If I Stayed | Christian Yu

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE - SAINT / 1 DAY LEFT

Kaylani looked at him; really looked at him and said, "You're handling this way better than I expected."

He laughed once, dry. "This is me not handling it."

She smiled a little. "I know."

Then she nudged him with her shoulder. "You staying for the rest?"

"Probably."

"Play the song. Eat the cake. Be hot and mysterious in your black sweater. You've got this."

Christian laughed for real this time. It didn't fix anything. But it helped.

"Thanks," he said.

Kaylani winked. "I got you, sad boy."

And with that, she slipped back inside, leaving Christian on the balcony. Alone again, but lighter somehow.

He looked up at the stars and whispered, "One more day."

~

Dinner had ended over an hour ago, but no one was in a rush to leave.

People were still talking, still sipping drinks, still laughing too loud like they hadn't noticed the weight in the room.

Christian noticed.

He hadn't moved much. Just sat there quietly, picking at his dessert, keeping his hands wrapped around a cold glass of water like it could anchor him.

Everyone else was fine. Acting fine.
He wasn't.

He hadn't looked at Fabian all night.

Not once.

Not after that fight in the suit shop, when everything snapped and the truth spilled out like it had been waiting to break loose for years.

"You don't get to walk around like you're the only one who lost something."

No one had said it out loud, but the aftermath was everywhere tonight. In the way people avoided eye contact. The way the parents overcompensated with small talk. The way Christian could feel every pair of eyes on him whenever he stood too close to Aaliyah.

So he didn't.

He stayed quiet. Observing. Existing just enough not to cause a scene.

And then... her.

Across the table. Looking right at him.

He didn't mean to hold her gaze. But when her eyes met his, it was like the noise around them blurred out.

He gave her a tired smile. Just a flicker. Something between "I'm fine" and "I miss you."

She didn't smile back.

But she looked at him like she felt it too.

Eventually, people started gathering their things. Saying goodbye. Hugging, laughing, checking the time like it mattered.

Christian stood, grabbing his jacket and slipping it on slowly. He thanked Mrs. Morales with a quiet nod, gave Kaylani a soft smile, dapped Malik up with barely any energy.

He didn't say goodbye to Aaliyah.

Didn't look at Fabian.

He walked out.

The night air was cooler than expected. Not cold, but it cleared his head a little.

He made it about halfway to his car when he heard her voice.

"Ian."

He didn't turn right away.

He took a breath first. Slow. Controlled. Then turned.