FLASHBACK — Yesterday
Lyra stood in front of Adrian, her voice trembling. "I need to tell you something."
Adrian sighed softly. "Lyra, if this is about yesterday—"
"It's not," she whispered. "It's about you."
Amara's breath caught.
Lyra took a shaky breath. "I like you."
Adrian froze.
Lyra continued, voice cracking. "I've liked you for a long time. I know you don't see me that way, but I had to say it. I had to try."
Adrian's expression softened, but not in the way she hoped.
"Lyra," he said gently, "you're important to me. You're like a little sister."
She froze.
He continued softly, "You're young. You should be focusing on your studies, your training, your future... not on me."
Lyra's eyes dimmed, but she nodded slowly.
"And I don't feel that way about you," he added, still gentle. "I care about you, but not like that."
Lyra swallowed hard. "I figured."
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"It's okay," she whispered, though her voice cracked.
Adrian hesitated, then said, "There's someone else."
Lyra's head snapped up. "Someone else?"
He nodded once. "Yeah."
Her voice was barely a breath. "Does she know?"
Adrian looked away for a moment, jaw tightening. "No. Not yet."
Lyra gave a sad, understanding smile. "Then… I hope she realizes how lucky she is."
Adrian's expression softened. "Thank you."
And then he walked away.
BACK TO PRESENT
Amara blinked, the memory fading as she found herself back in her room — back in Adrian's arms, back in the moment she'd been terrified to face.
Her lips parted, her breath catching. "You… you rejected her."
Adrian nodded, his eyes locked on hers. "I did."
"And you told her… there was someone else."
His voice dropped, soft and steady. "Yes."
Amara's heart pounded so hard she felt it in her throat. "Who… who is it?"
Adrian didn't look away.
He didn't hesitate.
"It's you, Amara."
Her breath stopped.
Her world stopped.
Everything stopped.
Adrian stepped closer, his forehead gently touching hers, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's always been you."