If I Stayed | Christian Yu

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE - SAINT / 1 DAY LEFT

It was perfect.

And it made her stomach turn.

Aaliyah sat at the long table next to Fabian, trying to stay relaxed while his hand rested lightly on her leg. She nodded when people talked, smiled when someone complimented her dress, and laughed at Malik's dumb jokes even though she didn't hear half of them.

Her olive green dress kept sliding off her shoulder, but she didn't fix it. It gave her something to focus on.

The food came and went. Drinks were poured. Kaylani was in full hostess mode, making sure everyone had what they needed. Her parents looked happy; tired, but happy. Mrs. Yu was deep in conversation with Kenji about some old photo album, probably.

And then the door opened.

She didn't look right away.
She didn't need to.

Christian walked in wearing a clean black sweater, dark pants, and that same silver ring on his pinky. His hair was pushed back, just a little messy. He looked calm. Maybe even chill. But his eyes gave him away.

He scanned the table like he wasn't sure where to sit. Then he spotted Malik and Kenji at the end and made his way over.

He didn't look at her.

Aaliyah forced herself to sip her drink.
Her hands were shaking.
No one noticed.

"Look who's here," Malik said with a grin. "Took you long enough."

Christian gave a small smile and nodded. "Traffic."

He sat between Kenji and Kaylani, across the table but not too far. Close enough that she could hear his voice. See the way his sleeve pushed up when he reached for the water. Catch the edge of his smirk when Kenji made some sarcastic comment.

It was maddening.
Seeing him like nothing happened.

She hadn't spoken to him since that night. Since the kiss. Since she walked out of his apartment like it meant nothing.

And now he was here. Cool. Collected. Acting like they were just friends again.

Her chest ached.

Fabian leaned in and kissed her cheek, whispering something about the playlist he'd made for tomorrow. She nodded, not really listening.

She glanced back toward Christian.

He was already looking.

Just for a second.

Their eyes met and for that split second, everything else faded. The table, the noise, the wedding. All of it.

Then he blinked and looked away like it didn't happen.

A waiter passed by. Someone toasted with a glass of champagne.

Aaliyah felt like she couldn't breathe.

Mr. Morales stood and tapped his glass with a butter knife. "Alright, alright; just want to say thank you to everyone who's here tonight. Tomorrow's a big day for our girl. But tonight, it's about the people who made her who she is."

Everyone clapped. Aaliyah smiled again. It didn't reach her eyes.

"And of course," Mr. Morales added, "we're lucky to have Christian Yu with us; someone who's basically familyand we're honored that he'll be performing the first dance song tomorrow."

Christian gave a simple nod. "Thanks for having me."

His voice was even. Calm. But his jaw tightened slightly at the end.