The silence stretched longer than it should have.
"…I—"
Aiden's voice failed him.
Not because he didn't have an answer.
But because every answer felt wrong.
Kael stood still, his eyes locked onto Aiden like he was waiting for something fragile… something important.
Ryan, on the other hand, leaned casually beside him—but there was nothing casual about the way his gaze lingered.
Both of them were waiting.
For him.
Aiden swallowed hard.
His chest felt tight, like the air itself had become too heavy to breathe.
Why did it have to be like this?
Why now?
"I'm not choosing."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Kael's expression shifted—just slightly.
Ryan let out a quiet laugh.
"Of course you're not," Ryan said, shaking his head. "Because you're still stuck in the past."
Aiden's brows furrowed. "That's not—"
"It is," Ryan cut him off, his tone still light but sharper underneath. "You're standing here hesitating… because of someone who already left you once."
That hit.
Hard.
Kael's jaw tightened.
"Watch what you say."
Ryan smirked. "Or what?"
The tension snapped again.
"Enough."
Aiden's voice cut through both of them.
Stronger this time.
"I said I'm not choosing," he repeated, his eyes moving from Kael to Ryan. "Not like this."
Silence followed.
But it wasn't the same kind of silence as before.
This one felt… final.
Kael took a step forward.
"…then when?"
Aiden hesitated.
Because the truth was—
He didn't know.
Ryan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
"You don't need time, Aiden. You need to stop looking back."
"I'm not looking back."
"You are."
Aiden clenched his fists.
"You don't understand."
Ryan's eyes softened for just a second.
"I understand more than you think."
That confused him.
"…what does that mean?"
Ryan looked at him quietly.
Then, after a pause—
"It means I was there."
Aiden froze.
"When you were waiting," Ryan continued, his voice no longer teasing. "When you stopped eating properly. When you checked your phone every five minutes."
Each word felt like a memory Aiden didn't want to revisit.
"I saw all of it," Ryan said softly. "You think I don't get it?"
Aiden's chest tightened.
He didn't realize…
Ryan had noticed that much.
"And now he comes back," Ryan added, his gaze shifting briefly to Kael, "and suddenly everything is supposed to go back to normal?"
Kael stepped forward.
"It's not like that."
Ryan let out a small laugh.
"Then what is it like?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Because he knew—
There wasn't a simple explanation.
"I made a mistake," Kael finally said, his voice low. "I know that."
Ryan tilted his head. "That's it?"
Kael's eyes darkened slightly.
"You think it was easy for me to leave?"
Aiden's breath caught.
For the first time…
There was something real in Kael's voice.
Something raw.
"Then why did you?" Aiden asked quietly.
The question hung there.
Heavy.
Kael looked at him.
Really looked at him.
"…because I thought it was the only way to protect you."
Aiden frowned.
"Protect me from what?"
Silence.
And that silence—
It said everything.
"You're still not telling me the truth," Aiden whispered.
Kael clenched his fists again.
"I can't."
That answer broke something.
Again.
Aiden laughed softly, but there was no humor in it.
"Then what am I supposed to do with that?"
No answer.
Of course there wasn't.
Ryan stepped forward again, his voice calmer now.
"You don't have to deal with that," he said gently. "You don't have to wait for answers he won't give."
Aiden looked at him.
Conflicted.
Ryan extended his hand slightly.
"Come with me."
Simple.
Direct.
Safe.
For a second…
It felt easy.
Too easy.
Aiden stared at Ryan's hand.
Then slowly—
His gaze shifted to Kael.
Kael didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But his eyes—
They were saying everything he couldn't.
Don't go.
Aiden's heart clenched painfully.
Why did it still affect him like this?
Why did Kael still have this kind of hold on him?
He hated it.
He really did.
"…I can't."
The words came out quietly.
Ryan's hand stilled.
"…what?"
"I can't go with you."
Ryan's expression changed.
Not anger.
Not disappointment.
Something worse.
Understanding.
"Of course," Ryan murmured, pulling his hand back. "Because it's him."
"That's not—"
"It is," Ryan said softly, but this time there was no fight left in his voice.
Aiden didn't know what to say.
Because maybe…
Ryan wasn't wrong.
Ryan stepped back.
Creating distance.
"I won't force you," he said. "I'm not like that."
A small smile appeared on his lips.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
"But don't expect me to wait forever."
Those words lingered longer than expected.
Aiden watched him walk away.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
And just like that—
Ryan was gone.
Silence returned.
Only this time…
It felt emptier.
Aiden didn't turn around immediately.
Because he already knew—
Kael was still there.
"…you stayed."
Kael's voice was quiet.
Almost uncertain.
Aiden let out a slow breath.
"I didn't choose you."
The words were honest.
Clear.
"But I didn't leave either."
Kael stepped closer.
Careful.
Like he was afraid one wrong move would push Aiden away again.
"That's enough for now," he said softly.
Aiden finally turned to face him.
"Don't misunderstand," Aiden added, his eyes serious. "This doesn't mean everything is okay."
"I know."
"You still haven't told me the truth."
Kael's gaze dropped for a second.
"…I will."
"When?"
A pause.
"Soon."
Aiden studied his face.
Trying to see if he meant it.
"…you said that before."
Kael didn't deny it.
Instead—
He stepped closer.
Close enough that Aiden could feel his presence again.
"I'm not leaving this time."
The words were quiet.
But firm.
Aiden's heart betrayed him again.
Beating faster.
Louder.
"…you better not."
It wasn't trust.
Not yet.
But it wasn't rejection either.
And maybe…
For now—
That was enough.
[To be continued…]