blame LOL

y/n
i can see that you're not going to understand

childe
ure right

i can't understand even if i wanted to

y/n
unfortunately i can't do anything abt that

childe
yea except leave me lol

y/n
why do u keep saying "leave me"

it's not like we're dating

childe
damn so i'm the only one who actually cares abt this friendship

that hurts tbh

y/n
no you're not

fml nevermind

no matter what i say, it keeps getting worse

childe
then leave me

if that'll make u happier

y/n
why do you keep assuming i want this

childe
i don't know

y/n
i hope you'll eventually realize that i don't

now i really have to go

goodbye childe, it was nice meeting you

childe
it'd hurt less if we never met at all

but goodbye y/n, i hope you'll stay happy

seen

○●○

you kept staring at the last 2 messages he sent and couldn't help but grow more angry as frustrated tears slid down your face.

but you weren't mad at him, or even your mother. you were mad at yourself.

" PERFECT MATCH "