A few days had passed since the confrontation with Addison. The time had stretched out like an endless void, each minute dragging on as Aonmi tried to push through the emptiness, desperate to make sense of the growing chasm between them.
Addison had kept her distance, retreating into the small corner of the warehouse she'd claimed as her own. She hadn't spoken much since then. She wasn't angry, or maybe she was too numb to be. Either way, the walls she'd built around herself were thick, and Aonmi couldn't break through.
In the days that followed, he found himself staring at the door, his hands twitching with the need to leave, to find something-anything-that could pull Addison back. But he stayed. Because leaving would only mean he had given up. And that was something he refused to do.
Marsh and Xotic had been keeping their distance too. While Xotic spent time with Marsh, both of them talking in hushed tones, Aonmi's mind never strayed far from Addison.
The warehouse was quiet today, the usual hum of activity from Xotic's offbeat chatter and Marsh's lazy teasing gone for the moment. It left a silence that felt too heavy, too suffocating, even with the distant sounds of the city outside.
Addison hadn't emerged yet, but he'd learned not to expect her. It had been like that for days now. She'd leave only when she had to, and when she returned, she'd avoid him as if she could hide from the truth.
Aonmi sat by the window, his gaze fixed on the sky outside, staring at the clouds that shifted like thoughts in his mind. His hand gripped the windowsill until his knuckles ached.
"Why won't you just remember?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Suddenly, he heard a soft, tentative sound from behind him-a footstep, a creak in the floorboards. Aonmi turned, his heart leaping into his throat.
Addison stood in the doorway, her figure framed by the soft glow of the light from the hallway. She looked different now-less fragile, but still distant. Her eyes met his for the briefest moment before she glanced away, crossing the room toward a small table, grabbing a bottle of water, and then turning to face him.
There was a pause, a moment stretched thin with the weight of unspoken words.
Aonmi opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. He could feel them twisting at the back of his throat, all the things he wanted to say, but they were too heavy. Too complicated. Too full of everything he felt for her.
Addison was the first to speak.
"I don't know what you want from me," she said quietly, her voice tinged with exhaustion.
Aonmi's breath caught in his chest. His heart twisted painfully as he stood up, moving slowly toward her.
"I want you to remember," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "I want you to remember what we had. What we were to each other."
Her eyes flicked up to meet his again, but there was no recognition in them. Just that emptiness that had haunted him since the moment she'd turned away from him. She took a small step back, as though trying to distance herself further.
"You don't get it, do you?" Addison's voice was quiet, but there was a sharpness to it that cut through him like a blade. "You don't know who I am anymore."
Aonmi took another step forward, his chest tightening with a mixture of frustration and desperation. "But I do know you. I know you better than anyone else ever will."
Addison shook her head, her expression unreadable. "You knew me once. But that person-she's gone now. And I'm not the same. I'm not... her."
The words hit him like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, Aonmi couldn't breathe. It was like she had torn something from his chest, leaving him raw and exposed.
"I don't care if you're different. I don't care what's changed. I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere. I won't lose you again."
Addison's gaze softened, and for a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a hint of something-maybe pity, maybe sorrow-in her eyes. But it was gone before he could reach for it.
"You don't get it, Aonmi," she whispered again. "You can't fix everything. You can't bring back what we had. You're holding onto something that's already gone."
The words hung in the air between them, thick with the weight of finality. Aonmi stood there for a long time, unable to say anything. The silence felt suffocating, and the more he stared at Addison, the more he realized how much she had changed. She was no longer the girl he had fallen in love with. She was someone else. Someone he couldn't reach. Someone he didn't know how to save.
"I don't know how to fix this," he said softly, his voice strained with the weight of his own frustration. "But I won't stop trying."
Addison didn't respond. She didn't need to. The finality of her words still echoed in his mind, drowning out everything else. Aonmi stood there, paralyzed by the realization that maybe he was too late. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was no fixing this.
But he wasn't ready to give up yet. And that thought-that was something he could hold on to.
_________________
The silence between Aonmi and Addison stretched on, heavier than before. Aonmi's heart ached in his chest, each word she spoke cutting deeper than the last. He couldn't bear to let her go, couldn't accept that everything they once had might be lost forever.
Just when he thought he couldn't take the weight of the silence anymore, the door to the room creaked open. Both Aonmi and Addison froze, their attention snapping to the figure in the doorway.
Amanda stood there, her silhouette framed by the faint light from the hallway. Her hair, tousled from a long night, hung loosely around her face, her eyes darting between Aonmi and Addison. There was an edge to her-an alertness, a sharpness that had become familiar over the years.
"Amanda," Addison breathed, her voice soft with an undercurrent of relief and something else Aonmi couldn't quite place.
Amanda's gaze flickered to Aonmi for a moment, then back to Addison, her brow furrowed with concern. "I should've been here sooner," she muttered under her breath, almost as if to herself, but loud enough for both of them to hear.
Aonmi's chest tightened, a mixture of frustration and guilt washing over him. Here she was-the one person who had always been there for Addison. And all Aonmi could do was stand there, helpless, watching them.
"You've been gone too long," Amanda's voice was calm but firm, as though she was trying to ground herself in the moment. "I tried to find you, Addison. We need to talk about this-about what happened." Her gaze flickered back to Aonmi, her expression unreadable, before her attention returned to Addison.
Addison stood still for a long moment, taking in Amanda's presence as though her twin sister's return could suddenly give her the clarity that had been so elusive in the past days. Amanda's steady presence seemed to fill the room, a familiar comfort Addison needed, but Aonmi could feel the tension in her every movement, the tightness in her shoulders that told him she was still struggling with the same unspoken thoughts.
"I don't think we can fix this, Amanda," Addison said, her voice low but clear. "I don't know if I can fix it."
Amanda's eyes softened as she approached, placing a hand on Addison's arm, her touch gentle but grounding. "We'll figure it out," she said, her voice reassuring, though Aonmi could hear the trace of uncertainty underneath. "You don't have to do this alone."
Aonmi stayed quiet, standing at the edge of the room, his presence almost like a ghost in the background, silently watching them. It was hard to tell whether he was part of the problem or part of the solution anymore.
"Addison," Amanda continued, turning her full attention on her sister. "I know things are difficult right now, but you've got to talk to me. Please."
Addison met Amanda's eyes, her expression clouded with emotions Aonmi couldn't decipher. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"I've been trying to avoid everything... but I don't even know what I'm running from anymore," Addison admitted, her voice small, almost like she was confessing to herself more than to anyone else. "I've changed so much. I don't feel like the same person I was before."
Amanda's hand tightened around her sister's arm, offering comfort, but Aonmi could see the underlying fear in Amanda's eyes. She was scared. Scared for Addison. And, maybe, scared for herself, too. It wasn't just about finding Addison anymore-it was about piecing together something that seemed irreparably broken.
Aonmi clenched his fists by his sides, feeling the frustration build inside him again. He wanted to step forward, to say something, to make Addison understand what he felt, but the words wouldn't come.
Instead, he stood there in silence, his presence like a storm that hovered, neither going away nor breaking. It was Amanda's turn now, her turn to help Addison through whatever this was.
But Aonmi didn't know if he could ever let go.
He wasn't sure if he even wanted to.
Addison looked up at her twin sister, her face still clouded, but a small trace of understanding passed between them. Amanda had always been the steady one, the one Addison could lean on when everything else seemed to be slipping away.
"I don't know what's happening with Aonmi, or with me," Addison said, her voice trembling slightly, as though she was letting something vulnerable slip out. "But I don't want to keep running from it. From him... from myself."
Amanda's face softened, her hand still on Addison's arm as she gave a small nod. "We'll work through this," she said softly, the words carrying more weight than Aonmi could understand. "Together."
The silence that followed seemed different now, heavier in some ways, but less suffocating. Aonmi stood still, watching them both. He didn't know what he was supposed to feel. Relief? Guilt? Maybe a little of both.
But one thing was certain.
He couldn't let go. Not yet.
____________________
The room remained thick with tension, the air heavy as Aonmi watched Addison and Amanda share that silent understanding. His stomach churned as he felt the walls closing in on him. He was an outsider in this fragile moment, and it stung more than he cared to admit.
Addison turned back to him, her eyes searching his face for something-answers, maybe. A part of him wished he could give her the clarity she so desperately needed. But the truth was, he wasn't sure he had any answers left to give.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do, Aonmi," Addison murmured, her voice breaking the silence. "Everything's so... tangled. I thought I could handle it, but I can't. I don't know what I'm feeling anymore."
Amanda's gaze shifted to Aonmi, her expression guarded but not hostile. She was watching him closely now, her eyes calculating as if trying to piece together his every movement. Aonmi couldn't blame her. He had done enough damage already, hadn't he? The fractured relationship between him and Addison was his fault. He knew that. Yet he couldn't bring himself to walk away.
"I've been following you for too long, Addison," Aonmi said, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't know what you need from me. But I can't stand the thought of losing you again. I thought I lost you once... but now you're here, and I don't know what to do with it."
Addison's breath caught, her eyes flicking to Amanda before returning to him. There was something vulnerable in her expression, a flicker of the girl he once knew beneath the layers of doubt and hurt.
Aonmi's words felt wrong, somehow. They were too raw, too exposed. He had always kept his feelings buried, but the walls had come crumbling down now, and there was no hiding what he truly felt.
Amanda stepped closer to Addison, her presence solid, reassuring. She didn't speak at first, just gave Aonmi one long, unreadable look. He couldn't tell if it was distrust or worry that lingered in her eyes, but it didn't matter. In that moment, she was Addison's protector, and that made Aonmi feel smaller than he ever had before.
"I don't want to lose you, either," Addison said, her voice soft but clear. "But I don't know what's real anymore. I can't keep doing this-being pulled in two different directions." She looked between Aonmi and Amanda, her expression torn. "You both care about me, but I'm the one caught in the middle. And it's breaking me."
Amanda reached for her sister's hand, squeezing it tightly. "You're not alone, Addison. We'll figure this out together, okay?"
Aonmi's heart clenched at the sight of them, so close, so united. He felt like an intruder, a shadow in their shared space. But he couldn't leave. Not now. Not when the feeling of Addison slipping away from him was like a burning hole in his chest.
"I don't know what I want either," Aonmi said finally, his voice hoarse. "I just... I just want you to be happy. I don't care what that means, or who's with you. I just don't want you to be in pain anymore."
Addison's gaze softened, though there was still an undercurrent of uncertainty. "I know you're trying, Aonmi. I know. But I need time. Time to figure out what's best for me. I've been lost for so long."
Aonmi nodded, his throat tightening. He wanted to argue, to tell her he could fix everything, but he knew better. She needed time. And maybe he needed to accept that, even if it was the hardest thing he'd ever done.
Amanda, ever the steady one, placed a hand on Aonmi's shoulder-brief, but it was enough to remind him that there was still a line between them, a boundary he hadn't yet crossed. "We'll help her," she said quietly, her gaze unwavering. "But you need to give her space, Aonmi. She's been through a lot. And you can't force her to feel something she doesn't yet understand."
Aonmi felt the weight of her words, even as they sliced into him. The truth was, he didn't know if he could let go, but he understood. It wasn't his decision to make.
"I'll wait," he whispered, almost to himself. "I'll wait, Addison. Whatever it takes."
The air between them seemed to shift then, and Addison, Amanda, and Aonmi stood in that quiet, fragile space-each of them processing their own turmoil in the silence.
Addison gave Aonmi a final, searching glance before turning back to her twin sister. "I don't know what's next, but I'll figure it out. I'll try."
Aonmi stayed silent, watching them both as they shared a quiet moment, the bond between them unspoken but undeniable.
He wasn't sure what the future held for him and Addison. But for now, he could do nothing more than wait.
___________________
The tension in the room was palpable, thickening the air as Addison and Amanda shared a quiet moment. Aonmi stood at a distance, his mind racing with the words he had said, the vulnerability in his voice lingering in the space between them. It wasn't enough. He knew it wasn't enough.
Addison needed more than words, more than promises. She needed to heal, to reclaim the pieces of herself that had been shattered by the weight of everything that had happened. And Aonmi had never been good at waiting. But for her, he would try. He had to.
A soft rustle of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see Amanda standing just a few steps away, her eyes locked on him, searching. For a moment, neither of them spoke. It was as if the world had paused, waiting for one of them to break the silence.
Finally, Amanda spoke, her voice quiet but firm. "I think... I think you need to leave for now, Aonmi."
He blinked, the words hitting him like a cold wave. It wasn't an accusation, but it stung nonetheless. "I'm not leaving," he replied, the stubbornness in his tone betraying the fragile calm he tried to hold onto. "I can't. Not like this."
She nodded, her gaze unwavering. "You'll only make things harder for her if you stay right now."
Aonmi's chest tightened, and he looked back at Addison, who had turned away, her focus on the window. The quiet desperation in her posture cut through him, but he could see the hesitation, the uncertainty in her body language. She was still processing everything. And if staying meant pushing her further away, then maybe Amanda was right.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Aonmi's voice was rough with emotion. "How do I fix this?"
Amanda stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm, her touch surprisingly gentle. "You don't fix it. You give her space to heal. You give her the time she needs. And you prove to her that you can be the person she deserves, even if it takes years."
His breath caught in his throat, the weight of her words settling into him like a heavy stone. He didn't want to admit it, but she was right. He couldn't force Addison to see things his way. He couldn't make her love him the way he wanted. All he could do was wait, silently, patiently, and hope that when the time was right, she would come back to him.
Aonmi nodded slowly, his heart heavy. "I'll go," he whispered, his voice almost lost in the space between them. "But I won't give up."
Amanda gave him a sharp look, a quiet warning in her gaze. "I'm not saying you have to give up. I'm saying you have to give her the freedom to find herself first. If you care about her, you'll let her do that."
He swallowed hard, the tightness in his throat threatening to break through. But Amanda was right, and he knew he had no choice but to respect Addison's wishes, even if it tore him apart.
"I understand," he said, his voice barely audible. "I'll wait."
Amanda nodded, then glanced back at Addison, who had turned away from the window, her eyes meeting his for the briefest moment. There was something in her gaze-something too deep, too heavy for words. And yet, Aonmi could see it. She wasn't giving up on him. Not yet.
Without another word, Amanda turned and walked toward the door, but before leaving, she glanced back at Aonmi one last time. Her expression was soft, almost sad. "Take care of yourself, Aonmi. Don't lose yourself in this. She needs you to be strong, too."
Aonmi stood there for a long moment after she left, staring at the door as if it might somehow hold the answers he sought. The silence that followed felt like an endless weight pressing down on him, but there was nothing left to say.
He wasn't sure how long he stood there, but eventually, he moved toward the door. One last glance at Addison. And then he stepped outside.
The night air was cool, the darkness pressing in around him. He couldn't stay here, not now, not when he was only a reminder of the pain he had caused. But he couldn't leave her for good. He wasn't strong enough for that.
Aonmi walked away from the house, his thoughts a jumbled mess. He had no idea where he was going, only that he needed to distance himself from the chaos, the heartbreak, and the impossible decisions that had been made for him.
But as he walked, one thought burned through the fog of his mind: He wouldn't give up on Addison. Not now, not ever.
______________________
Aonmi's footsteps echoed in the quiet of the night as he walked aimlessly, lost in his own thoughts. The world around him felt distant, disconnected, like he was walking in a fog that separated him from everything he cared about. He didn't know how far he'd gone, but the further he walked, the heavier the weight of the silence grew.
I won't give up.
The words repeated in his mind, but they felt hollow, like a promise he couldn't fully keep. He had no idea how to fix things between him and Addison. He couldn't even fix himself.
His thoughts turned back to the night of their first encounter-nine years ago, when Addison had been so young, so different. He could still remember the way she looked at him that first time, her eyes full of confusion, fear, but also curiosity. She had been so unaware of what she truly was, and he had been there to guide her. But somewhere along the way, he had lost her, not just physically, but emotionally, too.
You were never meant to stay.
The words of the hooded figure rang in his ears again. Why had they felt so familiar? Had that voice always been there, hidden in the shadows of his mind? Aonmi couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just a threat, but something deeper, something that had been creeping into his thoughts for years.
He stopped walking, his breath coming heavy as his chest tightened. What if it was true? What if he wasn't supposed to be here? What if he was the one who didn't belong?
His mind spun with possibilities, but nothing seemed to make sense. He couldn't stand this uncertainty. I belong with her. I belong by her side. He wanted to believe it so badly, but the more he thought about it, the more the doubt crept in.
Aonmi ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling to the surface. He wanted to shout, to scream out all the pain and confusion he was feeling, but there was no one around. No one who could understand.
Just as he was about to turn back and head toward Addison's house, a flicker of movement caught his eye. He froze, every muscle in his body tensing.
Through the darkness, he could make out the figure of someone walking toward him. It was hard to make out their features in the low light, but something about their presence felt familiar. A low growl escaped his throat, his instincts kicking in. He didn't need to look any closer. He knew who it was.
Laura.
She stepped into the light, her eyes meeting his, and for a moment, they both just stood there, as if waiting for the other to make a move.
"You're still here," Aonmi said, his voice rough with emotion.
"I could say the same to you," Laura replied, her tone more playful than he expected. But there was something in her eyes-something cautious, almost wary.
Aonmi didn't respond, his mind still spinning with the weight of everything that had happened. He was tired, so tired of everything.
"Where's Addison?" Laura asked, her voice softening. "She's okay, right?"
Aonmi hesitated before answering, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I don't know. I left her. She needed space."
Laura's gaze hardened. "You left her? After everything?"
He could hear the frustration in her voice, but there was also something else-something that made him feel like he had failed her, like he had failed Addison. He wasn't supposed to make things harder. He was supposed to protect her.
"I don't know what else to do," Aonmi admitted, his voice quieter now. "I can't fix this. I can't fix what I've done."
Laura stared at him for a long moment before speaking again, her voice soft but firm. "Maybe you can't fix everything right now. But you can be there for her. You have to be. She's going through something, Aonmi, and if you really care about her, you need to let her know that you're there, that you're not going anywhere."
He swallowed hard, the words hitting him like a punch to the gut. He had been so consumed with his own guilt, with his own fears, that he had forgotten about Addison's needs, her struggles.
"I just want her to be happy," he whispered. "I don't want to hurt her anymore."
Laura's gaze softened, and she stepped closer to him. "I know you don't. But she's not going to heal if you keep running away. You have to let her heal in her own way, but you can't just disappear."
Aonmi closed his eyes, her words sinking into him. He didn't have all the answers, but maybe she was right. He couldn't keep running from this.
"Where is she now?" he asked, looking back at Laura.
"She's still staying at the house for now. But she's... she's been struggling, Aonmi," Laura said softly, her tone shifting. "She's not the same. She's not the person you remember, not entirely."
He nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. He had hurt her more than he realized, and it wasn't going to be easy to fix that. But he wasn't going to walk away. Not this time.
"I'll go back," he said, his voice steady now. "I'm not leaving her alone."
Laura gave him a small nod, though her expression was still wary. "Just... be careful with her. And with yourself."
As Aonmi turned to head back, he could feel the weight of Laura's gaze on him, a mix of caution and hope. He didn't know what the future held, but for Addison's sake, he was going to try.
He had to.
__________________
Aonmi's mind raced as he walked back toward the house. Every step felt heavier than the last, the weight of his own doubts pressing down on him. What had he done? What was he supposed to do now? He had left Addison when she needed him the most, and now she was alone-no, not alone, but lost, and maybe in more ways than one.
Focus, he told himself. I can fix this.
But he wasn't sure how. His every instinct told him to protect her, to keep her close, but she wasn't exactly giving him a chance. He didn't even know where she was now. Was she still in the city? Or had she left entirely, the last bit of trust in him shattered forever?
The city seemed different tonight. The familiar streets, the lights, the hum of the distant cars-everything felt so far away. The tension in the air felt almost tangible, and Aonmi couldn't help but feel like the world was closing in on him.
The moment he rounded the corner and saw Addison's house in the distance, he stopped in his tracks. There was a figure standing in the yard, but it wasn't Addison. It was another shadow in the dark, one that he didn't recognize.
His body tensed. He moved quietly toward the figure, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out the features. It was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, his face obscured by the low light of the streetlamp above. The stranger was standing by the gate, looking toward the house with a contemplative expression. Aonmi felt an instinctual surge of aggression, his thoughts narrowing to a singular point: Who is he? And what is he doing here?
Without thinking, Aonmi stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of the blade hidden beneath his jacket. The stranger didn't seem to notice him approaching, lost in whatever thoughts occupied his mind.
But as Aonmi closed the distance, the stranger turned suddenly, his eyes meeting Aonmi's with a chilling calmness. There was no fear, no hesitation in his gaze-just an unsettling calm.
"Can I help you?" The man's voice was low, smooth, and strangely confident, almost too confident.
Aonmi tensed, his posture shifting to one of subtle aggression. "I'm asking the questions," he growled. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
The stranger chuckled softly, taking a step toward him, unfazed by Aonmi's hostile stance. "My name is Xotic, obviously you had forgotten, Aonmi. I'm looking for someone."
The mention of his name caught Aonmi off guard. He narrowed his eyes. "How do you know my name?"
Xotic's smile was faint, but it held something unreadable-something Aonmi couldn't place. "I've been keeping an eye on things. On her." He looked toward the house, as if knowing exactly who Aonmi was referring to.
Aonmi's muscles tensed further. "What do you want with Addison?"
Xotic met his gaze with a calculating expression. "I want to help her. The same as you, I imagine." He paused, studying Aonmi's face carefully. "But I'm not like you. I won't make the same mistakes."
Aonmi felt a flicker of something dark rise in his chest-resentment, suspicion, and something else. Help her? How could he say that so calmly? What did he really know about Addison, about their situation?
"Stay away from her," Aonmi said, his voice sharp, eyes never leaving Xotic's.
Xotic didn't flinch. "I'm not here to fight with you, Aonmi. I just want to make sure she's okay." He took another step forward, his expression softening for the first time. "But if you keep standing in my way, I'm not going to back down. You may want to think about that."
Aonmi clenched his fists, feeling the urge to strike, but he held back. There was something about this guy-something unsettling. He didn't trust him, and that gut feeling only intensified the more Xotic spoke.
"I'm not going anywhere," Aonmi muttered under his breath, but he could feel Xotic's presence lingering in his peripheral vision, like a shadow watching his every move.
"Good," Xotic said with a grin. "Then we'll both be waiting here for Addison. Let's see who she turns to first."
Aonmi bristled. "She'll come to me," he said firmly. He didn't care who Xotic was, or what his intentions were. He wasn't about to let anyone else get in between him and Addison-not again.
For a long moment, the two stood in the dark silence, sizing each other up. Aonmi didn't know what Xotic was thinking, but one thing was clear: this wasn't going to be an easy fight.
Just as Aonmi took a step forward to say more, the sound of a door creaking open behind them made both of them freeze. Addison's voice-weak, but unmistakable-broke the tense silence.
"I'm here," she said quietly, stepping out onto the porch, her expression distant but determined.
Aonmi's heart skipped a beat. He looked at her, then back at Xotic, who stood silently with a small, knowing smirk.
Addison's gaze shifted between the two of them, her brow furrowing. "What's going on?"
Aonmi swallowed, his earlier resolve suddenly wavering in the presence of Addison's vulnerability. "I... I'm here for you," he said, his voice gentler now. "I didn't mean to leave. I just-"
"Enough," Addison interrupted, her tone firm, though her voice carried a trace of weariness. "I need some space. I need to think."
Aonmi felt his chest tighten. "Addison..."
She didn't look at him then, only turned back to face the house. "Please, just... give me a little time," she said, her voice small, fading as she retreated back into the shadows.
Xotic's gaze lingered on Addison's retreating form, then returned to Aonmi. "She's not going to come to you right now. You've already pushed her too far."
Aonmi clenched his jaw. "I'll make things right."
Xotic raised an eyebrow, but didn't respond. He simply turned and began to walk away, leaving Aonmi standing alone in the quiet night, his mind spinning with confusion, regret, and a lingering sense of dread.
He knew he wasn't the only one who cared about Addison. But this wasn't just about her anymore. It was about them-about him, her, and whatever was waiting just beyond the horizon.
And Aonmi wasn't about to let anyone take that away from him.