𝙏𝙊𝙐𝘾𝙃𝙀𝙎 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙀𝙎 (𝙄𝙒𝘼𝙄𝙕𝙐𝙈𝙄 𝙓 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍) 18+

Chapter 36

The screen illuminated your face in the dim confines of your room, the cold blue light of your phone reflecting off tired eyes. The covers wrapped tightly around you, shielding you from the world outside, but they couldn't protect you from your thoughts.

It was 3:02 a.m. The world was silent, save for the faint hum of the radiator in the corner. Yet, your mind roared with questions, doubts, and an endless loop of what-ifs.

On the screen, Iwaizumi's message stared back at you, stark and intrusive against the darkness:

IWAIZUMI

Are you up?
2:09 a.m.

You hadn't responded. Not yet. You just stared.

Your thumb hovered over the screen, indecisive, caught in the tug-of-war between your heart and your mind. Do you stay and risk everything—your hard-earned stability, your sense of self—or do you go, retreat back to the life you built in Canada? A life with no mess, but with loneliness and possible regrets of missed opportunities.

But this wasn't just about staying or leaving. This was about him.

Because deep down, you knew—staying would make him happy. But would it be for your sake or his? And who exactly would that benefit in the long run?

The "pros" you kept listing felt like felt too good to be true, so much so that you were listing them as delusions, an effort to cling to something fleeting. The "cons," though—they spoke to you louder. What would you lose if you stayed? And was it all worth the risk?

You sighed, feeling the weight of the question sink deeper into your chest. Do you go? Do you stay?

The typing bubble popped up on the screen, and your chest tightened.

He was still awake. Of course he was.

IWAIZUMI

Yk I can see if you open my chats, right?
(NOW)

A breathy laugh escaped you, soft and brief. Of course he'd notice.

Your fingers finally moved, typing back before you could second-guess:

YOU

And ur lucky I didn't leave you on read again😒 I got distracted thinking about stuff
(NOW)

IWAIZUMI

Really? About what?
(NOW)

YOU

I'm still trying to figure that out. How bout u? Why are u up?
(NOW)

He reacted to the message almost instantly, and for a fleeting moment, the corners of your mouth twitched upward. His typing bubble reappeared and disappeared, struggling to take form.

YOU

Spit it out already🙄
(NOW)

You sent the message and watched as his response came in just as quickly:

IWAIZUMI

🙄
I've been up thinking about a lot too. About us.
(NOW)

Your heart stopped.

For a moment, you thought he might be thinking the same thing you were.

His typing bubble appeared again, a source of both hope and dread. Your thumb hovered over the screen, ready to type back, but his message arrived first:

IWAIZUMI

Sorry ik its late but can I come over to talk?
(NOW)

You hesitated. The seconds dragged on as you stared at the screen, each tick of the clock amplifying the weight of your choice.