Jay wiped her hands on her scrub, finally stepping out of the operation theatre. Her phone buzzed on the counter, and she saw a message from Keifer:
"Meet me at the café. Now."
Her stomach twisted. She had been completely focused on her patients and hadn't seen it earlier. She hesitated, glancing at the clock—she was exhausted, but she knew she couldn't ignore him. With a deep breath, she grabbed her bag and left.
When she arrived, Keifer was already there, leaning against the table, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. The usual cold, bossy aura surrounded him like a shield, and Jay's pulse quickened.
"Sit," he said sharply, without looking up.
Jay obeyed, sliding into the chair across from him. She tried to keep her composure, tried to meet his gaze, but the intensity of his stare made her stomach flutter.
He finally looked at her, eyes piercing. "Jay…" His tone was calm but edged with authority, the kind that brooked no nonsense. "We need to talk."
Jay nodded slowly, unsure what to say.
Keifer's jaw tightened. "After… after what happened between us, why did you leave? Why did you run away?"
Jay swallowed hard. Her fingers fidgeted in her lap, but she didn't answer. She couldn't.
"Not going to answer?" he pressed, leaning forward slightly, his voice dropping low, sharp with frustration. "Do you even realize how… how reckless it was? You left me, Jay. And now you just show up here, expecting me to… what? Pretend it didn't happen?"
"I…" Jay began, but the words caught in her throat. She shook her head slightly, finally lowering her gaze, silent.
Keifer's eyes narrowed. "You think silence is enough?" he demanded, stepping closer, the dangerous edge in his voice cutting through the air. "I want to know the truth. Did I do something wrong? Did I make you run?"
Jay's heart raced, but she remained quiet. The truth wasn't something she could give him yet—not now.
He took a step back, crossing his arms, his expression hard. "Fine. If you won't tell me… then I'll find out on my own. But remember this, Jay—I don't forget. And I don't forgive easily."
Jay's chest tightened, the tension between them palpable. She nodded, still silent, knowing that this meeting was only the beginning of a war of unspoken words, stubborn pride, and a love neither of them could fully control.