Jay sat across from Yuri in the dim glow of the café, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea she had no intention of drinking. The weight of the moment pressed down on her, but for the first time in months, she wasn't afraid of it.
Yuri sat back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "So, you wanted to talk?"
She inhaled deeply. This is it. "I can't do this anymore."
His brow furrowed. "Do what?"
She met his eyes, her voice steady. "Us."
A pause. Then, a soft scoff. "Jay, come on. You're upset. We can work through this-"
"No," she interrupted, shaking her head. "I'm not upset. I'm done."
Yuri leaned forward, his jaw tightening. "This isn't you talking. It's Keifer And Ella. They've been filling your head with nonsense."
Jay's stomach twisted, but she forced herself to hold his gaze. "No. They just helped me see what I refused to."
His expression shifted, something darker creeping in. "So that's it? You're throwing everything away?"
Jay swallowed. "I'm choosing myself."
Yuri let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "You know what? Fine. Go. Leave like everyone else."
Jay frowned. "What?"
His voice turned brittle. "My parents never gave a damn about me, Jay. My family treated me like I didn't exist. And now you-you're doing the same thing."
Her heart clenched. This is what he does. Twists things. Makes himself the victim.
His voice softened, almost pleading. "I don't have anyone else. You're all I have."
She exhaled, her fingers tightening around her cup. The old Jay-the one he had shaped-would have caved. Would have felt guilt coil around her ribs like chains.
But she wasn't that girl anymore.
"That's not love, Yuri," she said quietly.
"That's dependence."
His eyes darkened. "So now I'm a burden?"
Jay shook her head. "No. But it's not my job to hold your world together."
His jaw clenched. "I can change. If that's what you want, I'll change."
She gave him a sad smile. "That's the thing, Yuri. You never saw a problem until I tried to leave."
Silence.
For the first time, he looked unsure. "Jay..."
She stood, sliding a few bills onto the table. "Goodbye, Yuri."
His hand darted out, wrapping around her wrist. "Wait."
She stiffened but didn't pull away justyet.
His voice dropped, raw and desperate. "I love you."
Jay's chest tightened, but she forced herself to breathe. She had spent months waiting to hear those words. But now, they felt hollow.
She pried his fingers off her wrist, slow but firm. "If you loved me, you wouldn't have spent so much time convincing me I wasn't enough."
His face twisted. "That's not fair."
Jay tilted her head. "Neither was making me feel small."
Yuri opened his mouth, but for once, no words came.
And that was her answer.
She turned, walking toward the door.
"Jay," he called, but this time, she didn't stop.
Outside, the night air was crisp, cool against her skin. She tipped her head back, breathing it in.
For the first time in a long time, she felt free.
She didn't have to explain herself.
She didn't have to shrink herself.
She was enough.
And she always had been.
Jay pushed open the door to Keifer's dorm, the familiar scent of instant coffee and worn-out textbooks wrapping around her like a memory.
Ella looked up first, her laptop snapping shut with a quiet click. Keifer,sprawled across the couch in his usual lazy sprawl, barely acknowledged her.
"So," Ella asked, her voice gentle. "How did it go?"
Keifer, still not looking up, let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh look, the prodigal idiot returns."
Jay rolled her eyes. "Not now, Keif."
He smirked. "What, no grand speech?
No heartfelt monologue about how you finally saw the light and ditched Captain Walking Red Flag?"
Ella shot him a warning look before turning back to Jay. "How do you feel?"
Jay took a deep breath. "Like I can finally breathe again."
Keifer studied her for a moment before nodding. "Well, at least you finally pulled your head out of the fog."
Ella gave her a small smile. "That's the first step."
Jay hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what the next one is."
Keifer crossed his arms. "Step two: never let anyone make you doubt yourself again."
Jay let out a weak chuckle. "Easier said than done."
Keifer smirked. "Step three: allow your friends to absolutely roast you for all the terrible decisions you've made."
Jay groaned. "Oh, come on-"
Keifer held up a finger. "Nope. You owe us this." He clapped his hands together. "And that concludes the most painfully obvious realization in history.
Seriously, Jay, I could've told you this
months ago."
Jay flopped onto the couch with a groan. "I know, Keif."
"But did you really?" He sat up, eyes glinting. "Because last time I checked, you were still the president of the 'Maybe He'll Change' fan club."
Ella shot him another glare. "Keifer."
"No, no, let's dissect this," he continued, rubbing his hands together like an overenthusiastic villain. "Tell us, Jay, how did the groundbreaking breakup conversation go? Did he cry? Did he pull the 'You're the only good thing in my life' speech?"
Jay rubbed her temples. "Keif-"
"Wait, let me guess." He pointed at her. "He said, 'But I can change,' didn't he?"
Jay blinked. "...How did you-"
Keifer whooped, throwing his head back in laughter. "I KNEW IT. I CALLED IT."
Ella sighed. "Keifer, can you-"
"Oh, no, let me have this." He dramatically placed a hand over his chest. "Ladies and gentlemen, presenting Jay Jay! The girl who ignored every single red flag and still went, 'Yes, let me emotionally babysit this man-child.'"
Jay groaned, burying her face in a pillow. "I hate you."
Keifer grinned. "Do you, though? Because I distinctly remember you telling me, and I quote, 'You don't know him like I do, Keif.'""
Ella winced. "Keifer."
Keifer turned to her. "Do youthink she wants a certificate? Like, 'Congratulations on Your Common Sense Finally Kicking In'?"
Ella rolled her eyes. "Keif."
Keifer held up his hands. "I'm just saying, we could've saved so much time if she had just listened to me."
Jay mumbled into the pillow, "I get it."
Keifer smirked. "Oh, do you?"
Jay sat up just to hurl the pillow at him.
It hit him square in the chest, and he barely flinched. "Violence? Wow. Someone's in denial."
Ella placed a comforting hand on Jay's shoulder. "You okay?"
Jay exhaled. "Yeah. It just... still feels weird. I know I made the right choice, but part of me feels... I don't know.Lighter. But also kind of empty."
Keifer nodded, surprisingly serious for once. "That's just withdrawal, Jay. You spent so much time carrying dead weight that now you don't know what to do with all this extra space."
Jay blinked. "...That's actually insightful."
Keifer grinned. "I am full of wisdom."
Ella snorted. "You're full of something."
Keifer ignored her. "Now, the real question is-how are you gonna celebrate your freedom?"
Jay frowned. "Celebrate?"
Keifer rolled his eyes. "Yes, celebrate! You just dropped a toxic ex-this is a victory, Jay. We should throw a party."
Ella raised an eyebrow. "A party?"
Keifer nodded. "Oh yeah. Streamers. Cake. Maybe a banner that says Congratulations on Not Dating a Walking Red Flag."
Jay snorted. "You're ridiculous."
Keifer smirked. "Yeah but I am your ridiculous And you love me."
Jay shook her head, but a small smile crept onto her lips.
Keifer raised his water bottle. "To Jay, for finally regaining two percent of her brain cells."
Jay snorted. "Two percent?"
Keifer smirked. "Gotta leave room for improvement."
And for the first time in weeks, Jay laughed.
Not because she was pretending to be fine. Not because she was forcing herself to move on.
But because, for once, she actually felt free.