Once you realize something, you can't un-know it.
That was the problem.
I stood by the window long after that conversation ended, staring outside without really seeing anything. The sky was clear, the grounds calm, everything exactly the same as before.
But it didn't feel the same.
Because now I knew.
Or at least… I understood enough.
I'm staying.
The thought didn't feel forced anymore.
That scared me.
"You're quiet."
I didn't turn. "You're always around when I start thinking too much."
"Because that's when you're honest."
I exhaled slowly. "You really don't give up, do you?"
"No."
Of course not.
I finally turned to face him. Kairo stood a few steps behind me, his gaze steady, like he had been watching me for a while.
"You've been here the whole time?" I asked.
"Yes."
"That's not creepy at all."
"It's effective."
I shook my head, but I didn't argue further. At this point, there was no point pretending I could keep anything from him.
"You've been thinking the same thing," he said.
It wasn't a question.
"What thing?"
"That you're staying."
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—"Yes."
The word felt heavier than expected.
But also… clearer.
Kairo didn't react immediately.
He just watched me.
Carefully.
Like he was waiting for something else.
"You expected me to fight it more?" I asked.
"Yes."
I let out a small breath. "I'm tired."
"Of what?"
"Of pretending I don't understand what's happening."
Silence followed.
But it wasn't tense.
It felt… settled.
"You understand enough," he said.
"Enough to know I'm in trouble," I muttered.
A faint shift in his expression. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It is a bad thing."
"Not for me."
I gave him a look. "That's exactly the problem."
Another pause.
Then he stepped closer.
Not sudden.
Not overwhelming.
Just steady.
"You're still thinking about leaving," he said.
I frowned. "You just heard me say I'm staying."
"You're staying now," he corrected. "That doesn't mean you've stopped thinking about leaving."
I looked away. "…I haven't."
"Why?"
The question was simple.
Too simple.
"Because this still doesn't feel like mine," I said. "This life, this place… even you."
His gaze sharpened slightly. "And yet you're still here."
"I know."
"Then accept it."
"That's not easy."
"I didn't say it was."
I sighed. "You never do."
Silence stretched again, but this time it felt different. Less like conflict. More like something being worked through.
"You keep asking me to accept this," I said slowly. "But you haven't answered something."
"What?"
I looked at him directly. "What happens if I do?"
A pause.
Not long.
But noticeable.
"If you accept it," he said, "then you stop resisting."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No, it's not," I said. "That's just the process. I'm asking about the result."
His gaze didn't waver.
"The result is the same."
I frowned. "How?"
"You stay."
I almost laughed. "You really like that answer, don't you?"
"It's the only one that matters."
"That's your answer to everything."
"Yes."
I shook my head. "You're impossible."
"And you're still here."
That again.
Always that.
Before I could respond, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Light.
Measured.
Familiar.
My body reacted before I could stop it.
I turned toward the door.
Kairo noticed.
Of course he did.
"You're waiting," he said.
"I'm not—"
The door opened.
And just like that—
He was there.
The original omega.
He paused when he saw us.
Just for a moment.
Then his expression settled into that same calm composure.
"You're both here," he said.
No surprise.
No tension.
Just observation.
"You need something?" Kairo asked.
The tone was neutral.
But not welcoming.
"I came for him."
My chest tightened.
"For me?" I asked.
The original omega nodded slightly. "We need to talk."
I hesitated.
Just briefly.
Then glanced at Kairo.
His gaze was already on me.
Watching.
Waiting.
But he didn't speak.
Didn't stop me.
That alone felt… intentional.
"I'll be back," I said.
Kairo didn't respond.
But he didn't object either.
And somehow—
That felt more dangerous than if he had.
I stepped past him, following the original omega out into the hallway. The moment we were out of the room, the air felt different.
Lighter.
But sharper.
Like something important was about to be said.
He didn't stop walking until we reached the end of the corridor.
Then he turned.
His gaze settling on me fully.
"You've changed," he said.
I sighed softly. "You said that already."
"Not like this."
I crossed my arms slightly. "Then say it properly."
A brief pause.
Then—
"You've stopped running."
My chest tightened.
"I didn't realize you were watching that closely."
"I was."
Of course he was.
Silence stretched between us.
Then—
"You're staying," he said.
Again—not a question.
I didn't deny it this time.
"Yes."
The word felt heavier now.
More real.
More final.
He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded slightly.
"I see."
That was it.
No anger.
No argument.
Just… acceptance.
And somehow—
That felt worse.
"You're not going to say anything else?" I asked.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know. Something."
He looked at me quietly.
Then—
"You should be careful."
My chest tightened. "You've said that before."
"And I meant it."
A pause.
Then his gaze softened slightly.
"Because now you're not just involved…"
His voice dropped just a little.
"…you're choosing."
The word settled heavily between us.
"I know," I said quietly.
Another pause.
Then—
"Do you regret it?"
The question caught me off guard.
I opened my mouth—
Then stopped.
Because I didn't have an immediate answer.
And that alone…
Was an answer.
He noticed.
Of course he did.
"I thought so," he said softly.
My chest tightened. "That doesn't mean I regret it."
"It means you're unsure."
"That's normal."
"It is."
Silence again.
But this time—
It wasn't tense.
It felt… closing.
Like something was ending.
Or changing.
"I won't interfere," he said suddenly.
I blinked. "What?"
"I said, I won't interfere anymore."
My chest tightened sharply. "What do you mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
"That doesn't make sense," I said. "You just said you weren't stepping aside."
"I'm not," he replied calmly. "But I'm not going to chase something that's already decided."
The words hit harder than expected.
"Nothing is decided," I said quickly.
He looked at me.
Really looked at me.
And then—
"You're wrong."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"Because he already chose," he continued.
My breath caught.
"And now…"
His gaze softened just slightly.
"…so did you."
I didn't respond.
Because I couldn't.
Because denying it now would just sound like a lie.
He stepped back.
Creating distance.
Real distance this time.
"You should go back," he said.
My chest tightened. "And you?"
A faint smile.
"I'll stay out of the way."
That didn't feel like victory.
It didn't feel like relief.
It felt like something slipping away.
And I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
I stood there for a moment longer, then turned.
Walking back down the corridor.
Back to him.
And with every step—
That realization became clearer.
This wasn't something I could undo anymore.
Not easily.
Maybe not at all.
And when I opened the door and stepped back inside—
Kairo was exactly where I left him.
Watching.
Waiting.
Like he knew I would come back.
And the way he looked at me—
It wasn't surprise.
It wasn't curiosity.
It was certainty.
And for the first time—
I didn't try to prove him wrong.