Chapter 85: One Step Isn't Enough
(Keifer's POV)
Fixing one thing…
Doesn't fix everything.
That was the first thing I realized the moment I walked out of Percy's apartment.
Yeah—
We talked.
Yeah—
He didn't slam the door in my face.
But that didn't mean everything was okay.
Not even close.
Because one conversation…
Doesn't erase years.
Keifer (thinking):
This is going to take time.
And honestly?
I hated that.
I wanted it done.
Fixed.
Finished.
But that's not how this works.
(Jay Jay's POV — Next Morning)
I woke up before him.
Which was rare.
Usually, Keifer was the one watching me sleep like some kind of obsessed—
Okay, maybe I shouldn't finish that thought.
I turned slightly.
He was there.
Sleeping.
Calm.
Peaceful.
And for a moment—
I forgot everything.
No past.
No tension.
No emotional war.
Just him.
Jay (softly):
"…you did good."
He didn't hear it.
But I meant it.
I slipped out of bed quietly.
And the moment my feet touched the floor—
A voice.
Keifer (half-asleep):
"Where are you going…"
I froze.
Jay:
"…nowhere."
Keifer opened one eye.
Keifer:
"You're lying."
Jay:
"I'm getting water."
Keifer:
"…come back."
Jay:
"I just woke up."
Keifer:
"Come back."
Jay:
"You're clingy."
Keifer:
"You like it."
Jay:
"…unfortunately."
He smirked slightly—
Even half asleep.
Keifer:
"Come here."
And for a second—
I almost did.
Almost.
But then—
Jay (stepping back):
"No."
Keifer blinked.
Fully awake now.
Keifer:
"…no?"
Jay:
"No kisses."
Keifer groaned loudly.
Keifer:
"I hate this rule."
Jay:
"I love this rule."
Keifer:
"You're evil."
Jay:
"Still effective."
He sat up.
Ran a hand through his hair.
Keifer:
"I fixed one."
Jay:
"I know."
Keifer:
"So?"
Jay:
"So keep going."
Keifer:
"…you're serious."
Jay:
"Very."
Keifer fell back onto the bed dramatically.
Keifer:
"This is torture."
Jay:
"This is growth."
Keifer:
"This is emotional suffering."
Jay:
"This is accountability."
Keifer:
"I want a refund."
Jay:
"No refunds."
He stared at the ceiling.
Then—
Keifer:
"…who's next?"
And just like that—
Progress.
(Keifer's POV)
Who's next?
The question felt heavier than it should.
Because now—
It wasn't just about pride.
It was about facing everything.
Yuri.
The one who started it.
The one who lied.
Or maybe—
The one who was just as broken as the rest of us.
Keifer:
"…Yuri."
Jay didn't react immediately.
Jay:
"That's a hard one."
Keifer:
"I know."
Jay:
"You don't have to do it today."
Keifer:
"I do."
Jay:
"Why?"
Keifer looked at her.
Keifer:
"Because if I don't, I won't."
Silence.
Then—
Jay nodded.
Jay:
"…okay."
(Jay Jay's POV)
This was it.
The real test.
Percy was emotional.
Complicated.
Dramatic.
But Yuri?
Yuri was different.
Yuri carried guilt.
Fear.
Regret.
And people like that?
They don't just talk.
They break.
Jay:
"Don't go in angry."
Keifer:
"I'm not."
Jay:
"Don't go in blaming."
Keifer:
"I won't."
Jay:
"Go in honest."
Keifer:
"I will."
I stepped closer.
Jay:
"And Keifer?"
He looked at me.
Jay:
"Don't lose yourself trying to fix everything."
Keifer softened.
Keifer:
"I won't."
I nodded.
Jay:
"Good."
(Keifer's POV — Later)
Yuri's place was quieter.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that feels heavy.
Like something unfinished lives there.
I stood at the door.
Again.
Same hesitation.
Same weight.
But this time—
I didn't wait.
I knocked.
Footsteps.
Door opened.
Yuri stood there.
And for a moment—
We just stared at each other.
Years.
All in one look.
Yuri:
"…Keifer."
Keifer:
"Yuri."
Silence.
Yuri:
"You came."
Keifer:
"I did."
Yuri stepped aside slowly.
Yuri:
"…come in."
I walked in.
Everything felt the same.
But different.
Because we weren't the same people anymore.
(Inside — Tension Builds)
Yuri didn't sit.
Neither did I.
Yuri:
"Why are you here?"
Straight to the point.
Keifer:
"To talk."
Yuri laughed softly.
Yuri:
"That's new."
Keifer:
"Yeah."
Yuri looked at me.
Yuri:
"You believed me."
Keifer:
"I did."
Yuri:
"You shouldn't have."
Keifer:
"I know."
Silence.
Yuri:
"…I lied."
There it was.
No excuses.
No deflection.
Just truth.
Keifer:
"Why?"
Yuri's hands clenched.
Yuri:
"I was scared."
Keifer:
"That's not an excuse."
Yuri:
"I know."
Silence.
Yuri:
"I couldn't move."
His voice cracked.
Yuri:
"I watched it happen."
Keifer didn't interrupt.
Yuri:
"I could have helped."
Keifer:
"…you froze."
Yuri nodded.
Yuri:
"I froze."
Tears filled his eyes.
Yuri:
"And I couldn't live with that."
Keifer:
"So you blamed Aries."
Yuri:
"…yes."
Keifer:
"And I believed you."
Yuri:
"…yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
Keifer:
"We all broke because of that."
Yuri:
"I know."
Keifer:
"You broke us."
Yuri closed his eyes.
Yuri:
"I know."
Keifer clenched his jaw.
Then—
Exhaled.
Slowly.
Keifer:
"…but I let it happen."
Yuri looked up.
Confused.
Keifer:
"I didn't question it."
Yuri:
"You trusted me."
Keifer:
"I chose the easy answer."
Silence.
Then—
Keifer:
"…we were kids."
Yuri:
"That doesn't fix it."
Keifer:
"No."
Pause.
Keifer:
"But maybe we can."
Yuri stared at me.
Like he didn't believe it.
Yuri:
"…you still want to fix this?"
Keifer:
"…I'm trying."
Long silence.
Then—
Yuri nodded.
Yuri:
"…me too."
And just like that—
Another crack—
Started to heal.
(Jay Jay's POV — Ending)
I sat on the couch again.
Waiting.
Like before.
But this time—
I wasn't nervous.
I was… hopeful.
The door opened.
Keifer walked in.
Tired.
But lighter.
Jay:
"…well?"
Keifer looked at me.
Keifer:
"I didn't run."
That was enough.
I stood up.
Walked toward him.
Close.
Jay:
"That means…"
Keifer:
"Don't even think about it."
Jay smirked.
Jay:
"…still no kiss?"
Keifer:
"Still no kiss."
Jay:
"Good."
Keifer:
"You're enjoying this."
Jay:
"Very much."
He sighed.
But smiled slightly.
And that?
That meant everything.
Because slowly—
Step by step—
He was fixing it.
End of Chapter
Chapter Moral ✦
Healing doesn't happen all at once—it happens in steps.
Facing the truth, owning mistakes, and choosing to try again
are the hardest parts of rebuilding what was broken.
Forgiveness isn't instant, and trust isn't easily restored,
but every honest conversation brings you closer.
Because sometimes, progress isn't about fixing everything—
it's about refusing to run anymore.