Chapter: "You Almost Lost Me"
Jay's POV
I thought we fixed it.
We didn't.
After that small apology… things were still off.
He stopped arguing.
Stopped asking.
Stopped reacting.
And that scared me more than the fight.
Because when Keif fights, it means he cares.
But when he goes quiet?
It means he's building walls.
And I was tired of breaking walls.
The Breaking Point
It happened on Friday.
Yuri was helping me with physics.
Nothing weird.
Nothing secret.
Just studying.
Keif walked in.
Saw us.
Paused.
And walked away.
Didn't say anything.
Didn't even look at me.
That hurt more than jealousy.
I followed him outside.
"Are you serious right now?"
He didn't stop walking.
"I'm not doing this again."
"Doing what?"
"Competing."
My chest tightened.
"I'm not a trophy!"
"I know."
"Then why are you acting like I'm choosing between you?"
He turned finally.
Because you never chose me properly.
That's what his eyes said.
But his mouth?
"Forget it."
Forget it.
That stupid phrase.
"Say what you actually mean," I demanded.
He stayed silent.
That silence broke something inside me.
"You know what?" I whispered. "Maybe you're right."
He frowned slightly.
"Maybe we are nothing."
His face went still.
But he didn't stop me.
Didn't grab my hand.
Didn't say no.
And that was the moment.
That was when I almost walked away.
Keifer's POV
Say something.
Say something.
Why can't I say something?
When she said maybe we are nothing—
It felt like someone pulled the ground from under me.
But my pride?
It wouldn't let me beg.
I thought she would stop.
I thought she would turn back.
She didn't.
She walked away.
And for the first time—
I felt like I might actually lose her.
Not because of Yuri.
Because of me.
That Night – Aries Finds Out
Jay didn't go home immediately.
She came late.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Aries noticed.
He always does.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie."
Silence.
Then—
"It's over."
Three words.
Aries' expression darkened.
"With who?"
She didn't answer.
That was enough.
"With Keifer?"
Her silence confirmed it.
Aries stood up immediately.
"What did he do?"
"Nothing."
"What did he say?"
"Nothing."
That's what made it worse.
Aries clenched his jaw.
"He hurt you."
"No."
"Yes."
"He just… didn't stop me."
Her voice cracked.
Aries' anger shifted.
From protective rage…
To quiet understanding.
"He let you walk away."
Jay nodded slightly.
"That's worse than fighting," she whispered.
Aries' eyes hardened.
"I told you," he said lowly. "If he makes you cry—"
"Don't," she interrupted.
"Don't what?"
"Don't fight him."
"I will."
"No."
She looked at him directly.
"If he comes back… it has to be because he wants to. Not because you scared him."
Aries was silent for a long moment.
"He doesn't realize what he almost lost," Aries muttered.
Jay's lips trembled slightly.
"I don't think he does."
Keifer's POV – The Realization
I didn't sleep.
I kept replaying that moment.
Her walking away.
Me standing there.
Doing nothing.
Why?
Because I was afraid she'd reject me if I asked her to stay?
Because I wanted her to choose me without me asking?
That's stupid.
Love isn't mind reading.
It's courage.
And I didn't have it.
Cin called me.
"You messed up."
"I know."
"She cried."
That sentence punched me.
"What?"
"She came back from outside with red eyes."
My chest tightened painfully.
Yuri's voice came next.
"I backed off. This isn't about me."
Good.
Because it never was.
It was about my pride.
And now?
I might have lost her because of it.
The Confrontation
Next day.
I went to her house.
Aries opened the door.
His expression?
Cold.
"Why are you here?"
"I need to talk to her."
"You had your chance."
I held his stare.
"I know."
He stepped outside instead.
Closed the door behind him.
"She cried."
"I know."
"You let her walk away."
"I know."
Aries moved closer.
"If you think she's strong enough to handle abandonment again—"
"I don't," I interrupted.
He paused.
"I was scared," I admitted. "I thought if I asked her to stay, she'd see how much power she has over me."
Aries studied me.
"And?"
"She already has it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Honest.
"I don't want to lose her because I was too proud to say don't go."
Aries' anger cooled slightly.
"You don't get many chances with her," he said quietly. "Her heart has cracks already."
"I won't be another one."
Aries looked at me for a long moment.
Then finally stepped aside.
"Fix it."
Jay's POV
When I saw him standing there…
My heart betrayed me.
It still reacted.
I hated that.
"What."
He stepped closer.
"I was wrong."
I didn't respond.
"I should've stopped you."
Silence.
"I should've said don't go."
My throat tightened.
"But I was scared."
"Of what?" I whispered.
"That if I begged, you'd realize you could leave anytime."
That honesty broke my anger.
"You think I want that power?" I asked quietly.
He shook his head.
"I think you've had too many people walk away. And I didn't want to become another one."
"You almost did."
That hit him hard.
"I know."
Silence again.
But this time…
Different.
"I don't want to compete," he said. "I want to stand next to you."
"Then stand," I whispered.
He stepped closer.
Not touching yet.
Just close.
"I'm choosing you," he said clearly. "Not because you might leave. Not because someone else wants you. But because I do."
My heart cracked open.
"And next time I walk away?" I asked softly.
"I won't let you."
That wasn't control.
That was commitment.
Tears fell before I could stop them.
He wiped them gently.
"Don't make me prove I'll stay," I whispered.
"I won't," he promised.
And this time—
He didn't let pride win.
He pulled me into his arms.
And held me like he almost lost something precious.
Because he did.
Almost.