Chapter 30
One Last Time
(Jay's POV)
I didn't know how to face him.
But I had to.
Because he deserved to know.
Not from someone else.
Not later.
From me.
We met.
Same place.
Same silence.
But everything felt different.
Heavy.
Like the air itself knew…
this was the end.
"Jay."
His voice.
Soft.
But not normal.
Not like before.
I looked at him.
And my heart broke instantly.
Because he already knew.
Not everything.
But enough.
"What happened?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know where to start.
So I just said it.
"They came with a proposal."
His jaw tightened.
"I know."
Silence.
"For Kasper."
He looked away.
Ran his hand through his hair.
Then looked back at me.
"I'll fix it."
My heart clenched.
"You don't have to—"
"I will."
His voice was firm.
Determined.
"I'll talk to Ma."
"Keifer—"
"I'll tell her."
"No."
That one word.
It stopped him.
Completely.
He looked at me.
Confused.
"What?"
"I already promised."
Silence.
The kind that hurts.
"What do you mean?"
"My father…"
My voice broke.
"He asked me…"
Tears started falling.
"And I promised him."
He didn't move.
Didn't react.
Just… stared.
Like he didn't understand.
Or maybe…
He didn't want to.
"You promised?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
A long pause.
Too long.
Then—
He laughed.
But there was no humor in it.
Just pain.
"So that's it?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't have anything left to say.
"You're just…"
He shook his head.
"Giving up?"
My heart shattered.
"I'm not giving up—"
"Then what is this?"
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was broken.
Completely broken.
"You're choosing them."
Silence.
"You're choosing him."
I closed my eyes.
Tears falling non-stop.
"Say something, Jay."
I couldn't.
Because anything I say…
Would hurt him more.
"Are you really giving up on me?"
That question.
It destroyed everything left inside me.
I opened my eyes slowly.
Looked at him.
Really looked.
The boy I loved.
The one who stayed.
The one who cared.
The one who became my everything.
And I said—
"Yes."
The word left my lips.
And took my soul with it.
He didn't react immediately.
No anger.
No shouting.
Just…
silence.
The dangerous kind.
The kind that means something inside him…
just died.
"Okay."
That's all he said.
One word.
And suddenly…
He wasn't the same.
Not even a little.
He stepped back.
Created distance.
The same distance we used to keep in public.
But this time…
It wasn't acting.
It was real.
"Then it's over."
My breath hitched.
But I didn't stop him.
Because I had no right to.
Not anymore.
He turned to leave.
And something inside me…
screamed.
But I stayed silent.
Because I chose this.
I chose to let him go.
"Jay."
I looked up.
He was still there.
Not looking at me.
But not leaving either.
"Can I ask you something?"
My voice didn't come out.
So I just nodded.
He turned slightly.
Looked at me.
And for the first time…
I saw it.
Not anger.
Not frustration.
Just…
pain.
Raw.
Unfiltered.
"Can I kiss you…"
A pause.
"…for the last time?"
My heart stopped.
Everything inside me…
fell apart.
Because this was it.
The end.
Of everything we were.
Of everything we had.
Of everything we could've been.
I didn't say no.
Because I couldn't.
And maybe…
I didn't want to.
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like I might disappear.
Like this moment…
was fragile.
His hand reached my face.
Warm.
Familiar.
Just like always.
But this time…
It hurt.
More than anything.
I closed my eyes.
Tears slipping down.
And then—
He kissed me.
Soft.
Slow.
Not rushed.
Not desperate.
Just…
real.
Like he was memorizing it.
Like he was saying goodbye…
without words.
And I felt everything.
All at once.
The first time.
The last time.
Everything in between.
All of it.
In that one kiss.
He pulled away slowly.
Rested his forehead against mine for a second.
Breathing heavy.
Then—
He stepped back.
Completely.
And this time…
He didn't come closer again.
"Take care."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
And that scared me more.
Because this wasn't him.
This was someone…
who already lost everything.
He turned.
And walked away.
Without looking back.
Not even once.
And I stood there.
Alone.
Crying.
Breaking.
Because this time…
He didn't stay.
And this time…
I didn't stop him.
And just like that…
Three years of love…
Ended in silence.
To be continued… 😭💔