Part 2: A Truce
Syrus
I woke up with a sharp breath, my body feeling heavy and weak. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the city lights outside. My head pounded, and my muscles ached with exhaustion.
I lifted a shaky hand to my forehead and felt something damp. A wet towel rested there, still warm from my skin. Slowly, I looked to the side—and saw him. Vale.
He was asleep in a chair beside me, arms crossed, his head tilted slightly. His face looked calm, so different from the cold expressions I had grown used to. I stared at him, my chest tightening.
He was still handsome, I thought bitterly. Time hadn't changed that. His sharp jaw, his long lashes, the way the light hit his features—he was still the man I had once loved so much.
But then, memories rushed back. The distance. The coldness. The way he had made me feel like I wasn't enough, no matter how much I gave. I had loved him with everything I had. And in the end, all I got was pain. The warmth I felt turned into anger. I clenched the blanket in my hands. No matter how hard I tried to move on, no matter how much I wanted to forget—
I just couldn't.
Tears started falling from my eyes before I could stop them. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hold back the pain inside me.
At that moment, Vale woke up. He blinked a few times before quickly sitting up. "Syrus?" His voice was still heavy with sleep, but I could hear the concern in it. "Are you okay?"
I didn't answer. I just kept crying, unable to stop.
He stood up right away and slowly walked toward me. For a moment, it looked like he was about to pull me into a hug. But then, he stopped. His hands hovered at his sides, unsure. His face looked conflicted, like he wanted to comfort me but wasn't sure if he should.
I could see it in his eyes—the hesitation, the guilt, maybe even regret. But in the end, he didn't reach for me. And somehow, that made everything hurt even more.
Between my sobs, the words slipped out before I could stop them. "Why did it end like this, Vale?" My voice trembled, breaking apart just like my heart. I looked at him, standing there, his eyes filled with something soft—tender, even—but nothing more. No answers, no explanations. Just silence.
Vale looked away. "Sorry," he murmured.
But that word only made the pain worse. "Sorry?" I repeated, my voice shaking. "We were together for almost five years, Vale. Five years." I wiped my face, trying to steady myself. "Why did you suddenly grow cold? Did I do something to upset you? Did I say something wrong?"
He stayed quiet for a long moment before finally speaking. "No," he said softly. "You did nothing wrong." His words should have been a relief, but they only made the ache in my chest worse.
"Then what was wrong with us?" I whispered.
In the end, Vale didn't say anything. He just stood there, quiet, like he didn't know what to say—or maybe like he had nothing to say at all.
I felt my chest tighten, but I was too tired to keep asking for answers I would never get. There was no point in holding on anymore. Letting out a slow breath, I turned my back to him and closed my eyes.
The room was completely silent. For a moment, I thought he had already left. But then, I felt it—a soft, gentle touch against my forehead. His fingers brushed through my hair, light and careful, like he was afraid to wake me.
I wanted to open my eyes. I wanted to ask him why he was doing this now, after everything. But I couldn't. I just lay there, pretending to be asleep, my heart aching all over again. Then, I heard his footsteps moving away. A few seconds later, the door clicked shut. And just like that, he was gone.
The next morning, I finally found the strength to stand. My body felt lighter, the exhaustion from last night no longer weighing me down as much. Maybe it was because I had rested, or maybe—though I hated to admit it—it was because of Vale's care. But I pushed that thought away. It didn't matter. He probably only did it out of pity.
With a sigh, I walked out of my room, rubbing my tired eyes—only to freeze in place.
The table was full of food. I blinked, staring at the sight before me. Plates of warm, freshly made dishes covered the surface. The scent of something familiar, something comforting, filled the air.
Before I could even process it, Vale stepped out of the kitchen, drying his hands with a towel. He looked up and gave me a small, almost uncertain smile. "You're finally awake," he said. "Sorry for using your kitchen without asking. I just made something that might help you feel a little better."
I didn't reply. I didn't even look at him. Without a word, I walked over to the table and sat down. This was my place. My home. And this was food made in my kitchen. So, of course, I should eat it.
We ate in silence. No talking, no eye contact—just the quiet sound of our utensils scraping against the plates. Even though we sat at the same table, it felt like we were in completely different worlds.
When I finished, I pushed my chair back and stood up, ready to go back to my room. But just as I turned, I felt a hand grab my wrist.
I stopped. "Let's talk about the teddy bear first," Vale said firmly. His words reminded me of the real problem. As much as I wanted to avoid him, we were stuck in something much bigger.
With a sigh, I pulled my wrist away and sat back down. "Fine," I muttered. "What do we do about this time loop?"
Vale leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "I think the loop only happens when we try to leave forcefully," he explained. "Last night, after you fainted, I went out to buy medicine. But nothing reset. Time didn't rewind to when you first opened the box."
I looked at him, puzzled. "Does that mean we can just walk out of here?" I asked.
Vale shrugged, his expression uncertain. "If it were that simple—if we could just leave—then why do we always end up back at the same time?" he replied.
They both fell silent, deep in thought.
I tapped my fingers against the table, my brows knitting together in frustration. "There has to be a reason," I muttered under my breath. "Something triggers it... but what?"
Across from me, Vale leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "We know it happens when we try to leave by force. But why didn't it reset when I went out to buy medicine?"
I bit my lip, trying to piece everything together. If simply stepping outside wasn't enough to activate the loop, then what was the real condition behind it?
Then, suddenly, it hit me. It wasn't just about our actions—it was about us. The way we treated each other, the tension that lingered between us, the unresolved emotions that neither of us wanted to confront. I kept the thought to myself. Just the idea of saying it out loud made my face heat up with embarrassment. It was ridiculous, wasn't it? To think that we—our relationship, or whatever remained of it—were the reason we were stuck in this mess.
Instead of voicing it, I silently stood up, reached for the teddy bear, and placed it on the table between us. My fingers lingered on the soft fabric before I finally spoke. "We don't know what's going to happen next," I said, keeping my tone steady. "But if we're still stuck in this time loop, it's better if you stay here for a while." I glanced at Vale briefly before adding, "You can sleep on the couch... like you always have."
Without waiting for his response, I turned away and walked toward the bathroom. The moment the warm water hit my skin, I let out a deep breath, allowing myself a moment to think—to breathe.
Once I was done, I changed into something casual. I needed to get out. Even if I couldn't escape this loop, I at least needed some fresh air.
After finishing up, I grabbed my bag, making sure my phone, wallet, and motorcycle key were inside. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of my room.
Vale was sitting on the couch, his arms crossed, looking like something was bothering him. The moment he saw me, his brows furrowed, irritation flashing across his face.
"Where are you going?" he asked, his tone sharp.
I met his gaze briefly, keeping my expression calm. "Just getting some fresh air," I replied simply, then turned away, not waiting for a response.
As I reached the door, a hint of nervousness crept in. But when I stepped outside and nothing happened—no blinding light, no sudden rewind—I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
I was right. If I had argued with him just now, I might have triggered the time loop again. The thought made me smile bitterly as I picked up my pace toward my motorcycle. I just needed a ride. Some time alone.
I rode down the roads at a steady speed—not too fast to get in trouble, but fast enough to feel the rush of air against my skin. I needed this. The open road, the cool wind, the sense of movement—it helped clear my head, even if just a little.
Without thinking much about it, I found myself at the beach. It was the only place that ever truly brought me peace. The salty breeze, the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the shore—it was comforting. The ocean winds always had a way of calming me, no matter how restless I felt inside.
Even back when we were together, I would always come here whenever we argued. This place had become my escape. And now, more than ever, I needed it.
The peaceful silence I was enjoying was suddenly interrupted by a voice.
"Syrus? Is that you?" I turned toward the sound and squinted, trying to recognize the person approaching me. After a moment, it clicked. "Luke?" I asked, a little surprised.
He grinned. "It's Lucas. You still don't remember me properly, huh?" He chuckled, shaking his head. I felt a little embarrassed and rubbed the back of my neck. "Ah... sorry about that." Lucas only laughed; his expression easygoing. It had been a while since I'd last seen him.
Lucas smirked. "I bet you don't even remember my first name, huh?" he teased. I let out a small, awkward laugh. "I'm really bad at names," I admitted. "But I do remember you! We were in the same class in college." My embarrassment only grew when he chuckled again, clearly amused. "Well, at least you got that part right."
Lucas grinned and gave a playful wink. 'It's James Lucas, at your service."
Hearing his full name, I finally remembered it correctly. I smiled. "You're still as cheerful as ever.'
We ended up talking for almost an hour, catching up on life. It felt nice, like reconnecting with an old friend after so long. He told me he was now managing an art gallery, which kept him incredibly busy. That's why, whenever he had the chance, he came to the beach to unwind. That's also how he happened to run into me today.
Our conversation was cut short when his phone rang. It was work. He sighed, saying he had to go, but before leaving, we exchanged numbers. "If I ever get some free time, I'll treat you to a nice meal," Lucas promised with a grin.
I nodded. 'I'll hold you to that." With that, we went our separate ways.
I wandered around the city for the rest of the day, taking in the sights, enjoying the fresh air, and letting my mind drift away from everything. It felt nice—just being on my own, away from the weight of the past.
By the time I got home, it was already late at night. As I opened the door, I was surprised to see Vale still awake, sitting on the couch. His eyes locked onto me immediately, his expression unreadable.
"Why did you come back so late?" he asked.
I took a slow breath, reminding myself not to lose my temper. The last thing I wanted was to trigger the time loop. "I just went out, had some fun, cleared my head. Is that such a bad thing?" I replied, keeping my tone even.
Vale didn't answer. He just kept staring at me, his gaze heavy, as if he was searching for something in my face. I met his stare and added, "What does it matter to you if I go out alone?" My voice remained calm, though the words carried weight.
When he still didn't respond, I sighed. "We broke up, Vale. My life isn't your concern anymore." With that, I turned and headed straight to my room.
As I closed the door behind me, I stood still for a moment, waiting. Listening. But there was nothing. No response. No argument.
Just silence. The same silence he always left me with.
I stopped expecting anything from him. There was no point.
With a heavy sigh, I threw myself onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. My body ached with exhaustion, but my mind wouldn't stop running.
No matter how far I went, no matter how much I tried to distract myself, I always ended up back here—back to this feeling, back to him. I wished I could make it all disappear. The memories, the pain, the weight of everything that had happened. I was just so tired. Tired of thinking. Tired of feeling. Tired of him.
In the end, I decided to sleep. But just as I was about to drift off, I heard my door creak open. Soft footsteps approached, stopping right beside me. My body tensed, but I kept still, my breathing slow and steady, pretending to be asleep. Then, in a whisper, I heard him. "I'm really sorry."
The rest of his words were too quiet, lost in the silence of the room. I didn't move. I just lay there, waiting—until, finally, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone once again.
In my mind, I thought, "I really don't know what's going on in your mind, Vale."