"What should we do?"
"Go to movies?"
"Nope."
"Then...a date?"
"..." Kaia gave Caspian a blank stare, "Idiot, I'm asking about Juan. He's been so sad, I have no clue how to help him."
"...right? I miss his smile." Seraph huffed, "I acted strong in front of him, but I felt like my knees would give in when the therapist spoke."
Kaia sighed as she stared at the passing clouds, the wind in the campus grounds brushing past them, "If you think about it, it's not so different from having a real friend anyway."
"...true."
"If Oren had been real, nothing would have changed. Because Juan would still cherish him as his best friend, and there would be someone who would have helped Juan when he was so lonely."
"If you say it like that..." Seraph bit the inside of his cheek, huffing, "I'm already sad enough, why are you writing a tragedy narrative?"
"Seraph," Caspian warned slightly before sighing. "...let's go visit him later."
"I think he's ignoring us," Seraph muttered as he plucked the grass, "...do you think...he blames us?"
"..."
"..."
"If he hasn't befriended us, would he still believe that Oren existed? He would be happy, right?"
"Can you stop?" Kaia scowled, "...I didn't think of it at all."
"Then do it now." Seraph muttered, "...I don't want to shamelessly drag my face in front of him after being the cause of such a huge revelation in his life."
"Maybe we should wait for him to contact us, after all."
"No.." Caspian sighed, rubbing his eyes, "We'd be leaving him alone when he's suffering. That's exactly what led to this situation in the first place."
He stood up, smiling at the two, "If he had someone to help him back then, perhaps he wouldn't have copied with his loneliness by creating Oren."
"...that's also..right."
"Let's go," Kaia shot up, "I have enough credits. Skipping one class won't affect my grades at all."
"I'm fine too—"
"You're failing tho—"
"Shut up. Let's go."
Caspian chuckled at the two before they exited the campus grounds. They paused by the gate, "...but.." Seraph whistled, "who knows where he lives?"
"...er..."
***
Juan stared at the window, tilting his head.
"Oren, close the window."
No answer.
"Oren, you're pranking me, aren't you?"
No answer.
"Oren," His empty voice trembled, "...It's not funny at all. How am I supposed to deal with this?"
No answer.
"Oren.." A sob wrecked his body before more followed.
Juan didn't notice his buzzing phone until he had calmed down. He wiped his red and swollen eyes, checking the texts.
With pursed lips, he sniffled and replied, hesitantly approaching the door and leaving it open. Everything felt tense as he sat on the couch.
'...how is he not real? We watched movies here, he cooked in my kitchen— this whole house! He was here—'
Juan laid down on the couch, hugging his knees as tears escaped his eyes. "So you just left me because I had friends now?"
No response.
He shut his eyes.
"What if I...become just as lonely as back then? Will you come back?"
No response.
He swallowed his sobs again, his breath evening out as he thought about it. He could easily pretend but he knew he could not longer be as lonely as he used to be.
Back in high school, he had no friends, no family, and he barely got by with two meals with his part time.
The bullies picked on him and the agitated ones took their anger out on him. And in those days, he only had Oren to feel safe around.
However, now that he had gotten used to what actual warmth was, despite only knowing those three for a few weeks now, he knew he could not longer feel lonely.
He was sad, of course. He was sad that a friend he believed existed didn't exist at all. He was just a figment of his imagination.
But he couldn't be lonely anymore,
because—
"Shush. He's asleep."
"Why'd he leave the door open? I want to scold him." Seraph complained, "What if someone robbed him?"
"Stop being so loud," Caspian sighed, "Let's just clean up until he wakes up—"
Juan fluttered his eyes open, sitting up. Hair messy and face even messier, he looked at his friends. Kaia smiled at him warmly, throwing herself into his hug immediately.
"Hey, princess! I missed you a lot."
"Ugh..she's at it again."
"Shut up, you snake!"
Juan felt his lips stretch at their bantering, and Caspian heaved out a sigh of relief at the sight of that smile.
It wouldn't be anytime soon, but he knew Juan will be just fine.
He'd make sure of it— no, they would make sure of it.