NodeMCU ESP-12E (ESP8266) can't connect to MQTT broker

[kookokie]

I saw a similar post to this but my problem is probably alot more difficult becaue i already tried the solutions that were proposed there and it didnt work for me. I've been stumped for a bit too long so could any kind soul please lend me some help ;-;

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>

// Wifi and MQTT details
const char* ssid = "*********"; // Wifi name
const char* password = "*********"; // Wifi Password
const char* mqttServer = "********"; //ipv4

WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(1000);
    Serial.println("Connecting to Wifi");
  }

  if (WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(1000);
    Serial.println("We are connected :D");
  }

  client.setServer(mqttServer, 1883);
  
  while (!client.connected()) {
    if (client.connect("kookokie")) { // Client ID
      Serial.println("Connected to MQTT Broker!");
    } else {
      Serial.print("failed with state ");
      Serial.println(client.state());
      delay(2000);
    }
  }
}

void loop() {
  if (client.connected()) {
    // If connected to MQTT, publish "online"
    client.publish("nodemcu/status", "online");
  }
  
  // Wait a bit before publishing again
  delay(5000); 
}

i've been trying to do a project where i can monitor if a NodeMCU ESP-12E is connected to a power supply or if it has been disconnected by visualising it on a dashboard using node-red.

so basically whenever i try to upload it the serial monitor returns a client.state() value of -2. The board was able to connect to the wifi for sure cuz it returned "We are connected :D".

The MQTT broker i am using (mosquitto), does not have username or password configured, and i was able to update the status displayed on the dashboard using the mosquitto_pub command on the command prompt so im quite sure the broker should be working fine. even the "MQTT in" node on node-red was able to connect to the broker. i also checked and made sure that port 1883 was listening.

FYI i am running the broker off of my personal laptop and i declared in the code that the variable mqttServer = my laptop ipv4 address.

my knowledge in iot is pretty mediocre so i was hoping that maybe the amazing people who are a part of this community could help me cuz ive been stumped on this for like almost a week now.

hopefully i didnt miss out any info haha once again thank you for the help i really need it hahahahahaa ;-;