Hello everyone š¤ I hope you liked the first partā¦ lets start with the next one.
Jay's POV:
The second I heard his weak voice whisper my name, something inside me shattered.
I didn't think. I didn't hesitate.
I just ran to him and wrapped my arms around him tightly ā like I was afraid he would disappear if I didn't. I didn't care about what he had done. I didn't care about his words. Seeing him lying thereā¦ covered in bandagesā¦ paleā¦ fragileā¦ it broke me.
He hugged me back slowly, weaklyā¦ his fingers sliding into my hair, gently stroking it like he used to. Like nothing had changed.
And that's what hurt the most.
Because this didn't look like the Keifer who told me I meant nothing.
This didn't look like the boy who said he used me for revenge.
This looked like someone who loved me.
After a while, my sobs grew softer. I pulled back slightly and looked at him. His eyesā¦ God. They were soft. Warm. Full of something I was too scared to name.
For a second ā just one second ā I wanted to believe it.
But then his voice echoed in my head.
"I used you and the whole section E knows."
"it was all a part of the plan."
The memories of that horrible day rushed back like a storm. The day I wished I had never gone to school. The day everything broke.
I stepped back slowly and turned my back to him.
No. I can't do this again.
I'm scared.
Scared that if I stay for one more second, I'll forgive him.
Scared that I won't have the strength to walk away.
Scared that he'll break me againā¦ and this time I won't survive it.
Suddenly, I felt his weak fingers wrap around my wrist.
My throat tightened instantly. Tears burned my eyes again.
Don't cry. Don't fall weak again, Jay.
"Jayā¦" he whispered, his voice fragile and shaking. "Please don't leave."
For a moment, I almost did.
I almost turned around and held him again.
But I gently removed his hand from mine.
No matter what he didā¦ I can't hurt him. He was just shot. He's vulnerable. This isn't the time to scream at him. Even though I wanted to. I wanted to shake him. Slap him. Ask him why he came back. Why he left without explaining. Why he destroyed me.
But I was scared.
Scared that if he spokeā¦ I would believe him again.
And if I break this timeā¦ I don't think I'll ever be able to fix myself.
He called my name again.
But I walked away.
I stepped out of the hospital room and closed the door behind me. My back hit the wall as I leaned against it, breathing heavily, trying to hold myself together.
Through the small glass window, I saw Edrix and the others rush to him. His eyelids were fluttering. His legs slightly shaking. They laid him down again.
And within secondsā¦
He went unconscious.
Again.
I couldn't stay there anymore.
I kept walking until I reached the hospital garden. The night air hit my face, but it didn't calm me. I sat on a bench and finally broke down.
I cried like I was falling apart from the inside.
I held my head in my hands, trying to breathe through the pain.
Then I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I looked up.
Percy.
My brother. The one who jokes about everything. The one who never looks serious.
But right nowā¦ he looked like he could feel my pain.
He sat beside me and pulled me into a tight hug.
"Jayā¦ my sister," he said softly. "Let it out. Talk to me."
And I did.
"Percyā¦ why do I still care?" I cried. "Why does it still hurt like this? First he made me feel like I was his world. Like I was loved. And then he said he used me. For revenge. But then he still acts like he cares. He always comes back to save me. He hugs me. He looks at me like thatā¦"
My voice broke.
"If he doesn't love meā¦ why does he act like he does? I tried to hate him. I swear I tried. But I can't. He's in my head all the time. I can't breathe without thinking about him."
Percy didn't interrupt me.
He didn't give advice.
He just held me while I cried. Letting me empty everything out.
Later, he walked me back to my room and told me to rest.
I fell asleep from exhaustion.
When I woke up, it was dark. Completely dark.
Ci-n was still there. I asked him the time.
"10 p.m."
My heart instantly thought of Keifer.
How is he?
Before I could ask, Ci-n spoke.
"He's still unconscious, Jay."
My body went cold.
"What? Why? What did the doctor say?"
"He's out of danger," Ci-n said calmly. "But his body is completely burnt out. He's severely exhausted. Dehydrated. He hasn't been eating properly. His body basically shut down."
Burnt out?
What has he been doing in London? Why wasn't he taking care of himself? What was he running from? Or who?
I turned to face the wall, forcing myself to close my eyes.
But sleep wouldn't come.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.
At 2 a.m., I gave up.
Ci-n was snoring loudly.
Should I go see him?
No. Don't.
ā¦Just once.
"Forget it," I whispered to myself. "I'll just see him once."
I quietly stepped out and walked toward his room. Rory and Calix were asleep outside.
I carefully entered.
The room was dark. The only light came from the monitor beside him. The steady beeping sound filled the silence.
He looked so pale.
So tired.
I sat beside him on the stool and justā¦ stared.
The IV was still attached to his arm.
Slowly, my trembling fingers reached for his face. I gently caressed his cheek.
The tension on his face softened slightly.
"You know I hate you, right?" I whispered, letting out a soft, broken laugh.
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
"You said you don't love me. You said you used me. Then why do your eyes say something else? Why do you always come to save me? If I meant nothingā¦ why risk your life for me?"
My voice cracked.
"I don't understand you, Keifer. I wish I could hate you properly. I wish I could walk away. But I can't. And I hate that I can't."
Silence answered me.
The steady beeping of the monitor.
"I think the universe just enjoys messing with me," I whispered.
I don't know when sleep took over me.
All I know is that I fell asleep with my head resting against the side of his bedā¦ still sitting beside him.
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That's it for this chapter š¤
I'll upload the next chapter soon and try to wrap this story up in the next two parts.
Let me know what you think in the comments š„ŗāØ