Aiden's heart slammed hard against his ribs
There it was. Recognition. Surprise. Something else , guilt? Panic?
Aiden didn't let himself look for too long
Instead, he forced a small smile.
It wasn't bright. It wasn't playful.
Just polite.
Controlled.
Like he hadn't just felt something crack inside his chest.
He lifted his hand slightly a half-wave then started walking again.
One step.
Then another.
Each one felt heavier than the last.
Behind him, he heard movement.
"Aiden!"Jamal's voice.
Clear. Sharp. Not laughing anymore.
Aiden's fingers curled into his palm.
Don't stop.
"Hey , Aiden!"
There was urgency in it now.
He slowed for half a second ,just enough for hope to try to rise in his chest
But he didn't turn didn't stop.
He kept walking.
The night air suddenly felt too cold against his skin. His heartbeat was loud in his ears, drowning out the distant sounds of traffic.
"Wait!"
Jamal's voice again.
But there were no footsteps running after him.
No hand grabbing his wrist.
No breathless apology,Just his name hanging in the air.
Aiden swallowed hard and kept moving.
If Jamal wanted to catch him, he could.
He knew how fast Aiden walked. He knew where he lived. He knew everything.
But he wasn't coming.
That hurt more than what he'd seen.
Aiden turned the corner, out of sight of the café.
Only then did his composure slip.
His jaw tightened. His chest burned. His vision blurred slightly, but he blinked it away quickly.
He wouldn't cry over something that wasn't even defined.
They weren't boyfriends,they weren't exclusive.
They were just….What were they?
His phone buzzed again in his hand.
He didn't look at it,not yet he was almost home.
Almost safe,Another buzz.
And another.His grip tightened.
Finally, he stopped under a dim streetlight and looked down at the screen.
Three missed calls.All from Jamal.
And one text:
Jamal: "It's not what you think."
Aiden let out a shaky breath.
Because the worst part?
He didn't even know what he thought
His laugh came out hollow
He pressed call back before he could think too much about it
Jamal picked up on the first ring.
"Aiden
"What?" Aiden's voice was steady too steady
There was noise on Jamal's end traffic, a car door shutting "Where are you? Why did you just walk away like that?"
Aiden started walking again "Like what?"
"Like you saw a ghost."
"I saw something," Aiden replied quietly.
Silence.
Then, "It wasn't like that."
Aiden stopped under the streetlight again, his jaw tightening. "You always say that."
"Because it's true"
"You told me not to worry about him"
"I said he's just a friend."
"And friends stand that close now?" Aiden shot back. "Friends touch like that?"
There was a sharp exhale from Jamal's side. "You're overreacting."
That did it
Aiden laughed again, but this time it cracked. "Overreacting?"
"I called your name, didn't I?"
"But you didn't come after me."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Silence.Heavy. Loud.
Jamal's voice dropped"You didn't stop."
"You didn't chase."
Another silence.
Aiden's heart was pounding so hard it hurt. "If I mattered the way you say I do, you would've left him standing there."
"That's not fair."
"Neither is making me feel stupid for caring."
The words trembled now. His control was slipping.
"I have never made you feel stupid," Jamal said sharply.
"You didn't have to. I did that myself. Every time I defended you in my head. Every time I told myself I was just insecure."
"That's not what this is."
"Then what is it, Jamal?" Aiden demanded. "Because I'm tired. I'm tired of not knowing what we are. I'm tired of feeling like I'm competing with people you swear I shouldn't worry about."
Jamal didn't answer immediately.
And that pause felt worse than anything else.
"I didn't chase you," Jamal finally said, quieter now, "because I didn't want to cause a scene. He doesn't know about… us."
Aiden froze.
"Us?" he repeated softly.
Another pause.
Jamal swallowed audibly. "You know what I mean."
"No," Aiden said, voice shaking now. "Actually, I don't. Because every time it starts to feel like something real, you pull back."
Footsteps.
Aiden stiffened
He turned slowly
Jamal was standing a few feet away, phone still pressed to his ear, breathing slightly harder like he'd walked fast to catch up after all.
"So I came now," Jamal said quietly
The call disconnected between them.
They just stood there.
Streetlight above. Night air cold. Everything unsaid hanging thick between them
"Why does he not know about me?" Aiden asked
Jamal ran a hand through his hair. Frustrated. Torn. "Because I didn't know if I could call you mine yet."
Aiden's chest tightened.
"And I didn't want to lose you if I was wrong."
Wrong about what?
About wanting him?
About choosing him?
"You can't keep me halfway," Aiden whispered. "Either I matter or I don't."
Jamal stepped closer.
Not touching.
But close enough for Aiden to feel his warmth.
"You matter," Jamal said. "More than you think."
"Then act like it."
The challenge hung in the air between them.
And for the first time, Jamal looked uncertain.