Another last ring, another missed call.

Another text, another apology.

Another sweet dream, and another day of missing you.

It had been five months since Reimi began dating Lloyd and it had been pure bliss and happiness...apart from the last six weeks. Lloyd had become progressively busier due to it being an important time at his university and still had shifts at the coffee shop. And as for her, well, since the gallery debut, her popularity and work demand had sky rocketed. She had been working on new art pieces, been contacted by over ten different galleries across the country to hold her work, and had even started a few side projects.

So, Reimi could understand that it was no one's fault that she and Lloyd hadn't been able to properly be with each other for over a month now. But... what did bother her was Lloyd's seemingly indifference towards the fact that they hadn't seen each other in a long while. He didn't seem bothered at all.

For the first few weeks, she tried to be understanding despite how disappointed she was when they were unable to meet. When it reached a month with only a few, quick phone calls and texts, she was miserable. By now she was distraught. She liked Lloyd so much but she was starting to have doubts the feelings were mutual.

Does he not like me any more?

Did he become bored of me?

Did he ever like me?

Did I get too arrogant?

Was I disillusioned?

Then, after a night full of tears and inner debate, she made a decision.

She was going to confront him. If he had given up on the relationship she had the right to know. Get the grieving process over and done with.

...

'As if it'd be that easy,' Her mind echoed sadly as she curled herself up into a ball in a futile attempt to defend herself from her own thoughts and visions of the days ahead.

And as she assumed, her conviction wavered as soon as she saw him through the coffee shop window. He was smiling and serving a young man, being his usual friendly self. She continued to watch until she noticed some customers sitting on the other side of the window looking at her strangely. She blushed and embarrassedly fumbled out of view.

Leaning against the brick wall beside the window, she took a deep breath, hoping to inhale some fibres of courage. It was seven minutes until he took lunch and she was planning to catch him at the employee exit. Most people would be shooed away but Reimi had become well know to the other employees as Lloyd's 'adorable girlfriend' and was always allowed to hover outside the employee area to wait for him. Some of them would even stop and chat with her until Lloyd arrived.

As she waited, she couldn't help but wonder if Lloyd might have mentioned anything to them...

And then the door groaned the same way it always did, its weight pulled against the rusty hinges that struggled to support it. Reimi silently yet sharply inhaled, dreading to see the person she had grown to love. Her heart raced and she subconsciously prayed to see one of his colleagues.

But she already knew, just by the way the door opened, effortlessly though slightly hastily, that it was him.

He looked shocked, "Reimi? Is that you?"

Who else was he expecting?

Not even happy to see me...

"I thought you were busy today," he continued.

Am I a bother?

"Reimi?" His eyebrows had furrowed and he took a few steps closer to her which she retracted by stepping back in unison.

"Ah-" Her voice came out in a rasp, like she hadn't spoken in a long while.

No, I have to do this...

"...Lloyd, let's break up," She said softly but clearly.

At first he didn't seem to react.

Right...

Reimi's throat was hot. Her eyes stung. And as she was about to take her leave into misery, Lloyd's expression changed which halted her tsunami of heart break and she was overcome with confusion and worry.

Lloyd...he looked like he was in pain. He was gritting his teeth, clenching his eyes shut tight and his fists were balled up like vices.

"L-Lloyd ? Are you okay?" Despite the current situation and her overflowing feelings, she couldn't help but panic that he might be hurt or sick.

He seemed to calm down a little at that, well, Reimi thought he had but when he lifted his head back up to face her, he seemed kind of angry. It looked like he was having some inner war.

"...Okay...can I ask why?" His voice was solemn, and apart from his eyes, he held no real form of emotion.

Still in shock, Reimi almost forgot he had asked her a question.

"...well...I mean, it's what's-er- you want, what we want,"

"What?! I don't want this."

"Y-yes you do..." She was staying strong, not letting her tears fall but unbeknownst to her the struggle and misery still shone through and Lloyd could see how hard this was for her.

"...Reimi, what are you thinking? Tell me," he gently encouraged, his expression becoming softer.

Reimi bit her lip.

It doesn't matter any more.

I'm tired.

Reimi inwardly sighed and braced herself.

"Lloyd. I love you. I love you so much. I know that's probably really scary for you. I know it's only been five months but it's true. The last month though... I know we've both b-become really busy a-and it's no one's fault, I know that. I do. But...I've been miserable not being able to see you and talk to you," After the first line the dams had broken and she had been cry thing through her entire speech but at that point she just didn't care.

"And I can tell that you don't feel the same... You weren't affected at all. Y-you noticed it too, right? You're too kind to have broken up with me b-but that's not kind. That's cruel. Even though I love you, I don't want to be in a one-sided relationship. I deserve to love and be loved... But t-this, this, it's just a waste of my time and energy. I-I'm not saying you're not worth it-because you are,"

"But I-I, like everyone else, have the right to want more, so-"

And Lloyd was hugging her. Well, smothering her.

"We're not breaking up."

"W-wh-"

"I love you too. I loved you ages ago but I never got the chance to say it. No, I should have found a time to tell you! It was important. I love you, Reimi. I love you so much. And I'm so sorry but you're wrong about what you said. It did affect me! I thought of you all the time. I wrote down things that I wanted to tell you, so, that when we finally found the time to meet I'd be able to talk about them with you.

"I was always worried you'd forget about me or that you were bored of me. I even started to avoid some of your calls, always afraid you'd break up with me. I was a coward and I'm sorry. Please tell me when you're feeling worried or insecure and I'll tell you how I feel too," He pulled away slightly, and looking into her eyes, he cupped her cheeks in his hands and let his thumbs wipe away her tears.

"Please don't say you want to break up or that you're wasting your time,"

"I don't...believe you," she choked out; despite her hands lovingly coming up to lightly hold his wrists.

"It's true," He whispered with a small smile before he slowly leaned in and kissed her gently.

He, then, rested his head on hers. They stayed there for a while before Reimi slowly pulled away a little.

"I'm sorry for making you insecure, Lloyd."

"Yeah, you as well. I love you."

"I love you too," Reimi smiled beautifully, "Do you have to go back soon?"

"Yeah..." He started as he rubbed the back of his head, "I was thinking I might just quit,"

"What, really? Why?" Reimi asked surprised at the sudden news.

"Well, I only stayed because the place reminded me of you. And when we started seeing each other less... I guess I was clinging to it like it was our only link," He finished sheepishly.

"Lloyd..."

"But that was stupid. As it was part of the reason I've been busier."

"Y-you don't have to do that,"

"I really want to,"

Reimi smiled wide and happily.

"But I don't really want to leave them short-handed by just leaving-"

"Don't worry, we've got you covered!" The employee door suddenly opened and a bunch of Lloyd's colleagues burst out.

"Wha!" Lloyd exclaimed, "Wait... Have you guys been-"

"Listened to the whole thing," A colleague with long blonde hair bluntly (and shamelessly) admitted.

"Goddamnit, guys!"

"Hey, we had to hear you whine and mope around these past six weeks," Another chimed in.

"And it's kind of lame how you always sighed over that photo in your wallet..." And another.

"Hey!" Lloyd barked embarrassedly.

"Ahahaha, just go already!"

Reimi and a blushing Lloyd thanked them before running off together.

a/n: realise that they said I love you in the original fic but...just pretendddddd