Yuri's POV:
When Alex and his parents left, the noise of the party dimmed behind me. I'd been watching from the hallway, waiting for a moment that didn't feel like ambush. Then I saw her step out alone, still catching her breath from the chaos inside, and I acted on impulse.
I caught her wrist, gentle but firm. She turned, startled, eyes wide—then froze when she saw me.
"Yuri…" she breathed, half a question, half a warning.
"I'm giving up," I said before she could speak again. "I'm letting you go."
Her brow furrowed. "Then why are you here?"
"Because I don't want you to forget your feelings for me." I smiled weakly. "I don't even understand it myself, Jay‑Jay. But Keifer's serious this time. He said he was letting you go—and I realized I can't."
I took a step back, steadying my voice. "At first, I meant to talk to him, to ask why. But then I thought—no, I'll talk to you. Because you deserve the truth."
She crossed her arms, silent, waiting.
"Keifer came up with that plan. I was there. I helped because I hated Aries, because I thought revenge would fix everything. You told me once that we both had sapi —souls that were too tired to care. You were right."
I swallowed. "But when I got close to you, something changed. I started seeing what you saw in people, in us. And when I realized I was falling for you, I tried to save you—from him, from the plan—from myself."
Her lips parted. "Save me?"
"Yes. I told you before, in the jungle, remember? I wanted to pull you away before he broke you. But the night you said you liked him…" I shook my head, forcing the words out. "It felt like being stabbed. I panicked. That's why I did the stupidest thing of all—the engagement."
Her eyes flashed. "That's how you 'saved' me?" she said, voice sharp with disbelief.
I bowed my head. "I was desperate. I didn't want to lose you. And I didn't want you to be hurt again."
"Too late," she muttered.
"I know." I exhaled shakily. "I'm not blaming Keifer. I was part of it, too. I should've stopped him. I didn't."
Then I did what I never thought I'd do—I knelt.
"Stand up," she snapped. "Don't do that."
I stayed where I was. "Not until you forgive me."
Her tone turned icy. "We're just talking, Yuri. I never said I'd forgive you. Get up."
Her words hit harder than a punch. I forced myself to stand, keeping my gaze down. "You really love Keifer, don't you?" The question slipped out before I could stop it. "You forgave him so easily, even without an apology."
She froze. "I haven't forgiven Keifer."
Not yet, I thought bitterly. But you will.
A dry laugh escaped me. "Why him? After everything he did?"
A single tear slid down her cheek. My chest twisted.
"It's not that easy!" she burst out, voice shaking. "If you haven't moved on from me, how do you expect me to move on from him? You think I want to feel this way? I don't! He says he doesn't like me—but every time he looks at me, I believe him. And because I do, I keep hoping!"
Her words broke me open. I stepped closer, reached for her hand. "Then let me help you forget him," I said softly. "Let me be the one who doesn't hurt you."
She tried to pull away, but I held on. Her hand trembled.
"Y‑Yuri… I don't want to hurt you," she whispered. "If I get caught up in this again, you'll get hurt too."
"Is it still him?" I asked quietly. "Do you still hope?"
She didn't answer. Her silence was answer enough.
"He let you go," I murmured. "He told me himself."
Her head snapped up. "What?"
"About a week ago," I said, each word heavy. "He asked me to keep you safe. I asked why, but he wouldn't say. Only that he was letting you go."
Her eyes filled again, tears spilling faster this time. Her hands shook as if the ground beneath her had split open.
I realized, too late, that I'd destroyed whatever fragile calm she'd built.
"I shouldn't have said that," I whispered, reaching out.
But she turned, face wet, and walked away before I could touch her. I stood there watching her disappear through the hallway light, every part of me collapsing inward.
I'm sorry, Jay‑Jay. I only ever make it worse...