Jay Jay's POV
---
The moment I stepped out of the haunted house—
Fresh air hit my face.
But it didn't help.
Not really.
My chest still felt tight.
My eyes still burned.
My thoughts… still messy.
I walked a few steps forward, trying to steady myself, trying to look normal—like nothing just happened.
Like I didn't just end something.
Like I didn't just break a part of myself.
"Jay!"
Jason's voice.
Urgent.
Before I could even react—
He was in front of me.
And the next second—
His arms wrapped around me.
Tightly.
Too tightly.
Like he was afraid I'd disappear.
For a moment—
I froze.
Completely.
Because this—
This wasn't planned.
This wasn't part of the game.
This was real.
"I couldn't find you," he said, his voice low, breath uneven. "I looked everywhere…"
His grip tightened slightly.
"I thought—"
He didn't finish.
But I understood.
Slowly—
I relaxed in his arms.
Just a little.
"I'm fine," I said softly.
And for once—
I wasn't pretending.
---
Mia and Percy came out right after.
Mia's eyes immediately landed on us.
"Oh—" she paused, then narrowed her eyes slightly, stepping closer. "Your eyes are red."
I pulled back slightly from Jason.
"It's nothing," I said quickly.
She didn't look convinced.
"Everything okay?"
A small pause.
Then—
I smiled.
Not fake.
Not forced.
Just… lighter.
"Yes," I said quietly. "Now… everything's fine."
And somehow—
I meant it.
Not perfectly.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough to breathe.
---
Mia clapped her hands suddenly, breaking the moment. "Okay! Emotional breakdowns are done. Now—food."
Percy nodded. "Finally something I can agree with."
"Dinner," Mia continued dramatically, "and then ice cream. Because healing requires sugar."
I huffed a small laugh. "Of course it does."
She grabbed my arm. "Come on, let's go."
---
We started walking.
Jason walked beside me again.
Close.
But this time—
There was hesitation.
His hand moved slightly toward mine—
Then stopped.
Like he wasn't sure anymore.
Like something had changed.
And it had.
I noticed.
Of course I did.
So before he could pull back completely—
I reached out.
And held his hand.
Properly.
Intertwining our fingers.
He looked at me.
Surprised.
A little unsure.
And I smiled.
Soft.
Real.
"I forgive you," I said quietly.
His brows furrowed slightly. "For what?"
I squeezed his hand gently.
"For leaving… Jass."
The nickname came out naturally now.
Like it belonged again.
Like it never left.
"I understand," I continued. "You didn't have a choice."
His expression shifted.
Something in his eyes softened instantly.
"But at least…" I added, "you're honest now."
Silence.
But not heavy.
Not painful.
Just… full.
Jason stopped walking.
I stopped too.
And before I could say anything else—
He pulled me into a hug.
This time—
Different.
Not desperate.
Not afraid.
Just… relieved.
His arms wrapped around me, strong but gentle.
Like he was holding something precious.
Something he almost lost.
"Thank you," he whispered.
I didn't reply.
I just held him back.
Because words weren't needed.
---
He pulled back slightly.
His hand moved to my face—
Soft.
Careful.
And then—
He leaned in.
Placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
My eyes closed for a second.
Because this—
This felt right.
Simple.
Quiet.
Real.
---
I hugged him again.
This time on my own.
And for the first time in a long time—
I wasn't holding back.
---
"Okay WOW," Mia's voice broke in loudly. "Reunion? Forgiveness arc? I'm emotional."
Percy shook his head, smirking. "That didn't take long."
"Shut up," I muttered, but I was smiling.
Jason didn't let go of my hand.
Not this time.
And I didn't want him to.
---
As we walked toward the lights, toward the noise, toward dinner—
Something inside me felt…
Lighter.
Not perfect.
Not healed.
But… at peace.
At least for now.
And maybe—
That was enough.
Keifer's POV
---
I wasn't planning to step out.
I was just… there.
Right outside my apartment, keys in my hand, leaning against the wall like I had somewhere to go—but not really moving.
The corridor was quiet.
Too quiet.
And somehow, that silence always made me more aware of her.
The door next to mine.
Closed.
But never really out of my mind.
---
Then—
It opened.
And everything else just… stopped.
---
She stepped out.
And for a second—
I forgot how to breathe.
Because she didn't look like the girl from last night.
She didn't look broken.
Didn't look like someone who cried, who shattered, who almost fell apart.
No.
She looked—
Untouchable.
White and blue top, fitted perfectly, hugging her in a way that made it impossible to look away. The denim skirt falling just right, the slit adding something sharp to her presence. Heels clicking softly against the floor, confident, steady—like every step had intention behind it.
Her hair was open, slightly damp, falling over her shoulders like she didn't even try.
And that face—
Calm.
Composed.
Too composed.
Like nothing affected her anymore.
Like I didn't.
---
And that—
That hit harder than anything.
Because just last night—
She was breaking.
And now?
She looked like she rebuilt herself without me.
---
Then I saw him.
Jason.
Leaning against his car like he had all the time in the world.
Like he belonged there.
Like this was normal.
Like she belonged with him.
My jaw tightened instantly.
My grip on the keys stiffened.
I straightened without even realizing it.
Because seeing him there—
Seeing them in the same frame—
It didn't sit right.
Not at all.
---
"Need a ride?"
His voice.
Casual.
Too casual.
Like this wasn't a big deal.
Like he didn't just walk back into her life.
Like he didn't leave her once.
Like he didn't—
I cut that thought off.
Because none of that seemed to matter anymore.
Not to her.
---
"No thanks, I'll book a cab."
Her voice was steady.
And for a second—
Something in me eased.
Just a little.
Like maybe—
Maybe she wouldn't go with him.
Maybe she still had that distance.
That wall.
That control.
---
But then—
"Come with me, darling."
That word again.
Darling.
Something in me snapped.
Sharp.
Immediate.
I hated it.
Hated how easily it came out of his mouth.
Hated how natural it sounded.
Like he had the right.
Like she let him.
---
There was a pause.
A small one.
But I caught it.
Watched it.
Waited.
For her to refuse.
For her to step back.
For her to say no.
---
But she didn't.
Instead—
She moved.
Toward him.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
And I felt it before it even happened.
That shift.
That decision.
Like something slipping out of my control—
Even though it was never mine to control.
---
"Jay won't go with you."
The words left my mouth before I could think.
Too fast.
Too sharp.
Too… much.
But I didn't take them back.
I couldn't.
---
She turned.
Looked at me.
And something in her eyes—
It wasn't soft.
It wasn't confused.
It was… cold.
And worse—
It was intentional.
Like she knew exactly what she was doing.
---
"You followed us here, right?" she said.
I scoffed. "No."
My voice came out rougher than I intended.
"I just stepped out."
That was true.
But it didn't sound convincing.
Not even to me.
---
There was a second of silence.
Just enough for everything to feel heavier.
Thicker.
More real.
---
And then—
She did it.
She stepped closer to him.
Not by accident.
Not casually.
On purpose.
And before I could even react—
Her hand moved.
Slid into his.
Fingers intertwining like it was familiar.
Like it had happened a hundred times before.
Like it belonged there.
---
Something twisted in my chest.
Hard.
Sharp.
Unavoidable.
---
"Okay, Jass," she said softly. "I'll come with you."
Jass.
That name.
That stupid, soft, familiar name.
It wasn't just a nickname.
It was history.
Something I wasn't part of.
Something I couldn't touch.
---
"Jass?" I snapped, the irritation breaking through before I could stop it. "He's Jason. Why are you calling him that?"
I didn't even care how it sounded.
Didn't care if it made me look—
Whatever.
Because this—
This wasn't normal.
---
Jason looked at me then.
Calm.
Too calm.
Like none of this affected him.
Like he was already winning.
"It's the nickname she gave me," he said smoothly.
His eyes flickered toward her for a second.
Then back to me.
"Didn't she give you one?"
A pause.
Then—
"Sad."
The word landed quietly.
But it didn't need to be loud.
Because it hit exactly where it was supposed to.
---
I didn't respond.
Couldn't.
Because he wasn't wrong.
There was no nickname.
No shared past like that.
No inside jokes.
No us.
And suddenly—
That gap between them and me felt… bigger.
Wider.
Impossible to cross.
---
I looked at her again.
Really looked.
Waiting.
For something.
Anything.
A hesitation.
A doubt.
A sign that this was just for show.
---
But she didn't give me any of that.
"I don't care," she said.
Flat.
Simple.
Final.
---
And that was it.
No argument.
No explanation.
No second chance.
---
She turned.
Opened the car door.
Sat inside.
Like it was easy.
Like leaving always is for her.
---
Jason got in after her.
The door shut.
The engine started.
And I just stood there.
Watching.
---
The car pulled away.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
And with every inch it moved—
It felt like something was being pulled out of me with it.
---
I didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't even breathe properly.
Because my mind was still stuck on that moment.
That look.
That tone.
That "I don't care."
---
The corridor felt empty now.
Too empty.
Like the moment she left—
Everything else left with her.
---
I exhaled slowly.
But it didn't help.
Nothing did.
Because for the first time—
I wasn't angry.
I wasn't frustrated.
I wasn't even trying to fight it.
I just—
Stood there.
Feeling something break quietly inside me.
---
And the worst part?
She didn't even look back
I shouldn't have come.
I knew that the moment I parked the car outside the amusement park and stepped out.
I knew it when I pulled out my phone and opened the location Rory sent me.
I knew it when I started walking in.
And I definitely knew it—
When I saw them.
They were at the bumper cars.
Laughing.
Actually laughing.
Like nothing in the world mattered.
Like last night didn't happen.
Like I didn't exist.
She was in one of the cars, hands on the wheel, hair slightly messy from the wind, a smile on her face—
A real one.
Not forced.
Not fake.
And him?
Jason was in the car right next to her.
Leaning slightly toward her, saying something that made her roll her eyes—but she was still smiling.
Still there.
With him.
Something in my chest tightened.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
Because I had never seen her like this with me.
Not like this.
Not this easy.
Not this… light.
"Careful, darling," he said, his voice carrying just enough for me to hear. "You're about to lose."
Darling.
Again.
That word again.
And this time—
She didn't argue.
Didn't stop him.
Instead—
She smirked.
"Watch me, Jass."
Jass.
That name again.
That familiarity.
That history I wasn't part of.
The ride started.
Cars crashing into each other, people laughing, shouting—
But all I could focus on was them.
Jason drove straight toward her.
On purpose.
And instead of moving away—
She drove into him too.
Hard.
Their cars bumped.
She laughed.
He laughed.
Like it was their thing.
I clenched my jaw.
Hard enough to feel it ache.
Because I shouldn't care.
I shouldn't.
But I did.
More than I wanted to admit.
After the ride ended—
I moved.
Without thinking.
Without stopping myself.
Because watching from a distance?
Was worse.
Way worse.
"Having fun?"
My voice came out calmer than I felt.
They both turned.
She looked at me first.
Of course she did.
And for a second—
I thought I saw surprise.
But it disappeared quickly.
"You followed us here, right?" she said.
There it was.
That tone again.
That edge.
I shook my head."No. I came here with my brother. He wanted to."
Half-truth.
At best.
There was a pause.
And then—
She did it again.
She stepped closer to him.
Not away.
Not neutral.
Closer.
Jason's hand brushed hers.
Then held it.
And this time—
She didn't pull away.
I felt it.
Instantly.
Like something tightening inside my chest.
Again.
"Come on, darling," Jason said casually. "Let's go to the next ride."
Darling.
Again.
"Stop it," I snapped before I could stop myself.
Both of them looked at me.
Jason raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Stop what?" he asked.
"You know what," I said, my voice tighter now. "Her name is Jay. Stop calling her that."
There was a brief silence.
And then—
He smiled.
Not wide.
Not loud.
Just enough.
"If she tells me to stop," he said calmly, "I will."
And then—
All eyes went to her.
A moment.
Just a moment.
Where she could've said it.
Could've stopped it.
Could've… chosen differently.
But she didn't.
Instead—
She stepped even closer to him.
Closed the distance.
Her shoulder brushing his.
Her hand still in his.
"Why would I?" she said softly.
And that—
That hit harder than anything else.
Jason's grip on her hand tightened slightly.
I noticed.
Of course I did.
Because I was noticing everything now.
Every little thing.
Every detail I shouldn't care about.
"This isn't you," I said, my voice lower now.
Because it wasn't.
It couldn't be.
She laughed.
Not loudly.
But enough.
"Oh come on," she said, turning toward me fully. "You don't even know me properly."
That—
That stung.
More than I expected.
"He was the most important part of my life," she continued, her voice steady. "When you didn't even exist."
Silence.
Everything around us faded.
Because those words—
They weren't just said.
They were meant.
"And this?" she gestured slightly between her and Jason. "This is nothing in front of what we were."
Nothing.
Nothing.
I repeated that word in my head.
But it didn't feel like nothing.
It felt like everything.
Jason moved then.
His hand slipping from hers—
Only to land on her waist.
Pulling her closer.
Closer than necessary.
Closer than I wanted to see.
"Come on, darling," he murmured.
And she didn't stop him.
Didn't move away.
Didn't even hesitate.
Something inside me snapped again.
But this time—
It didn't come out as anger.
It just…
Stayed there.
Heavy.
Burning.
They started walking.
Together.
Like I wasn't even there.
Like I was just… background.
I stood there.
Still.
Watching them go.
Watching the way she leaned slightly toward him.
The way he stayed close.
The way they fit.
And for the first time—
I didn't try to stop it.
Didn't say anything.
Didn't move.
Because what was the point?
"You don't even know me properly."
Her words echoed again.
And maybe—
She was right.
Because if I did—
Then why did it feel like I was losing her…
To someone who already had her once?
I clenched my fists.
Tight.
Trying to hold something together.
Anything.
But it was already slipping.
Already breaking.
And the worst part?
She didn't even look back.
Not once.
Like I wasn't even worth that.
Keifer POV
---
I shouldn't have followed them inside.
I knew that the moment I stepped into the horror house.
Darkness swallowed everything almost instantly—faint red lights, distorted sounds, fake screams echoing from somewhere deeper inside.
But none of it felt real.
Not compared to what I was already feeling.
---
I saw them ahead.
Her.
And him.
Too close.
Always too close.
His hand brushing hers… then holding it.
And she didn't pull away.
Didn't even hesitate.
---
I stayed behind.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Just enough to see.
To hear.
To hurt.
---
A loud bang echoed.
She flinched.
Instinctively.
And before I could even think—
She moved toward him.
Into him.
Her hands gripping his shirt.
And his arms—
Wrapped around her immediately.
Like it was natural.
Like it was his place.
---
"I've got you," he murmured.
Soft.
Calm.
And she—
She stayed.
She didn't push him away.
Didn't create distance.
Didn't do anything she usually does.
She just…
Let him.
---
Something inside me twisted.
Hard.
Because I had never seen her like that.
Not with me.
Never that… vulnerable.
Never that willing to be held.
---
"I'm fine," she said softly.
But she didn't move.
Didn't step away.
And that—
That hurt more than if she had.
---
They walked ahead.
Together.
Close.
Like the space between them didn't exist anymore.
Like it wasn't needed.
---
Then somehow—
The others disappeared.
Mia.
Percy.
Gone.
And it was just them.
And me.
Watching.
---
I shouldn't have stayed.
I should've turned back.
Walked out.
Left.
But I didn't.
Because something in me refused to.
Like if I left—
I'd lose something completely.
---
She got scared again.
Another sound.
Another shadow.
And again—
She moved closer to him.
Closer.
Like she trusted him.
Like she needed him.
---
"Come here," he said.
And she went.
Without hesitation.
Without thinking.
---
His hand moved to her face.
Lifting her chin.
Gently.
Carefully.
Like she was something fragile.
Something important.
---
"Look at me," he said.
And she did.
Just like that.
---
I felt my chest tighten.
Too tight.
Because I knew what was coming.
Even before it happened.
---
"You're okay," he told her.
His thumb brushing her cheek.
And then—
He leaned in.
And kissed her forehead.
---
Everything inside me—
Went silent.
Completely.
Like something just… stopped.
---
Because that—
That wasn't casual.
That wasn't a joke.
That wasn't for show.
That was real.
And she didn't stop him.
Didn't react.
Didn't pull away.
She just—
Looked at him.
Like she was… there.
With him.
Completely.
---
And then—
They didn't move.
Not away.
Not apart.
Closer.
If anything.
---
Her hand still gripping his shirt.
His hand still on her face.
Their faces inches apart.
And I could see it.
That moment.
That line.
The one they were about to cross.
---
Something inside me snapped.
Hard.
Loud.
Uncontrollable.
---
"Jay!"
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Angrier.
But underneath—
There was something else.
Something I couldn't hide.
---
They both turned.
And I saw it.
Her expression.
That shift.
Like I interrupted something.
Like I wasn't supposed to be there.
---
And before I could think—
Before I could stop myself—
My fist moved.
And it landed.
Right across his face.
---
Jason stumbled back slightly.
But I didn't care.
Didn't think.
Didn't stop.
I grabbed his collar, pulling him forward.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I snapped.
My voice wasn't steady.
Not even close.
---
He grabbed my wrist instantly.
"Let go," he said, his voice low.
Controlled.
Too controlled.
---
"Stay away from her," I shot back.
Because that was the only thing that made sense.
The only thing I could say.
The only thing I felt.
---
"Keifer, stop—" her voice came from behind.
But I couldn't.
I couldn't stop.
Because all I could see—
Was that moment.
His hand on her face.
Her not pulling away.
Them being that close.
---
"This isn't you," I said, my voice breaking slightly.
But I didn't even know if I was saying it to her—
Or to myself.
---
And then—
She grabbed me.
Pulled me away.
Forcefully.
Like I was the problem.
Like I was the one out of line.
---
And maybe I was.
Maybe I crossed it.
Maybe I shouldn't have done that.
---
But standing there—
Watching her with him—
Seeing her like that—
Letting him get that close—
It felt worse.
Way worse.
---
Because I wasn't just angry.
I wasn't just jealous.
---
I was breaking.
Quietly.
From the inside.
---
And the worst part?
Even after everything—
Even after hitting him—
Even after losing control—
---
She still chose him.
---
Not me.
Not even for a second.
---
She dragged me away.
Not gently.
Not carefully.
Like I was something she needed to get rid of.
Her grip on my arm was tight—angry, almost shaking—and I let her.
Didn't resist.
Didn't stop her.
Because somewhere inside, I knew—
I deserved whatever was coming.
---
The door slammed shut behind us.
Silence.
Heavy.
Pressing down on my chest.
And then she turned.
And the moment I saw her face—
I knew this was going to hurt.
---
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Her voice wasn't just angry.
It was hurt.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
---
I opened my mouth.
"Jay—"
"No," she cut me off instantly.
Sharp.
Final.
She stepped forward.
I didn't.
Because something in me already knew—
If I got any closer, I'd break completely.
---
"Why do you keep acting like you have a right on me?!" she demanded.
Her words hit fast.
Hard.
I swallowed.
Tried to say something.
Anything.
"I—"
"I can't tell you."
It came out before I could stop it.
Before I could choose something better.
Something that didn't sound so—
Empty.
---
She froze for a second.
Just a second.
And I saw it.
That flicker of something in her eyes.
Confusion.
Hurt.
Maybe even hope.
---
"What?" she asked.
I looked away.
Because I couldn't say it again and face her at the same time.
"I said… I can't tell you."
---
Silence.
Then—
A laugh.
Not soft.
Not amused.
Bitter.
---
"Of course you can't," she said.
And every word after that—
It felt like something tearing through me slowly.
---
"You don't get to do this to me."
Her voice dropped.
But it hit deeper.
"You don't get to act like this and then not even give me a reason."
---
I clenched my fists.
Because I had a reason.
I had a thousand things I wanted to say.
But none of them could come out.
None of them were allowed to.
---
"I'm trying—"
"No," she cut me off again.
"You're not trying. You're hiding."
---
That—
That landed.
Because she wasn't wrong.
And that made it worse.
---
My eyes lifted to hers.
And for the first time—
I didn't try to look strong.
Didn't try to hide it.
Because I was tired.
Tired of holding everything in.
Tired of watching her hate me for something I couldn't explain.
---
"You don't know what I'm—"
"I don't care," she interrupted.
And that—
That broke something.
Quietly.
Deeply.
---
She stepped back.
Like she needed distance from me.
Like I was something that hurt just by being close.
---
"I'm not yours," she said.
Each word slow.
Clear.
Final.
"You don't get to act like I am."
---
I felt that.
Every single word.
Because I never said she was mine.
Never claimed it.
But maybe—
Maybe I acted like it.
And now—
Now she hated me for it.
---
"I'm done with you."
The words came out quietly.
But they hit harder than anything else.
---
I felt my chest tighten.
My throat dry.
My hands clenching harder.
Because I wasn't ready for that.
I wasn't ready for her to say that.
Not like this.
Not… seriously.
---
"I don't even want to know anymore," she continued.
Her voice shaking now.
But she didn't stop.
"Whatever your reason is… I don't care."
---
That was it.
That was the part that broke me.
Not the anger.
Not the shouting.
Not even the way she pushed me away.
---
It was that.
Her not wanting to know.
Her giving up on understanding me.
On… me.
---
"Everything's over between us."
---
Silence.
Complete.
Heavy.
---
I tried to breathe.
But it felt like something was sitting on my chest.
Like every word she just said—
Was still there.
Still pressing down.
---
I looked at her.
Really looked.
And all I could see—
Was distance.
Walls.
Something closed.
Something I couldn't reach anymore.
---
My eyes burned.
I blinked once.
Twice.
But it didn't help.
Because the feeling didn't go away.
---
I wanted to say something.
Anything.
To stop her.
To fix this.
To tell her the truth.
To just—
Explain.
---
But I couldn't.
---
"I can't tell you…"
The words came out again.
Weaker this time.
Almost… broken.
---
She didn't even react.
Didn't even look like it mattered anymore.
---
And that hurt more than anything.
Because before—
At least she cared enough to be angry.
Now?
She just…
Didn't.
---
She turned.
Walked toward the door.
And I didn't stop her.
---
Because I knew—
If I tried—
If I said anything else—
I'd either lie…
Or tell the truth.
And I couldn't do either.
---
The door opened.
Light spilled in for a second.
Then she stepped out.
And it closed behind her.
---
Leaving me there.
Alone.
---
I stood there for a long time.
Didn't move.
Didn't think.
Just… stood.
---
Her words replaying again and again.
I'm done with you.
I don't care.
Everything's over.
---
And for the first time—
It wasn't anger I felt.
Not jealousy.
Not frustration.
---
It was something worse.
Something quieter.
Something that stayed.
---
Because I wasn't just losing her—
I was losing her while knowing…
I was the reason.
And I still couldn't fix it.
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Longest chapter till now 😭 4000+ words hope you guys like it 🎀
Today's comment target 🎯 20 comments
(Do it today I will post the next chapter today only) 💗