Near washed the cut on his left cheek carefully and placed a Band-Aid on it. He sighed and told himself, "He loves me". But no matter how many times he said it, he knew it wasn't true. The boy sank down to the floor, hugging his knees, trying to make time go back.
He'd met him at school. They both had entered the local high school with perfect scores on their entrance exams. Near always wore white while Mello always wore black. Near was shy, quiet and a well-disciplined boy. On the other hand, Mello was a trouble maker at the school but the principal refused to expel him because he wanted to keep the school's grade reputation up. All Mello got were detention slips he never paid attention to.
Near was curious to meet the other boy who had also scored a perfect grade on the exam. They had the same gym class together and the white-haired boy found himself staring at Mello's body. One day, Mello came to him asking for some chocolate. He didn't have any but gave the blonde a dollar to buy some. A month later, he found himself pressed to the wall, sharing a passionate kiss with Mello.
For three months, the relationship was a blissful one and Near found himself falling in love. Then one day, that all changed. A boy named Matt in his math class asked him for some tutoring, which Near agreed to. Mello saw them spending time together, and became angry. He confronted Near, accusing him of flirting with Matt. He denied it and suddenly, Mello punched him.
The white-haired boy stumbled back, wide-eyed. He held his right cheek where Mello had hit him and began to cry. Mello immediately became loving and cradled Near in his arms, also cry and apologizing. Near clung to him not knowing what to do, when Mello said, "I love you". The hurt boy couldn't help but melt and say he loved him too and that he forgave the blonde.
Every two or three weeks, the same thing occurred and they always ended up in each other's arms. Eventually, he ran out of lies to cover the bruises and cuts he received. He realized that Mello didn't love him but he couldn't help feeling that he had to protect him. That his heart hurt every time the blonde struck him but felt comfort in his arms afterwards, it soon became a ritual he soon got used to.
He also secretly liked it when Mello hit him. Sometimes he would anger him on purpose so he could see the sweet and caring side of Mello. Though Near didn't like it when Mello hit him but he just loved the way the blonde caressed him and told him he loved him and would forever. Near knew it wasn't true but he longed to hear it anyways. He knew he should break up with him and that Mello really didn't care.
But Near loved Mello. He loved the non-monstrous side of the blonde. So he painfully took the lonely nights he spent, taking care of his wounds with no intention of ending it with Mello. His dear Mello.