Willow's realization

Willow's phone buzzed as someone called him. A little embarrassed, he quietly took it out and pressed accept.

'I'm sorry' He mouthed silently as he took the call. Charlie nodded quietly, watching him.

On the other end, Adelia screamed, "Will! Where are you? Dad's asking. What took you so long? You didn't get hit by a car or something, right? We still need points to live-"

Before Adelia could say something that shouldn't be said, Willow hurriedly interrupted, "I'm fine, Adel! Quiet down for a second!"

Since he knew he couldn't trust his sister's big mouth, he hung up before she could make another hard to clean up mess and turned to Charlie, "I'll call her later. You should go first."

Charlie nodded but didn't move.

Willow waited for him to go, but he just stood there, watching him.

"Why aren't you going-"

His words were cut off as he felt himself being embraced. Two arms were wrapped around his shoulders, hugging him. Willow was stunned for a moment, but soon hugged him back. Since this guy needs emotional support today, he'll indulge him a little. He still hasn't fallen for Charlie, okay!? He absolutely, totally, sees him as a friend only! Friends do this much for each other, alright!

They stayed like that for some time. Charlie slowly retracted his arms and released him.

"I just wanted to hug you one last time before I go," Although he spoke steadily, his expression was nervous, worried about how Willow would react.

Charlie looked sideways guiltily, like he'd done something he shouldn't have. Even as he spoke, he kept fidgeting his hands anxiously. Willow sighed at his overly cautious nature. Was this guy even the male lead of a novel? What pressing down, he'll be too nervous to even hold his hand!

But Willow quite likes this version of Charlie. This was the first time he ever saw the real Charlie as a person, not a shell of a human whose personality and behavior are mere imaginations of someone.

Taking Charlie's hands in his, Willow assured, "It's okay, Charlie. Friends hug each other all the time. You don't need to worry about something so trivial."

At Willow's approval, Charlie's expression changed slowly. A not very subtle smile covered his face as he waved him goodbye, "I-I'll go now! Bye, Will!" Although a little unwilling, he walked away, towards the door.

Willow watched him go, feeling a little strange. Before, he just viewed Charlie as a book character, just a bunch of words. No, at first, he viewed everyone in this world as mere characters, their life being something directed by a plot. But the more time he spent here, the more he felt how wrong he was. Charlie, his parents, and all the other people here, aren't 2d bunch of words. They are real, and they have emotions. They have their own insecurities, their own doubts. Even the stereotypical male lead who is shown and described as prefect has his own problems. And this is what separates this world from the book it's based on. The people aren't perfect, they're not without feelings. They're not a figment of someone's imagination . They are real, and have their own lives. Even an extra who doesn't have a name is a real person who has their own life, their own ups and downs.

Willow felt guilty. Charlie didn't know, but even Willow didn't approach him for himself. No, just like those people, Willow too had an ulterior motive. Even he, the one who Charlie thought was his real friend, was with him because he was the male lead he needed to survive. Even he didn't want to get close to the boy called Charlie, he only wanted to score points. Charlie...He truly had no one.

But not anymore. Now, he's going to be a true friend. He's going to see Charlie as a real person, not as a character. Not as a male lead he needs to live. He wants to know about the person named Charlie, not the male lead of a novel he transmigrated in. He wants to befriend and treat Charlie in the way he deserves. He...wants to give Charlie at least one true friend.