Yuna:
The room fell quiet again.
Ethan was still staring at me like he didn't believe what I had just said.
"You don't understand what you're asking for," he repeated quietly.
My heart was beating so fast I could feel it in my throat.
For so long I had kept everything inside.
The worry.
The jealousy.
The way my eyes always searched for him in every room.
And tonight… when I saw him covered in blood… I realized something terrifying.
I couldn't lose him.
Not like this.
Not without telling him the truth.
I slowly tightened my grip around his hand.
"Ethan…" I said softly.
He looked at me again.
Those dark eyes were tired, but they were watching me carefully.
"Why do you think I stayed here all night?" I asked.
He didn't answer.
I took a small breath.
"Why do you think it hurts me when you ignore me… or when you avoid looking at me?"
His brows slightly furrowed.
My voice trembled a little now.
"You think I stayed because I feel sorry for you?"
I shook my head slowly.
"No."
Silence filled the room.
Then the words I had been hiding for so long finally came out.
"I stayed because I love you, Ethan."
The moment the words left my mouth, my chest felt lighter… but also more vulnerable than ever.
Ethan completely froze.
His eyes widened slightly.
For the first time since I had known him, he looked… shocked.
"I love you," I repeated quietly.
Tears slowly filled my eyes, but I didn't look away.
"I don't care if you're dangerous."
"I don't care if your life is full of enemies."
"I don't care if Luca warns you to stay away from me."
My voice broke slightly.
"I just know that when I saw you bleeding tonight… I felt like my heart was being ripped out."
Ethan's hand slowly tightened around mine.
But he still didn't speak.
I lowered my voice.
"You keep trying to push me away to protect me."
"But you don't understand something…"
I leaned a little closer to him.
"Living without you would hurt me more than any danger."
For a long moment Ethan didn't move.
His eyes stayed locked on mine like he was trying to understand if this was real.
Finally he whispered hoarsely,
"…Yuna."
But before he could say anything else, I shook my head softly.
"Don't say anything if you're going to tell me to stay away again."
My fingers gently brushed his hand.
"I already know your world is dangerous."
"I already know people want to kill you."
"But I still love you."
My heart pounded as I said the words again, slowly.
"I love you, Ethan."
The room felt like it had stopped breathing.
Ethan's chest rose and fell slowly.
Something in his expression was breaking… like the walls he built around himself for years were finally cracking.
He lifted his hand slightly and touched my cheek.
His fingers were warm but trembling.
"You…" he whispered.
His voice was rough.
"You shouldn't love someone like me."
A small tear rolled down my cheek.
But I smiled faintly.
"Too late."
For a moment Ethan closed his eyes like he was fighting something inside himself.
Then he looked at me again.
And this time…
The distance in his eyes was gone.
Only something deep.
Something intense.
Something he had been hiding for years.
His thumb slowly wiped the tear from my cheek.
"…You really don't know what you're doing to me," he murmured.
I whispered softly,
"Then stop fighting it."
The air between us felt heavy.
Charged.
Like something was about to happen.
And for the first time…
Ethan didn't pull away.