The next day, Jaylen sat in his chair lost in thought once again, his mind continued to replay Miss Xirenia's words over and over again.
When Miss Xirenia Checked His condition after scolding him and Brandon, she noticed the lightning he had been hit by had somehow fused with him on a cellular level.
If one were to look at Jaylen's cells through a microscope, one would see small pulses of lightning dancing around, moving in harmony with his body's inner workings. Occasionally, a small silver flicker of lightning would even be visible in his eyes.
Miss Xirenia figured it had something to do with his unknown lineage and that his lineage might even be a lot stronger than originally hypothesized.
Despite this, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this phenomenon than just his lineage. It felt like there was something deeper at play, something he couldn't yet comprehend.
He knew that whatever it was, it was responsible for the changes within him.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a cold breeze followed by light blue strands of hair.
"What is it Yuki" He spoke, his voice flat and distant.
"Jaylen, I would like to talk to you," she stated simply, her gaze unwavering.
Jaylen released a deep, exasperated sigh, the kind that spoke volumes, before finally responding. "Sure, Where would you like to talk?"
"Hmm... meet me at Libra Garden," she instructed, her tone carrying a sense of finality.
"Alright, I'll see you there then," Jaylen affirmed, his voice filled with indifference.
"Also, I've invited Brandon and Sarah, but I told them to show up a bit late so that I could first talk to you," she finished, a mocking smile playing on her lips as she walked away.
'Good' Jaylen thought, now that they were all going to be together he had something he wanted to say to all of them at once.
'This will be the final time,' he resolved inwardly, his determination firm, ready to put an end to this useless charade.
Setting off towards the Libra Garden. With each step, Jaylen's determination grew, his resolve shining through with an inner strength that seemed to radiate from him.
To any observer, it would have seemed as though he was marching off to war, his purpose clear and unwavering.
Walking through the garden, Jaylen passed by rows of trees and vibrant arrays of flowers, each color more captivating than the last. The soft murmur of a nearby stream added to the tranquility of the scene, guiding Jaylen toward the center of the garden.
As Jaylen stepped onto the scene, a surge of determination coursed through him—until a startling sight caught his eye, causing his resolve to waver.
Standing beneath a majestic willow tree, Yuki's light blue hair swayed gently in the breeze. Her red eyes, usually cold and aloof, held an unexpected warmth as she gazed at the flowers in front of her.
Caught in a daze by the beauty of the moment, Jaylen couldn't help but speak aloud, his voice filled with wonder. "How beautiful."
The sight of Yuki, framed by the serene surroundings of the garden, left him momentarily breathless, his resolve momentarily forgotten in the face of such tranquility.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Jaylen forced himself to regain his focus as he approached Yuki.
'Come on, Jaylen, she may be beautiful, but remember what you are here for,' he reminded himself sternly, determined not to get distracted again.
Standing next to her, Jaylen waited in silence, his resolve firm. It was Yuki who spoke first, her voice soft as she remained fixated on the flowers before her.
"Ya know, even with all that happened, these are still my favorite flowers," she confessed.
Glancing over her shoulder, Jaylen's gaze fell upon the distinctive blooms, instantly recognizing them by their unique features.
"A Platinum Rose," he murmured.
"Yep" Yuki's response was measured, her gaze steady as she fixed her eyes upon Jaylen. Though her smile was still present, its warmth had dimmed, replaced by a complex mixture of emotions.
"Every time I look at these flowers," she began, her voice soft yet resolute.
"it reminds me that deep down, my feelings for you haven't changed." Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their shared history and unspoken truths.
"So I tried to think up a reasonable way for us to both be happy together, but I couldn't escape the past." With a steadying breath, Yuki continued, her tone tinged with regret
"We can't go back to how we were, not as friends nor as lovers. I'm... sorry." Her admission was heartfelt, each word carrying the weight of their shared history and the realization that their paths had diverged irreparably.
"Why are you apologizing?" Jaylen breathed, his voice filled with confusion, his gaze soft as he looked at Yuki, his body trembled slightly.
Yuki's expression remained solemn as she responded, her voice carrying a hint of remorse. "Because when we were younger, we always talked about who would marry whom among us four before we met her."
"It was always me and you together, while Brandon and Sarah would be together. And that's become true, and I should be happy that I get to be with you, but I... can't."
Jaylen Responded, his tone tinged with pain. "I understand. But—"
He began, only to be cut off by Yuki's voice, her words laced with anguish.
"No, you don't... What happened back then, plays in my mind like a broken record. I don't think you will ever understand what it's like to watch one of your best friends die like that over and over in your memories," she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion.
"I.." Jaylen's response was halted as a voice interrupted their conversation, breaking the heavy atmosphere that hung between them.
"Heyo, guys, we're here."
Turning to the new arrivals, Yuki's demeanor shifted, her smile becoming warm and welcoming. "Sarah, Brandon, you're here," she greeted them, her tone lightening with their presence.
"Yeah, sorry. We weren't sure if we should have come over now or later. Did we interrupt anything?" Sarah asked, offering Yuki a hug before stepping back.
"Nope, you're just in time," Yuki reassured them, her smile brightening at their arrival.
"Hey, Yuki, how have you been?" Brandon interjected, holding his hand out for a handshake.
Smacking his hand out of the way playfully, Yuki enveloped Brandon in a warm hug before answering, "I'm good. How are you?"
"I'm doing alright, thanks for asking," Brandon responded, a smile spreading across his face as he stepped back from the embrace.
Watching the exchange between Yuki and Brandon, Sarah couldn't contain her joy. Her smile grew wide, resembling that of someone who had just tasted the sweetest candy, her eyes twinkling with delight at their interactions.
Yuki, noticing Sarah's expression, couldn't help but inquire, "Hmm... what's wrong, Sarah?"
"Hm, oh, it's nothing. It's just that it's the first time all of us have been in the same place since we were kids," Sarah replied, a hint of nostalgia crossing her eyes.
"Yeah, it's been a while since we all talked," Yuki acknowledged, her own nostalgia tempered by a sense of solemnity.
Her gaze hardened as she continued, "But this is the last time it will be us four as friends."
"Huh, what do you mean? Do you not see us as friends anymore?" Sarah asked, her voice calm but with a simmering anger beneath her demeanor.
"No, that's not the case," Yuki retorted, attempting to clarify the misunderstanding.
"Then what is, Yuki?" Sarah snapped back, her anger fully on display now.
"It's Simple Sarah" Jaylen interrupted with a sharpness in his tone, his voice devoid of warmth, as if he were addressing complete strangers rather than those he knew.
"Growing up, you were the ones I needed—not my family. You all gave my life meaning when I had none. You were my reason to keep going, my anchor when everything else felt like it was non-existent"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over each of them, lingering just long enough to see the emotions flicker in their eyes.
"But now…" Jaylen's voice softened, carrying the weight of finality. "Now that I've found that meaning—and I understand what I need to do—I'm leaving."
Jaylen quickly walked away, leaving his shocked and confused friends who had no idea what to say or how to stop him.
As his figure disappeared beyond the tree line, Brandon spoke the first words that came to mind "The past is a chain that holds ever so tight. Those who cling to it risk suffocating the present and shackling the future."
Hearing those words, Sarah glanced at Yuki from the corner of her eye before focusing back on where Jaylen had disappeared. A mixture of disappointment and sadness crossed her features.
"Let's talk about this later, once we've cleared our heads" Brandon suggested, his tone indicating the urgency of the situation.
"Alright, then. I'll see you two later," Yuki paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on a singular platinum rose encased in a tree's shadow, before turning on her heel and striding away with purpose.