If I Stayed | Christian Yu

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE - EIGHT DAYS LEFT

A new place.

A fresh start.

Without her.

Christian didn't speak. He walked past her and into the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water. No ice. No words.

"I didn't come to fight," she said quietly.

He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. His gaze was sharp, unreadable.

"Could've fooled me," he said. "You ghosted everyone. For what-space?"

She dropped the bag near her feet. "Yeah."

"You could've said that."

Her shoulders dropped. "I know. You're right."

He let out a breath through his nose, rubbed a hand along his jaw, the tension in him pulsing like a steady rhythm.

"What is this then?" he asked, nodding toward the bag. "You leaving or just passing through?"

She gave a soft, dry laugh. "Neither. I came to get ready."

His brow lifted. "For what?"

She met his eyes, hesitation written all over her face.

"Tonight's my bachelorette party."

His expression barely shifted, but something flickered behind his eyes. He looked down, then back at her.

"And this is the place you chose to get ready?"

"Fabian's still out with the guys. My mom's tied up with last-minute stuff. And my place..." she paused, "my place is too loud right now. I needed quiet. I needed somewhere that knew me."

Christian's jaw tensed. His eyes didn't leave hers.

"So you came to the one place that remembers everything you're trying to forget?"

She didn't answer.

Didn't need to.

He eventually nodded toward the hallway. "Bathroom's on the left. Towels are clean. If you need a charger, top drawer."

She picked up her bag and walked past him. Her perfume lingered in the air-same as always.

Of course it was.

His phone buzzed on the counter.

Minah.

FaceTime.

Christian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before accepting. Her face filled the screen - cozy in bed, wrapped in a duvet, hair tousled, eyes still warm with sleep.

"너 완전 피곤해 보이네."
"You look exhausted."

He gave her a tired half-smile. "그냥 일 많았어. 뮤직비디오 촬영 끝났고 이제 집이야."
"Just a lot of work. Wrapped the shoot. Finally home."

Minah pouted, propping her chin on her hand. "아이고, 우리 스타 너무 바빠."
"Aww, our superstar is too busy."

His smile lingered a second, but it didn't reach his eyes. He let out a breath, looking off to the side.

"근데... 이상하게, 머릿속이 계속 복잡해."
"But... weirdly, my head's still all over the place."

Minah tilted her head. "Aaliyah?"

He hesitated, but nodded once. That was enough.

She didn't tease. Didn't joke. She just looked at him for a long moment.

"You really love her, huh?"

His thumb rubbed along the edge of the counter. "I don't even know what to call it anymore. It's not just love. It's like-she's woven into everything. The way I think, the way I write. Even the way I hold my breath when my phone buzzes."