𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗥 𝗗𝗘 𝗟𝗨𝗡𝗘. Demetrius Desmond

15

IT WASN'T HARD TO IGNORE HIM DURING THE DAY. We'd always kept our distance—me, staying close to my friends while he was surrounded by his elite circle. But after school, when the library was our quiet place, that was when we would meet.

Our table in the back corner was tucked away from prying eyes. It was our small space, our moment of reprieve. But today was different. I didn't show up.

It was planned but as the day turned into night, I realized I hadn't felt the need to explain myself to him. The next day passed in the same way— still no sign of me at the library.

And then, a week passed. A full week of distance. I watched him from afar, his gaze lingering on me, his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. I could tell he was trying to focus on something else but nothing could hold his attention the way I used to.

Every time he looked at me, I saw it in his eyes—his heart was trying to piece together what had happened, trying to understand why I was avoiding him.

Naomi and Alain were always around and when they weren't, He wasn't alone. I kept my distance, knowing it would make it harder for him to speak to me when people were around.

The truth was, I was letting him go. I had to. When I sneaked into his room, it was just to feel him one last time. To taste his lips, to see the smile I had come to adore, to hear him laugh, to have those fleeting moments of joy and warmth.

The truth is. I love him. And that was the problem. He was the oldest son of Donovan Desmond, the heir to a family that represented everything I fought against. He was my enemy and yet, he was the one person who had made me feel seen, made me feel like I mattered.

But I couldn't let myself pull him into my world. Into the lies, the shadows, the danger. I couldn't bear to be the one who brought him down.

I knew he was confused. I could see it in the way he stared at me, the way his eyes tried to pierce through the distance I had created but he would never understand why I had to do this

Why I had to pull away. It was for the sake of the world's peace and as much as it hurts to see him looking at me with a hurt expression, I knew I was doing the right thing.

Because in the end, this wasn't just about him. It was about me too. Letting go of someone I loved, someone who could never be mine was hard.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

The rooftop was quiet, the world below us still recovering from the chaos of the mission. I leaned against the ledge, staring up at the stars, forcing a smile as if I could convince myself I was fine. The cool night air brushed against my skin but the knot in my chest refused to loosen.

Beside me, Leon stood with his usual calm presence, his sharp eyes scanning the sky before glancing at me. I could feel his gaze lingering, like he was trying to read the thoughts I was so desperately trying to hide.

"You're awfully quiet tonight." he said, his tone casual but edged with something softer, something knowing.

I shrugged, keeping my eyes fixed on the stars. "Just tired, I guess. Missions like this take it out of you, don't they?" My voice sounded light, easy—like it always did.

I was good at pretending, at hiding what I didn't want anyone to see. But Leon wasn't just anyone. He never had been.

"You're lying." he said plainly, his voice cutting through the act like a blade. I flinched, the knot in my chest tightening.

"What are you talking about?" I said with a forced laugh, brushing my hair behind my ear. "I'm fine, Leon. Really."

He didn't buy it. He never did. "Y/n." he said, stepping closer, his voice dropping to something softer. "You can fool a lot of people but not me. What's going on?"

I hesitated, swallowing hard as my gaze drifted downward. "Nothing." I muttered, though my voice cracked just enough to betray me. "It's nothing."

Leon sighed and I felt the weight of his presence beside me, steady and unwavering. "You're upset." he said, his tone gentle but firm. "And I know you won't tell me why. But whatever it is, you don't have to carry it alone."

I clenched my fists, my heart twisting at his words. I can't tell you, Leon. I can't tell anyone. How was I supposed to admit that the reason I felt like breaking apart was because I had to push away the one person I've fallen for?

That I couldn't afford to let myself feel that way, not in this life, not in this world. "I'm fine." I said again but the words sounded hollow, even to me.

Leon was silent for a moment and when he finally spoke, his voice was softer than I'd ever heard it. "You're not fine, Y/n and that's okay."

I felt tears sting the corners of my eyes but I refused to let them fall. "Why are you always like this?" I asked, my voice trembling as I tried to keep the walls up.

"Why can't you just let me pretend?" I asked, pretending to a annoyed as he chuckled. "Because I care about you." he said simply, his words cutting through the noise in my head.

"And because I promised myself I'd never leave you. No matter what." He continued. That did it. The tears I'd been holding back slipped free and I quickly turned my face away, wiping at them with the sleeve of my jacket. "You're so stubborn." I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't say anything, just stood there beside me and in that moment, even as the weight in my chest felt unbearable, I was grateful for him.

For Leon, who saw right through me when I didn't want to be seen. For Leon, who stayed when everyone else seemed to slip away. Leon wasn't complicated like Demetrious.

"Thank you." I whispered, my voice barely audible but I knew he heard it. "Always." he replied, and when I finally dared to look at him, HIS EYES WERE FULL OF LOYALTY.