Glass Hearts [BL]-Chapter 237: Learning to Let Go [June’s POV]

By the time we got to Ian’s place, I felt like I’d just survived a hostage situation in that car.

Fifteen minutes stuck between Ian and Ren? My anxiety was doing sprints.

The butler greeted us at the door.

"Welcome back, young master. Miss June."

Then he quietly added, "Miss Nari’s in her room... refusing to see anyone."

Ian sighed, and held my hand.

"Come on."

We were halfway up the stairs when my feet glued to the floor.

He turned immediately.

"Hey. You okay? If this is too much, you can wait in my room."

"No, no... I’m fine," I lied. "It’s just... I’ve listened to her music forever. And now I’m meeting her while she’s falling apart?" I exhaled. "What if she doesn’t like me?"

Ian gave this tiny laugh.

"I’d love to meet the person who wouldn’t like you."

I didn’t respond but the smile slipped out anyway.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice.

"And don’t mention... the thing... about Ash and Dom. She can’t know."

"Of course," I whispered. My fingers tightened around his without thinking.

He knocked gently on the door.

"Nari? It’s me. Please open up."

"Go away!" she yelled. Her voice cracked through the door.

"It’s Ian," he tried again. "Let me in, okay? Let’s talk!"

There was a pause....then the door cracked open. Nari stood there with smeared mascara and puffy eyes, and in the next breath she collapsed into Ian’s chest, sobbing.

He held her tightly.

"Oh, Nari..."

Then she realized I existed.

She pulled back from Ian, trying to wipe at her face.

"There’s someone else here? Ian!" She groaned. "Why would you someone when I look like this?"

I took a tiny step forward.

"For what it’s worth... you still look amazing. Messy eyeliner is kind of an aesthetic."

She blinked, stunned.

"Really?"

"Really," I said honestly. "You look like the main character in one of those music videos where everything goes to hell but she still looks pretty."

She turned to the huge mirror, staring at herself.

"I look like someone left me at the altar. Dominic is getting married and I’m just...."

Ian rubbed her back. "Technically, he’s not married. Just engaged.."

I sighed. "Trust me we’re all furious."

"We?" She sniffed, side eyeing me. "You... know Dominic personally?"

Ian didn’t even let me speak.

"She’s one of his closest friends."

Nari’s eyes went wide.

Then she dropped Ian’s hand and grabbed mine.

"Okay. That means he has mentioned me to you. He must have."

I opened my mouth to lie, but she didn’t even let me speak.

"I’ve been in love with Dommybear since forever. He taught me how to ride a bike, and he got me this..."

She grabbed a worn out panda plush from the bed.

"When we were kids. He also yelled at a bully for me once..."

Dummybear. I almost choked.

That name should not be that adorable for a six foot something man.

Her voice cracked.

"And now he’s giving his heart to someone who isn’t me."

She collapsed into my arms and suddenly it became a therapy session.

I held her close... feeling her heartbreak like it echoed my own.

How do we fix this without breaking her even more?

I hugged her tight. What else could I do?

How do you tell a girl:

He’s gay.

He’s in love.

But not with you.

You were never even on the list of possibilities?

And that the heartbreak she’s drowning in

is for a love she was never even allowed to have?

I stared at Ian over her shoulder.

He looked guilty too.

I took a breath, trying to pick the right words.

"I haven’t known Dominic that long... but one thing I’ve figured out? He cares. Like, deeply. He’s protective over the people around him. And he’s so nice that sometimes... people mistake that for something else."

Nari raised her head.

"So you think he never liked me? Not the way I did?"

I hesitated, and the truth slipped out softly.

"I think he loves you... just not in the way you hoped. I think he sees you more like... a little sister. Someone he wants to keep safe. And honestly? That kind of love is rare, and forever."

She turned to Ian for validation.

"Ian? Is that actually true?"

He nodded, sitting up.

"I’ve been trying to tell you that for years."

"But June said it better," she muttered, grabbing a pillow and throwing it straight at Ian’s face.

Ian groaned.

"You literally just assaulted me for being less poetic than my girlfriend."

I blinked.

"Girlfriend?"

He looked at me a nodded.

"Yeah. My girlfriend."

That word hit different.

And Nari’s eyes went huge.

"Oh my God. Ian finally introduced a girlfriend to me. Are you in love?"

She gasped dramatically. "Do you know what this means?"

Ian threw his head back. "What’s that suppose to mean?"

She squinted at him.

"You’ve never introduced anyone to me as your girlfriend. My brother has always been like a stray dog with no owner... now someone finally put a leash on him. I feel relieved."

My snort escaped before I could stop it.

Ian glared at me.

"She compared me to a stray dog and you’re laughing?"

"What? It’s funny," I said, barely holding in another laugh.

She took a shaky breath.

"I thought... maybe Dominic didn’t like me because I wasn’t pretty enough. Or interesting enough. I thought if I was prettier..."

"Hey," I cut her off gently. "Don’t do that. Don’t change yourself because of a guy. I know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t see you back."

"You do?" She smiled softly.

My chest tightened. Ren’s stupid handsome face flashed in my head.

"Yes! You keep wishing and waiting and... all it does is hurt."

Ian’s attention snapped to me.

"Hmmm." He nodded.

I ignored his jealousy and kept my focus on Nari.

"Don’t ever change yourself for a guy. Don’t tear yourself apart wondering why he doesn’t see you romantically. Sometimes we love someone who just... doesn’t love us that way. And we have to be brave enough to accept it and move forward."

Something Marcus once said to me.

Her eyes shimmered again.

"So I should let my love for Dominic go?" she whispered.

I squeezed her hands.

"Letting go doesn’t mean you stop loving him overnight. It just means... you give your heart a chance to be loved properly."

She looked down, looking sad.

"That’s gonna hurt."

"I know." I smiled softly. "But also? You’re gorgeous... always on magazine covers for ’Most Beautiful Girls in Estrella’. You probably have a whole army of guys waiting for a chance."

Nari let out a shaky breath.

"It’s really not the same."

"I know."

A tiny laugh escaped her....the first real one.

"Okay... I’ll think about it."

Then she wiped her cheeks once more and looked at me with this soft, genuine smile.

"No wonder my brother likes you. You’re special."

Ian’s jealous expression melted into a quiet proud one. "I say that everytime." He whispered.

And for a moment... it felt like maybe we were all healing a little....even me.

If Nari can let go of Dominic...

maybe I can let go of Ren.