Ryan's phone lit up on the table.
For half a second, his brain didn't register it.
Then the name sank in.
Kia.
His heart skipped—hard enough that he felt it in his throat.
The room around him faded instantly. Voices blurred. Screens became meaningless light. Ryan stood so abruptly his chair scraped the floor.
"Liam," he said, already moving. His voice was steady—but tight. "Clear the room. No one comes in."
Liam looked at the screen.
Understanding dawned.
He nodded without a word, ushering everyone out, closing the door behind him, standing guard outside like Ryan had asked.
Silence fell.
Ryan stared at the phone again.
Kia was calling.
Not a message. Not an update. A call.
His thumb hovered.
He inhaled once—slow, controlled—then answered.
He didn't speak.
He just held the phone to his ear and listened.
On the other end, Kia's breath was uneven.
"…Hey," Kia said softly, like he was afraid of breaking something. "I—I know you asked for space. I really tried. I did. But I just… I needed to hear your voice."
Ryan closed his eyes.
Something inside him loosened. Not shattered. Not cracked.
Filled.
"I won't take much of your time," Kia continued, voice low and careful. "I just wanted to know if you're okay. If you're eating. If you're sleeping at all."
Ryan leaned back against the desk, fingers tightening around the phone.
This.
This was what fullness meant.
Not safety.
Not peace.
Presence.
"I kept telling myself space was the right thing," Kia said, a quiet laugh breaking through. "But too much space starts to feel like I'm abandoning you. And I can't do that. Not to you."
Ryan's chest hurt.
Good.
He deserved that.
"I'm not calling to ask for anything," Kia rushed on. "I just—if you're not okay, you don't have to tell me. I just needed you to know I'm here. I always am."
Ryan's throat worked.
He said nothing.
He didn't trust his voice.
"I miss you," Kia said finally, the words bare and honest. "I don't expect you to say it back. I just… miss you."
Ryan's hand trembled.
He pressed it flat against the desk, grounding himself.
This was dangerous.
This was everything he'd been starving himself of.
This was humanity knocking at the door he'd barricaded shut.
Kia exhaled softly. "Okay. That's all. I won't call again unless you want me to. I just—take care of yourself, alright? Please."
The line went quiet.
Ryan stayed still.
Stayed silent.
He waited until he was sure Kia was done.
Until every word had settled deep into him.
Then—before he could change his mind—
He ended the call.
The room felt too quiet afterward.
Author pov: hey my cuties, this will be the last chapter for today, good night and sweet dreams