If I Stayed | Christian Yu

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - WHAT HAD TO BE SAID

He didn't look at Aaliyah until the very end.

She was still in her chair, hands in her lap, eyes steady.

"Rest well," she said quietly.

"You too."

That was it.

He followed Kazuo out, leaving the buzz of the house behind him - like a party he could finally walk away from without guilt.

Outside, the air was cool against his skin.

Kazuo unlocked the car with a soft chirp and glanced over.

"You did good tonight."

Christian let out a breath.

"Yeah... I think I did."

They got in.

And as the car pulled away from the curb, Christian didn't look back.

[Aaliyah.]

The room hadn't changed.

The music still played low from the Bluetooth speaker in the corner. Kaylani was cracking up at something Malik said. Ms. Yu was in her usual spot next to Rafael, complimenting Camila's cooking like she hadn't already said it ten times tonight.

But Aaliyah felt different.

She sat quietly, hands resting in her lap, half-listening to the conversations around her but not really taking them in.

And that easy smile she'd worn all night? It had faded at the corners.

Fabian noticed. He always noticed.

He shifted a little closer on the couch, resting his arm behind her on the backrest-not touching, just near enough.

"You okay?" he asked under his breath, voice low so only she could hear.

She blinked like she'd forgotten where she was for a second. Pulled herself back.

"Yeah," she murmured. "Just... tired, I think."

He watched her face, quietly. The way it didn't hold the same light it did earlier. The way her shoulders sat heavier now.

She'd been fine before.

Before he left.

That thought hit harder than he wanted to admit.
And as much as he hated it... it had been showing up more often lately.

The way her eyes followed Christian when she thought no one was watching.
The way her body relaxed just a little when he walked in.
The way she smiled when it was just the two of them, like she didn't have to think about it too much.

Fabian clenched his jaw, then nodded slowly.

"We can go soon," he offered. "You don't have to stay if you're drained."

She looked over at him then-really looked.

And smiled.

But this one didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm okay."

He wanted to believe her.

God, he wanted to believe her.

But deep in his chest, something uneasy was starting to stir.
A quiet question he didn't want to say out loud yet:

What if she's not okay... because she's missing him?

And if that's true...
What does that mean for them?

~

The ride home was quiet.