If I Stayed | Christian Yu

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE - SAINT / 1 DAY LEFT

She was walking toward him, arms folded across her chest, that soft look in her eyes she always wore when she was about to say something that mattered.

"You weren't gonna say anything?" she asked.

He gave a small shrug. "Didn't think I should."

"Why not?"

He held her gaze. "Because I didn't want to make this harder than it already is."

She took another step closer. "Then why does it feel worse not saying anything?"

He exhaled. Looked away. "I don't know."

Silence.

"We should talk," she said. "About the kiss."

Christian froze.

Everything inside him wanted to flinch. Or walk away. Or joke it off. But he didn't.

He just nodded. "Okay."

They stood there for a beat, both unsure where to start.

"I keep replaying it," she said finally. "Not because I regret it. But because it felt like... something shifted."

Christian's jaw tightened. "It did."

"I didn't expect it to."

"I did."

That made her look up.

"I knew if we ever crossed that line..." he said quietly, "it wouldn't be just one kiss."

She swallowed. "But it was."

"I know."

Another pause.

Christian stepped in closer. "You kissed me back."

"I know."

He looked at her carefully. "Why?"

Her voice caught. "Because I wanted to. Because I didn't want to think for once. Because you've always felt like-"

She stopped herself.

"Like what?" he asked.

A moment passed before she said it.

"Like home."

That cracked something in him.

He shook his head slightly. "Then why does it feel like I'm the only one who can't forget it happened?"

"You're not," she said. "I think about it all the time."

He looked at her, eyes soft. "Do you wish we hadn't?"

"No," she whispered. "But I wish we didn't have to pretend it didn't happen."

Christian stared at the ground for a second, then looked back at her. "So stop pretending."

"I don't know how."

"Then don't figure it out for anyone but you."

They were so close now, he could see the worry behind her eyes. The ache she'd been carrying alone.

"You know I meant it, right?" he asked.

She nodded. "I know."

He stepped back a little. Gave her space.

"I wasn't trying to ruin anything," he said. "But I'm not sorry either."

Aaliyah bit her bottom lip. "Neither am I."

Silence again.

But this time, it felt less heavy.

"Can I ask you something?" she said.