Jay's POV..
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was someone with red hair sitting quietly on the chair beside my bed.
For a few seconds, I simply stared at him, trying to understand where I was and why everything felt so unfamiliar.
Then I noticed the white walls, the IV attached to my hand, and the faint beeping of the machines beside me.
Only then did I realise…
I was in a hospital.
I slowly turned my head towards the person sitting beside me. As my vision became clearer, my heart skipped a beat.
It was Yuri.
After all these months…
I was finally seeing him again.
A strange mixture of emotions rushed through me. Happiness, guilt, confusion, and a feeling I couldn't quite put into words.
He must know.
He must know that I broke our engagement.
And now…
I was engaged to Keifer.
I didn't know how I was supposed to face him.
I was the one who was at fault. I was the one who had wronged him, and no matter how many excuses I tried to make for myself, deep down, I knew that.
But at the same time, there were so many questions running through my mind.
Questions that only Yuri could answer.
Where had he been all these months?
Why had he disappeared?
What had happened to him?
And most importantly…
What had really happened between him and the elders?
Before I could gather the courage to say anything, Yuri noticed that I was awake.
Our eyes met.
He immediately reached for my hand and gently held it.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Jay, are you feeling better now?"
I simply nodded.
My throat felt dry, and somehow, even saying a single word felt difficult.
After a moment, I finally managed to speak.
"Yuri… Where were you? How are you?"
He looked at me for a few seconds before answering.
"I'm all good, Jay."
His words were simple, but something about the way he said them didn't feel right.
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
The situation suddenly became awkward.
There were so many things I wanted to ask him, but I knew this wasn't the right time.
I didn't want to overwhelm him, especially when he had just come to see me.
So instead, I asked the first thing that came to my mind.
"Yuri… How is your mother?"
His expression changed slightly.
"She's fine."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"The elders released her because I fulfilled what they wanted."
I frowned.
"What they wanted?"
He didn't answer immediately.
"She's not here right now," he added quietly.
I looked at him carefully.
His face looked tired.
Not just physically tired…
There was something else.
Something much deeper.
And that forced smile on his face made me feel even worse.
He looked like someone who had been carrying a burden alone for far too long.
Before I could think twice, I reached out and hugged him.
For a moment, Yuri seemed surprised.
Then he slowly wrapped his arms around me and hugged me back.
I closed my eyes.
I didn't know what he was hiding.
I didn't know what he had been through.
But one thing was clear…
Yuri was going through something.
And whatever it was, he didn't seem ready to talk about it.
I pulled away from the hug and looked directly into his eyes.
"Yuri… no matter what it is, you can share it with me."
He looked at me silently.
"We are friends," I added softly. "You don't have to handle everything alone."
For a moment, I thought he was finally going to tell me the truth.
But then he looked away.
"Jay, it's nothing. Don't worry about me. I'm good."
I knew he was lying.
Not necessarily about being okay…
But about everything else.
"You need to rest for a while," he continued. "You've just woken up."
I sighed.
Maybe he was right.
I had just woken up, and perhaps this wasn't the moment to demand answers from him.
Still, something inside me refused to believe that everything was fine.
After a brief silence, Yuri spoke again.
"I've called Angelo. He's on his way. I'll leave once he arrives."
I immediately frowned.
"Why, Yuri?"
He looked at me.
"You've just arrived, and you already want to disappear again?"
There was a slight pleading tone in my voice.
"Yuri, please."
He gave me a small smile.
"Jay, we will talk about everything when you recover. For now, I promise you."
I stared at him.
There was something off.
I could feel it.
The way he avoided my questions.
The tired look in his eyes.
The way his smile seemed forced.
And the fact that he was already looking for a reason to leave.
Something was definitely wrong.
But whatever Yuri was hiding…
I knew I would eventually find out.
For now, all I could do was watch him sit beside me, silently wondering what had happened to him during all those months.