Him? [JesBible]

11 [Scalding Realities]

The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee swirled around the cat café, mingling with the soft purrs and meows of cats lounging lazily by the windows. It was another busy morning, with the usual buzz of customers chatting and cats weaving through tables. Bible kept himself busy, his hands working on autopilot as he served drinks and tried to distract himself from the unspoken tension with Jet.

It was all too much, the weight of their last conversation still sitting heavily in his chest. The way Jet had looked at him-concerned, almost protective-played over and over in Bible's mind, making it impossible to focus on anything else. He was preparing an espresso for a regular customer when his hand slipped, sending a blast of hot steam straight to his wrist.

A sharp pain shot through him, and he pulled back with a gasp. "Ouch!" Bible yelped, clutching his wrist as the burn seared his skin. The café seemed to go still for a moment, with customers turning their heads toward the counter. Even the cats perked up, their curious eyes following the commotion.

Just then, the door swung open, and there was Jet, walking in with that easy confidence that Bible had come to know too well. But this time, instead of his usual smirk, his eyes were wide with concern as he saw Bible's hand.

"Are you okay?" Jet asked, rushing to the counter before Bible could even catch his breath.

"I'm fine," Bible replied quickly, trying to shake off the embarrassment that prickled at his skin. But the sting of the burn throbbed, and his attempt to appear unfazed crumbled as Jet stepped closer.

"You're not fine," Jet said, his voice softer now but still firm. Without waiting for Bible to object, Jet grabbed a clean towel, wet it, and pressed it gently against the burn. Bible winced at the sudden contact, but the cool relief soothed his skin, even as Jet's closeness made his heart race.

"Seriously, you need to be more careful," Jet said, his brow furrowed. "You've been pushing yourself too hard lately."

"I can handle it," Bible snapped, pulling his hand away from Jet's grip, not liking the way his vulnerability was on full display. It wasn't just the burn-it was everything. The unresolved tension between them, the way Jet always seemed to be right there when Bible didn't know how to handle his own emotions.

Jet's eyes flashed with something between frustration and concern. "It's not about whether you can handle it. You don't have to do everything on your own, you know?"

Bible's chest tightened at Jet's words. He felt exposed, as if Jet could see right through the walls he'd built to keep himself from breaking down. He wanted to say something, anything, to push Jet away, to keep him from getting too close, but the words died in his throat. He couldn't risk letting Jet see how fragile he really felt.

"I'm fine," Bible insisted, this time more forcefully. He glanced over Jet's shoulder, catching sight of one of Jet's friends motioning him over to a table. The relief of a distraction was immediate.

Jet's jaw tightened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might push the issue. But then, with a reluctant sigh, he stepped back. "Alright. But don't think for a second that I'm buying this 'I'm fine' act."

Before Bible could respond, Jet turned away, heading over to his friend. Bible watched him go, his chest aching with a mix of frustration and something else he couldn't quite name. The café seemed louder now, the sounds of chatter and clinking coffee cups filling the space, but Bible felt like he was drowning in the silence between him and Jet.

As the morning rush slowed, Bible found himself staring blankly out the café window, his hand still throbbing from the burn. His thoughts drifted back to Jet-how easily Jet had slipped into his life, how quickly Bible's carefully built defenses crumbled in his presence. He hated how much power Jet seemed to have over him, how even a simple gesture like helping with a burn made Bible's heart race in a way that both excited and terrified him.

When Jet returned to the counter a while later, Bible could feel his presence before he even looked up. There was a tension between them now, thick and suffocating, but neither of them seemed ready to address it.

"You sure you're okay?" Jet asked again, his tone gentler this time. Bible could see the genuine concern in his eyes, and it made him feel even more raw.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Bible said, the lie rolling off his tongue too easily. He could feel the hollowness in his words, but he didn't know how to be honest right now, not when he barely understood his own feelings.

Jet didn't respond right away, his gaze lingering on Bible as if trying to figure out what was really going on beneath the surface. "Look," he finally said, his voice quiet but firm, "I know you're going through something. You don't have to tell me what it is, but don't shut me out."

Bible's throat tightened, and for a moment, he wanted to say something-to let Jet in, to admit that maybe he wasn't as fine as he kept insisting. But the fear of opening up, of letting someone get that close, held him back.

"I just need some time," Bible mumbled, his eyes dropping to the counter, unable to meet Jet's gaze.

Jet nodded, but the disappointment in his eyes was hard to miss. "Okay. Just know I'm here when you're ready."

As Jet walked away, Bible felt the weight of his words settling deep in his chest. He wanted to reach out, to stop Jet from leaving, but the fear of being vulnerable, of letting someone else carry the burden of his emotions, kept him frozen.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, but Bible couldn't shake the feeling that he was letting something important slip through his fingers. The pain in his wrist had dulled, but the ache in his chest remained sharp, a constant reminder that he was pushing away the one person who seemed to care enough to stay.

And for the first time in a long time, Bible wondered if maybe-just maybe-he didn't want to be alone anymore.

.....

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