𝐑 𝐔 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄?¹ - juan soto

10.

the suv smelled faintly of leather and coffee, the quiet hum of the engine filling the tense silence as it rolled through the city streets. lyra sat rigidly in her seat, staring out the window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

it had been arranged for a group car to pick up the players and staff, then drop them off at their homes, and the number of passengers had dwindled with each stop. now it was just her, juan, and the driver.

she hadn't spoken to him since the rooftop. she mortified at what he had done to her. she was vulnerable enough to cry to him. she hadn't cried in years, and she let him hold her in his arms while she sobbed like a child.

she could feel juan's presence beside her like a physical force, his broad shoulders brushing hers in the confined space. the tension between them was suffocating, the air thick with words unspoken.

"you're really going to keep this up?" he asked suddenly, his voice low and rough.

lyra turned her head, finally meeting his gaze. his expression was a mix of frustration and hurt, his eyes darker than usual.

"keep what up?" she said flatly, though her voice shook slightly.

"this," he gestured between them. "the avoiding. the running. pretending like I don't exist."

her jaw tightened. "i'm not pretending anything. i just don't have anything to say to you."

"that's bullshit, and you know it."

"don't you dare—" she snapped, cutting herself off before her voice got too loud. the driver glanced at them briefly in the rearview mirror, and she lowered her voice. "don't you dare try to pin this on me. you're the one who keeps pushing."

"pushing?" juan laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "you're unbelievable. do you think i want to feel like this? like i'm chasing after someone who clearly doesn't give a damn?"

"that's not fair," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"no, what's not fair is you running every time this gets real," he shot back, his voice a harsh whisper. "first the roof, and now you can't even look at me in the airport? what are you so scared of, lyra?"

her throat tightened, and she turned her gaze back to the window. "you don't understand."

"then help me understand," he said, his voice softening, though the edge of desperation remained.

her breath hitched. she felt trapped, cornered by his words and the weight of her own feelings. the city lights blurred through the glass as tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

"this isn't just about us," she said finally, her voice trembling. "do you know what it would look like if people found out? this could ruin both of us."

"i don't care about them," he said, leaning closer, his voice low and fervent. "i care about you."

her chest tightened, her resolve crumbling under the intensity of his gaze. "juan, please. this... this isn't something we can just—"

"what?" he interrupted, his voice rising slightly. "feel? want? don't sit there and tell me you don't feel this, lyra. i see it every time you look at me."

"stop," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

he exhaled sharply, "you know what? fine. keep running. keep pretending like this is nothing. but don't expect me to stand here and wait forever."

the car slowed as they pulled up to her apartment complex, the driver's voice breaking the tension. "miss larosa, this is your stop."

lyra grabbed her bag, her movements stiff and mechanical. she opened the door, pausing only briefly to glance back at him.