Lem paced around his apartment, his heart pounding in his chest as the decision finally settled in his mind. He couldn't let Rena leave without telling her the truth—without revealing his full self to her. For months, he had hidden behind the comforting anonymity of DJ Blue, his smooth voice and carefully constructed persona keeping his real identity a secret. It had been his shield, his way of connecting with the world while protecting his heart.
But Rena wasn't just anyone. She deserved the truth, and more than that, she deserved to know him—all of him. If there was any chance of stopping her from leaving, of showing her that what they had was real, he had to be honest, even if it meant risking everything.
He grabbed his jacket and keys, heart racing with nervous energy. He had already let too much time pass. If he didn't act now, he'd lose her forever. And Lem couldn't bear the thought of that—of watching her slip away, knowing he hadn't done everything he could to hold onto her.
Rena had just finished her final errand for the day, checking the last box on her list of things to do before the move. She felt a strange mix of emotions as she walked through the familiar streets of the city she had called home for years. Everything was beginning to feel distant, like she was already living in the in-between space of saying goodbye and starting over.
Her phone buzzed with a message from her moving company, confirming the date and time for her move. It was all happening so fast, and yet, she felt ready—more ready than she had in a long time.
As she headed back toward her apartment, the quiet anticipation of her fresh start settled over her. She had made her peace with the choices she'd made—with leaving Leandro behind, with closing the chapter on her relationship with Lem. She wasn't sure if leaving was the perfect solution, but it was the only way she could figure out who she was, without the noise of her past clouding her future.
But as she reached the door to her building, her phone rang. The name on the screen made her heart stop for a moment.
Lem.
She hesitated before answering, unsure of what he could want. They had already said their goodbyes. What was left to say?
"Hello?" Rena said cautiously, her voice betraying the slight edge of confusion she felt.
"Rena, wait—don't go inside. I'm here," Lem said, his voice urgent.
Her breath caught in her throat as she turned around and saw him standing on the sidewalk, just a few feet away. His face was tense, his expression conflicted. He had clearly rushed to get there, his hair tousled, his eyes searching hers for a reaction.
"Lem, what are you doing here?" Rena asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "We already said goodbye."
"I know," he said, taking a step closer, his hands trembling slightly. "But there's something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago."
Rena crossed her arms, her guard immediately going up. After everything they had been through, she wasn't sure she could handle another twist. "What is it, Lem?"
Lem took a deep breath, knowing that once he said this, everything would change. He had to be brave now, even if it meant losing her completely. "I'm DJ Blue."
Rena blinked, the words taking a moment to register. "What?"
"I'm DJ Blue," Lem repeated, his voice steady but soft. "The voice on the radio—the one you've been listening to for months. That's me."
For a moment, the world seemed to tilt sideways. Rena's mind raced, piecing together fragments of their past interactions, the late-night radio calls, the conversations with DJ Blue that had been so comforting when she was dealing with Leandro, and then meeting Lem in real life. The man she had fallen for had always been the same person.
