Ren lay on his back, shirtless, elbows sunk deep into the pillow, knees bent. He was still wearing the black-and-gold Glitch pants and boots, the heavy material creaking slightly with every small shift.
His phone hovered above his face, the screen’s cold glow casting sharp shadows across his chest and jaw. The window he’d launched out of earlier still hung open, letting in cool night air that stirred the curtains.
[Total Viewer Count: 7.1K]
[Followers: 160,005]
[Points: 1,200]
[Influence points: +5]
[Gifts & Donations: $9,403]
『This is insane. Best thing that’s ever happened to me. 』
He scrolled through the fresh comments from the finished stream, a slow smile forming behind his eyes.
A call from Camilla popped up. He thumbed the volume down, swiped it into the background, and kept reading. New comments kept flooding in.
[GlitchObsessed: power’s back in CM but boss-man had us in the dark for a solid thirty min]
[that was chaos and I loved every second]
[real question, are we here for what Glitch does or because this is the only platform that isn’t fake]
[is Glitch a villain or a hero?? @Glitch answer this one]
Hundreds more poured in. His DMs were flooding too, @VillainEater sending more pictures.
『Relax. Re...lax, lady. 』
He got up, set the phone on the bed, and peeled off the boots and pants, letting them drop to the floor. He sat back down in just his black boxers.
The mirror beside the bed caught his reflection. Ren stared at himself for a long moment, running a hand back through his messy hair. He looked different. Two days, and he already looked different to himself.
The bright "Die With A Smile." ringtone suddenly filled the room.
He didn’t look at the screen. His hand hovered near the volume.
『Izzy. You’ve actually got the nerve. 』
A soft grin started, then died as he watched it fade in the mirror.
『I hate how much I love you. I’m not answering. I’m not answering this. 』
It rang a second time. Same ringtone. This time he didn’t touch the volume.
『Done spending the night with whoever you’d rather be with, and now you remember Ren exists. You think I’m some kind of idiot. Not tonight. 』
The ringing stopped.
He dropped back onto the bed, legs still hanging off the side. Then shot upright.
The ringtone again.
『Not answering. Di—』
"Yes, Z." He’d already picked up.
Izzy didn’t say anything right away. Ren put her on speaker, set the phone down on the bed, and dropped onto his back, staring at the ceiling.
『Talk when you’re ready. 』
"Is everything okay, Ren?" Her voice finally came through, soft and uncertain.
He sat up.
"Yeah. I’d say so." He fought to keep the edge out of his tone.
"Then why are you giving me attitude?"
『Because you ditched me and went off with whoever you’d rather be with, and I want to put my fist through his stupid face. 』
"Ren?"
"What?"
"Why are you cold to me?" Her voice had gone small.
"I’m not." He exhaled, picked the phone up, and pressed it to his ear.
『Just tell her how you feel. It’s stupid to sit on it. Say it, Ren. 』
"Okay." The life drained out of her voice. "Good night, Ren."
"Wait." He swung his legs off the bed, feet hitting the cool floor.
She didn’t hang up.
"I came by your place tonight," he said.
"Oh." Her voice flickered back to life. "So that’s what this is."
"Yeah. That’s what this is." Saying it out loud helped. "You told me not to bail. Then you bailed. I’m.. disappointed, Z."
"That’s exactly why I called." She was talking a bit quick now. "I tried calling and you were unreachable, so I left a voice note. I’m so sorry. Something came up last minute."
"I turned my phone off for..." Ren said. "Couldn’t whatever it was have waited?"
"No," Izzy said. "It was important."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Really important."
"Mmm." The words jammed up in his throat. He stood.
『Should I ask? It’d be stupid. We’re not even a thing yet. 』
"Was it Noel?"
It slipped out before he could stop it.
"Seriously?" She sounded genuinely thrown.
"Noel Cavinel," he said, steadier now.
"Rr—Ren." She was wrestling with something.
"Mhm."
"You really think that’s the kind of girl I am?" Izzy lost it. "How could I cancel on you for Noel of all people?"
Ren didn’t answer. He sat back down, phone still pressed to his ear.
"Of everyone, I didn’t think you’d believe I’d go for Noel. You know how I feel about you. You know that—"
"Do I?" He cut her off.
"What?" The mood dropped out of her voice.
"Love me. Do you?"
A beat.
"Yeah," Izzy said softly. "I love you."
Ren froze.
"I.. I’m so sor—"
She hung up. Ren stared at the phone.
"Yes!" he shouted, falling back onto the bed with a wide grin.
『Okay. Today is a beautiful day. Should I call her back? Yeah. Call her right now. 』
He dialed. She picked up instantly.
"I’m so sorry, Ren," she said right away. "I won’t do that again."
He was smiling. He didn’t even need the apology. "It’s fine, Z. Just didn’t want us going to sleep on bad terms." He dragged a hand back through his hair.
"We’re good."
"Okay. Bye."
But neither of them hung up.
He stayed there, one ankle crossed over a bent knee, toes fidgeting, hand still in his hair.
"I love you, Izzy," Ren said quietly.
"I love you too, Ren."
He ended the call with a grin he couldn’t have hidden if he tried. First time both of them to say it. It meant the line they’d been standing on for years had finally moved.
"Yes," he whispered again, quieter this time.
『Best day of my entire life. 』
The phone buzzed. Camilla. Ren held the power button until the screen went dark and sank back into the bed.
『This is like a dream. 』