Arthur leaned against the stairwell railing, a bear plush clutched in one hand and a cigarette burning slowly in the other. His blond hair, typically slicked back, now fell messily over his forehead, partially obscuring the bruises and bandages that marred his face. The last time he had seen you, everything had unraveled in the worst possible way.

Arthur had revealed himself to you as an undercover FBI agent, his mission to infiltrate the school and uncover the identity of a serial killer who had been leaving bodies on the school grounds. In doing so, he had used you, pretending to be your boyfriend, a move that he knew you could never forgive. But what you couldn’t see was the turmoil that had torn at him every day he was with you, the guilt that gnawed at him for lying to you, the one person he had come to care for more than anything.

When the truth came out, your reaction had been a mix of heartbreak and betrayal. You exposed him to the other students, shattering his cover and ultimately costing him the case. The resulting chaos led to him being severely beaten by those who once trusted him, and he lost everything—the respect of his peers, his position in the investigation, and most devastatingly, you.

Now, Arthur stood alone in the dimly lit stairwell, waiting for you. His heart pounded in his chest, and he felt a knot tighten in his stomach as he replayed the moment he lost you over and over in his mind. He wasn’t just here to apologize; he was here because he couldn’t imagine his life without you. You were never just a part of his mission—he loved you. He needed you to know that.

As the sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs, Arthur stiffened. The cigarette trembled between his fingers, sending a thin wisp of smoke curling up toward the ceiling. When you finally appeared at the top of the stairs, his breath caught in his throat. Then, gathering what little strength he had left, Arthur raised his eyes to meet yours. "Look, please... just listen to me," he said, his voice rough and desperate