Yuri's POV:
The phone burns in my hand.
One stupid mistake, one text, and I nearly blew everything.
"Don't worry she is next."
I hadn't meant for Jay Jay to see that. It wasn't even meant for her. My thumb moved faster than my brain, and before I could stop it—sent. Her name flashing on my screen, the panic in her replies, the deleted message that didn't delete fast enough…
I squeeze the bridge of my nose and drag air into my lungs. Calm. I need to stay calm. That girl has a way of finding cracks in people, slipping through until you're forced to either let her in or shove her away. And I've been shoving. Hard.
Because she doesn't understand. She can't.
If she knew—if anyone knew—what I've gotten myself into, she'd run. Or worse, she'd try to save me. Jay's always been reckless like that, charging headfirst into things that could crush her.
I pace my room, curtains drawn, phone buzzing again. Messages from numbers that aren't saved. I don't need them saved. I know who they are. What they want.
"Deliver it," one says.
"Tomorrow. No excuses."
My stomach twists. The paper. The one Jay almost saw. It's still in my drawer, folded so tight the edges are tearing. A list. A target.
I open my phone again. Her last message is still there.
"Yuri! Message back! You idiot rooster!"
I almost smile. Almost. That's her voice—loud, demanding, alive. And every part of me wants to tell her everything. But I don't. Because the moment I do, she's dragged into this mess permanently.
And if Keifer's around her, if he's noticing the way I vanish, the way she looks for me, then it's already bad enough.
I drop onto the bed, running a hand through my hair. "Stay away, Jay," I mutter to the ceiling. "For once, just… stay away."
But deep down, I know she won't. She never does.
The phone buzzes again, but I don't touch it. Not yet. I can't. I need to breathe. I need to think. I need to… survive.
Because surviving means keeping her alive. And that… that's all that matters.
Even if it kills me.
Even if it kills me slowly.
Even if it kills the part of me that still wants her to know everything, that still wants her to trust me.
Because some truths are too dangerous to share.
Some truths are meant to stay buried.
Even from Jay Jay.
Even from Keifer.
Even from myself.
I sit there, staring at the ceiling, the phone's glow painting her name in pale light.
And I whisper once more, so softly I can barely hear it:
"Stay away, Jay. Please. Just… stay away."
But in my chest, in my heart, I know she won't.
And that terrifies me more than anything else in this world.
My phone buzzes again. Another unknown number. I hesitate, thumb hovering over the screen like touching it might set the world on fire.
The message is short. Terrifyingly short.
"Eliminate her. No excuses."
My chest tightens. My stomach twists. I drop onto the bed, the weight of the words pressing down like a physical force.
No. No. No.
I stare at the screen, trying to convince myself it's a mistake. Some sick joke. But the number isn't new. It's the one I've been getting orders from. The same one that's been monitoring every move I've made for weeks.
Eliminate her.
The paper in my drawer flashes in my mind. The list. The names. Jay Jay. She's on it. Somehow, someway, she's on my list now. Not just a target. My responsibility. My fault if she dies.
I can't. I won't.
And yet… the message is clear. Someone expects her dead. Someone wants me to kill her.
I run a hand through my hair, pacing the room like a caged animal. My brain is screaming. My heart is screaming. My chest is screaming. Jay Jay doesn't even know what's coming. And if I hesitate… if I don't act… someone else will.
I throw the phone onto the bed. The screen glows up at me, accusing, demanding, lethal. My hands shake. My mind races.
I think of her face. Bright, reckless, alive. How she laughs like the world can't touch her, how she fights and cries and loves without fear. And now… now someone wants that gone.
I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. My breathing is ragged, sharp. I can't let her die. I can't. Not because I care—because I do, more than I should. Not because I want to—because I can't survive if she's gone.
I grab the phone again, my hands trembling. I type a reply without thinking.
To: Unknown NumberI won't. She's not yours. Not yours to touch.
Three dots appear. Typing… typing… then a reply.
"Then she dies, and you die with her."
The world tilts. My chest caves in. My knees buckle. The threat is clear, absolute, unyielding.
I shouldn't be scared. I shouldn't. I've faced worse. I've survived worse. But this… this is different. She's different. Jay Jay is different.
I pace again, frantic, my mind running in circles. I can't call anyone. I can't go to Keifer. I can't trust anyone. If I move wrong, if I hesitate, if I falter… she dies.
And if she dies… I die with her.
I grip the edge of my desk, knuckles white. My breathing is harsh, shallow. My heart is pounding so hard it feels like it might explode. I can't let them win. I can't let her die.
And yet… I know the truth. I'm already too late. She's already tangled in this. She's already seen things she shouldn't. She's already… involved.
I drop to the floor, head in my hands. My chest shakes. I can't stop thinking about her. About the bright, stubborn, reckless girl who shouldn't exist in this world of shadows and orders and death.
I can't let her die. I can't.
But someone wants her dead.
And now… I'm the only thing standing between her and that.
I whisper to the empty room, voice shaking.
"Stay alive, Jay. Please… stay alive."
The phone buzzes again. Another message. Another command. Another chain tightening around my chest.
I swallow hard, forcing my hands to stop shaking. I have to act. I have to protect her. I have to… survive.
Because if I fail… she dies.
And if she dies… I don't think I could live with myself.
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Jay Jay's POV:
I open the gate as Keifer is still there, behind me, making sure I'm safe.
I walk in with my phone constantly vibrating. STOPPP!!! Wait... what if it's Yuri's message!? What if he surrenders and tells me the truth!? Definitely definitely!
I open my phone the see this...
Don't get involved.
ARE YOU SERIOUS!? I didn't even do anything!? "Don't get involved" MY FOOT!
"Jay Jay?" I hear Keifer's voice behind me, he hasn't left.
"Hm?" Don't ask what im seeing on my phone! He's gonna tell Kuya for sure and get me in trouble!
"Show me." His hand gestures toward the phone.
"Huh!? WHY!!" I hug my phone if it's like the end of the world! It will be when he tells Kuya!!
"Not like there is a whole secret mission on my phone! Why do you want to see it!?"
Silence.
HAH! that's all it takes!
"Jay, give it to me"
Pfft no! Search for a pocket, search for a poc- wait i dont have any pockets!
"Why do you even want it?"
"Jay," he point towards my phone "Hand it over."
I yank it away instinctively.
He tilts his head, eyes narrowing. "It's not private if someone's trying to get to you through it. Don't you want to know what's going on?"
I blink. His logic is… terrifyingly convincing. My fingers tremble, still clutching the phone.
Keifer crouches slightly, a calculated motion to meet my level. "Jay. I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to protect you. Let me help."
pfft-
"Don't tell Kuya..."