A few days after that café night…
Jay was sitting alone in the college garden.
The same garden where she and Keifer used to sit for hours.
But now it felt different.
Quiet.
Almost lonely.
Jay was staring at her phone when someone sat beside her.
Ella.
Jay looked up.
"Ella."
Ella crossed her arms and looked straight at her.
"We need to talk."
Jay sighed.
"What about?"
Ella didn't hesitate.
"Yuri."
Jay immediately frowned.
"Ella…"
But Ella continued.
"I saw what happened that day in the café."
Jay looked surprised.
"You were there?"
Ella nodded.
"I came to pick up my cousin."
She looked serious.
"And I heard everything."
Jay looked away.
"It was just a joke."
Ella shook her head.
"No."
"It wasn't."
Jay stayed silent.
Ella leaned forward slightly.
"I've seen this before."
Jay looked back at her.
"What do you mean?"
Ella sighed deeply.
"My ex."
"Aries."
Jay remembered the name.
Ella rarely talked about him.
Ella continued quietly.
"At first he was just like Yuri."
Jay frowned again.
"What does that mean?"
Ella looked straight into her eyes.
"At first he gave me so much attention."
"He made me feel special."
"He made me feel like the most important girl in the world."
Jay whispered,
"That's normal in a relationship."
Ella nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"But then slowly… things changed."
Jay listened quietly.
Ella continued.
"First he started controlling small things."
"Who I talk to."
"Where I go."
"Who my friends are."
Jay's heart skipped for a moment.
Ella's voice became serious.
"And slowly… he started making me feel small."
"In front of his friends."
"He would laugh when they mocked me."
"He would say I'm too simple."
Jay's fingers tightened around her bag.
Ella finished softly.
"They first give attention."
"Then they start controlling."
"And slowly… they keep you in their fingers."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Jay quickly shook her head.
"Yuri is not like that."
Ella looked calm.
"You're sure?"
Jay nodded firmly.
"He just doesn't like misunderstandings."
Ella raised an eyebrow.
"Like Keifer?"
Jay's expression changed.
"That's different."
Ella sighed.
"Is it?"
Jay spoke defensively.
"Yuri just wanted respect in the relationship."
Ella looked at her quietly.
"And respecting him means cutting off your best friend?"
Jay didn't answer.
Ella leaned back on the bench.
"I'm not forcing you to believe me."
Jay looked slightly irritated now.
"Then why are you saying all this?"
Ella replied softly.
"Because I care about you."
Jay looked away stubbornly.
"Yuri loves me."
Ella nodded.
"Maybe."
"But Aries used to say the same thing."
Silence filled the space between them.
Jay stood up.
"I trust Yuri."
Ella didn't stop her.
Jay added firmly,
"He would never hurt me."
Ella watched her walk away.
Her expression filled with worry.
She whispered quietly to herself,
"I hope you're right, Jay."
Because Ella knew something Jay didn't want to admit yet.
People like Aries…
And people like Yuri…
Often started the same way. 💔