Chapter 36
A Stranger in His Own Home
(Jay's POV)
Dinner continued.
Plates changed.
Food refilled.
Voices grew lighter.
Warmer.
Happier.
Too happy.
"Jasfer was very positive,"
Keizer said.
"Yes," Serina smiled.
"It's a good match."
Good match.
Those words echoed.
Loud.
Painful.
Kasper looked at me.
Soft smile.
"I hope you're okay with everything."
I forced a small smile.
"Yes."
Lie.
Biggest one.
"Then we shouldn't delay,"
Serina continued.
"We can fix the engagement soon."
My heart dropped.
So fast?
So easily?
Like this is simple.
Like this doesn't break anyone.
"Next week maybe?" Keizer suggested.
"That sounds perfect."
Perfect.
Everything was perfect.
Except…
The truth.
My fingers tightened around the spoon.
I nodded slowly.
Like I agreed.
Like I was part of this.
Like I belonged here.
But inside…
I was screaming.
My eyes moved again.
Upstairs.
To that door.
Still closed.
Still silent.
Still…
absent.
They continued talking.
Dates.
Guests.
Arrangements.
Details.
Future.
Everything.
Being decided.
Right here.
Right now.
Without him.
And suddenly…
It felt wrong.
So wrong.
Because this is his house.
His family.
His life.
And yet—
He wasn't part of it.
He was just…
An outsider.
In his own home.
"Jay?"
Serina called softly.
I looked at her.
"Yes?"
"You're quiet."
I smiled.
"I'm listening."
She nodded.
Satisfied.
But I wasn't listening.
Not really.
Because my mind…
Was upstairs.
With him.
Was he sitting alone?
Was he eating?
Or did he skip it?
Was he thinking about this?
About me?
About us?
Or did he already stop caring?
That thought…
It scared me the most.
Because if he stops caring…
Then what was all of this for?
"Engagement will be simple,"
Keizer said.
"Close family."
"Yes," Serina agreed.
"Then we'll plan the wedding properly."
Wedding.
The word hit harder.
Much harder.
I looked down.
At my hands.
Still.
Cold.
Empty.
Because they were planning my future.
With someone else.
While the person I loved…
Was just a floor above.
Alone.
Silent.
Breaking.
And I couldn't even go to him.
Couldn't even check on him.
Couldn't even say his name.
Because to them…
He didn't matter in this conversation.
And that's when I realized—
This isn't just about losing him.
This is about…
Erasing him.
From my life.
From this family.
From everything.
And I'm the one letting it happen.
My eyes went to the stairs again.
One last time.
Hoping.
Praying.
That the door would open.
That he would come down.
That he would say something.
Stop this.
Break this.
Anything.
But nothing happened.
The door stayed closed.
Just like him.
And everything moved forward.
Without him.
To be continued… 😭💔