Jay hesitated... then opened it.
Jack:
How's the wound?
...Does it still hurt?
Jay stared at the screen, frozen. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure.
How could Jack still care?
After everything?
After Jay had disappeared without a word? After pretending that kiss never happened?
After swearing to his father that he hated him?
Jay leaned against the wall, his body suddenly heavy.
He typed. Paused. Deleted.
Typed again.
Jay:
It's healing. Slowly.
You don't have to check on me.
Seconds passed. Then Jack replied.
Jack:
I want to.
Jay closed his eyes.
For the first time that day... he let himself breathe.
He hated that it felt good to hear from him. Hated that after all the lies he told, Jack still saw him. Still cared. It made it harder to lie to himself.
And yet, he couldn't stop. Not now. Not while eyes were on him. Not while one wrong move could mean Jack's blood on his father's hands.
Jay was still staring at the screen, trying to keep his heartbeat steady when Jack's next message came through.
Jack:
Does your father know you took the bullet for me?
Jay's chest tightened.
He felt like Jack had just reached through the screen and touched the part of him he'd buried minutes ago.
He didn't answer right away.
He glanced back at the study door, as if Vavaporn could hear through walls, through screens, through hearts.
Finally, he typed, slowly, carefully.
Jay:
No.
And he can't.
A pause. Then Jack again.
Jack:
So what did you tell him?
Jay hesitated. His fingers hovered, then danced quickly.
Jay:
That it was my fault. That I was careless.
That I hate you.
That if I ever get the chance... I'd kill you myself.
There was no reply for a long moment.
Jay stared at the screen, dreading what would come next.
Finally, the dots appeared.
Jack:
...Did you mean it?
Jay blinked, throat tight.
He typed. Stopped. Backspaced. Typed again.
Jay:
If I did, I wouldn't be answering your texts.
Another silence.
Then:
Jack:
You're bleeding in places your father can't see.
Just... promise me you'll be careful.
Jay swallowed hard, lowering the phone slowly.
He didn't know what hurt more-lying to his father... or not being able to stop lying to Jack.
Jay had always known love was dangerous. But he didn't expect it to feel like choosing between two deaths-his father's rage... or Jack's silence.
Jack sat on the edge of his bed, phone in hand, staring at Jay's last reply.
"If I did, I wouldn't be answering your texts."
He read it again. And again.
The corners of his lips twitched like they wanted to smile-but couldn't quite make it. Not with how heavy his heart felt.
He lay back slowly, arm across his forehead, phone still glowing beside him.
Jack (softly to himself):
"Why are you doing this to yourself, Jay..."
He had known Jay would lie to his father. He had to. They both knew what would happen if Vavaporn ever learned the truth.
But still... hearing that Jay said he hated him-that stung more than he expected.
More than it should.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, then typed quickly.
Jack:
You didn't have to take that bullet, you know.
You could've let me die. It would've been easier for both of us.
He didn't expect a reply. Not immediately.
So he turned off the screen and let the darkness settle around him.
Jack didn't know what hurt more-knowing Jay was in pain, or knowing he couldn't be the one to protect him. Not without putting both of them in the ground.
He wanted to see him. Touch him. Just once. Just to make sure he was real. Alive. Still his.
But the world they lived in didn't allow that.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
The flashback still burned behind Jack's eyes.
He sat on the edge of his bed, heart pounding, lips still remembering the taste of that kiss, the copper tang of blood in the air. The way Jay looked at him like he was something worth dying for.
He picked up his phone again.
He stared at their thread of messages, his thumb hovering.
Then he typed-slow, steady, as if each word might shatter him.
Jack:
If it ever comes to that-
If your father ever finds out and decides I need to die-
Don't let him do it.
You do it.
Look me in the eye... and kill me yourself.
He paused. He knew what it meant.
He was giving Jay his trust. And his life.
He didn't expect a reply. Maybe Jay would read it and throw his phone across the room. Maybe he'd never respond. Maybe this would be the last thing they ever said to each other.
But he hit Send anyway.
And sat in the silence that followed, heart echoing like a gunshot.
Jay sat alone on the rooftop balcony of the mansion. The city stretched below like a graveyard of secrets. His father's voice still echoed in his head, cold and cruel.
He hadn't touched his food.
He hadn't slept.
He just kept staring at the message on his phone, the one from Jack.
"If it ever comes to that-
Don't let him do it.
You do it.
Look me in the eye... and kill me yourself."
Jay's fingers trembled, jaw clenched so tight it ached. He'd taken bullets. Told lies. Buried everything he felt.
But this...
This shattered something inside him.
He finally typed. Slowly. With purpose.
Jay:
I'd rather put a bullet through my own head
than ever raise a hand against you.
If it comes to that, Jack...
I'll die loving you, not killing you.
He stared at the words.
His thumb hovered. His heart screamed. But he didn't hesitate.
He hit Send.
Jay was still staring at the screen when the phone lit up again.
Jack is calling...
For a second, Jay froze. The smart thing would be to ignore it. Hang up. Smash the phone.
But Jay had never been good at ignoring Jack.
He answered.
The line was quiet for a moment.
Then Jack's voice came through-low, rough, too full of emotion to hide.
Jack (softly):
"Say it again."
Jay blinked. "What?"
Jack:
"What you said in the message. Say it."
Jay's voice cracked as he exhaled, the words sticking to his throat.
Jay:
"I said... I'd rather kill myself than ever hurt you."
A long pause.
Jay heard Jack breathe in, shakily. Then:
Jack:
"You can't say things like that and expect me to let you go."
Jay (whispers):
"Then don't."
Silence again. But this time, it wasn't empty. It was filled with something they weren't ready to name.
Jack:
"I know we can't be seen. I know we're not safe. But Jay... I need you to know something."
Jay (quiet):
"What?"
Jack:
"If this world takes you from me, I'll burn it down. I swear to God, I will. I'll burn it all to the ground."
Jay closed his eyes, a single tear slipping free, silent and hot.
Jay (softly):
"I believe you