Jeffery didn't knock.
He never did.
"Tiana, if you're inside and ignoring me, I just want you to know I brought food."
She stared at the door.
Then at her phone.
Then back at the door.
"…What food?" she asked, not moving.
"Important question," Jeffery replied from outside.
"Now open the door so I can answer it properly."
A small pause.
Then—
She got up.
When she opened the door, Jeffery walked in like he lived there.
Holding a plastic bag like it was treasure.
"I come bearing gifts," he announced.
Tiana closed the door slowly.
"You say that every time."
"And every time, I deliver."
He walked straight to the table and started unpacking.
Fried rice.
Chicken.
Something that smelled suspiciously like too much pepper.
Tiana raised an eyebrow.
"You're trying to kill me?"
"I'm trying to bring you back to life," he corrected.
She almost smiled.
Almost.
Jeffery paused mid-motion.
"…Wait."
He squinted at her.
"What?" she asked.
"You almost smiled."
"I did not."
"You did. I saw it. Don't take it back now."
She rolled her eyes and walked past him.
But this time…
She sat down.
Progress.
Jeffery nodded to himself like he had just achieved something significant.
"So," he said, sitting opposite her,
"are we talking about it or are we pretending everything is fine?"
Tiana picked up the fork.
"I'm eating first."
"Ah," Jeffery nodded, serious.
"Avoidance. A classic."
She gave him a look.
"I'm hungry."
"Mm-hmm. Emotionally or physically?"
"…Jeffery."
"Okay, okay," he raised his hands.
"Eat. But just so you know, I'm not leaving without getting at least 60% of the story."
She took a bite.
Chewed slowly.
Then—
"Jones came over."
Jeffery froze.
Fork halfway to his mouth.
"…I'm listening."
Tiana shrugged slightly.
"It wasn't long."
"That's suspicious already."
She ignored him.
"He said the same things."
Jeffery leaned back in his chair.
"Let me guess," he said.
"'I need time.' 'I'm figuring things out.' 'You're important to me.'"
Tiana looked at him.
"…Have you met him secretly?"
Jeffery snorted.
"No. Men just recycle speeches when they don't know what they're doing."
She let out a small laugh.
It slipped out before she could stop it.
They both paused.
Jeffery's eyes widened.
"There it is again."
"Don't make it weird."
"I'm not making it weird, I'm celebrating growth."
Tiana shook her head, but this time—
She didn't hide the small smile that followed.
"She didn't cry," Jeffery muttered.
"She laughed. This is serious."
"I can still hear you."
"Good. It's intentional."
She took another bite of food.
Quieter now.
But not heavy.
"I didn't argue," she said after a moment.
Jeffery tilted his head.
"No?"
She shook her head.
"There was nothing to argue about."
Jeffery leaned back slightly.
Studying her.
"Let me ask you something," he said.
Tiana glanced at him.
"What?"
"When he was talking… what was going on in your head?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the fork.
"I kept waiting," she said quietly.
Jeffery frowned.
"Waiting for what?"
She let out a small breath.
"For it to be different."
Silence.
Tiana stared down at her plate.
"I thought maybe this time…" she continued softly,
"…he'd say something clear."
Jeffery didn't interrupt.
"But it was the same," she added.
A small pause.
"And I knew it would be."
That part hurt more.
She swallowed.
"I didn't cry," she said, almost like she was trying to understand it herself.
"But… it still hurt."
Jeffery's expression softened.
"Of course it did," he said gently.
Tiana shook her head slightly.
"It's just…" she hesitated,
"I think I'm more tired than I am hurt."
That landed.
Jeffery studied her carefully.
"Tired of what?"
She gave a small, almost empty laugh.
"Waiting for something that never changes."
Silence filled the space between them again.
But this silence…
Was honest.
Jeffery nodded slowly.
"Okay," he said.
Tiana looked at him.
"Okay?" she repeated.
He leaned forward slightly.
"That's different," he said.
She frowned.
"How?"
"You're not asking why he's like that," Jeffery said.
"You're not blaming yourself."
Tiana blinked.
"And you're not trying to fix it," he added.
She paused.
Because he was right.
Jeffery gave a small smile.
"That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt," he said.
"It just means you're not getting lost in it anymore."
Tiana sat back slowly.
Letting that sink in.
The pain was still there.
But it wasn't loud.
Wasn't consuming.
Just… there.
And for once—
That felt manageable.
She picked up her fork again.
"…You talk too much," she muttered.
Jeffery grinned.
"And yet, I'm always right."
She shook her head.
But this time—
There was a small, real smile on her face.
And it stayed.