I wanted to tell her I cared about all of them. That it wasn't about collecting people, it was about connection, about finding pieces of myself in everyone I met. But looking at her, I knew she wouldn't believe me. And honestly, I wasn't sure if I believed it either.

"You think you can balance all of this," she said, softer now but still firm. "But it's not balance, Evan. It's chaos. And I can't let my child grow up in that."

The room was silent again, the air thick with words I didn't know how to say. My heart was pounding, my head was spinning.

"Say something," she whispered. "Anything."

I looked down at my hands. "You're right."

Her eyes widened slightly, caught off guard.

"You're right," I said again. "I've been chasing too much. Trying to fill every gap in my life with someone else's love. I thought if I had enough people around me, I'd stop feeling empty. But that's not how it works."

Her shoulders relaxed a little, like she wanted to believe me but didn't trust herself to yet.

"Then you know what you need to do," she said.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah. I do."

"So you'll choose us," she said. Her voice was quieter now, but the edge of anger was still there. "Me and the baby."

The words hit like a weight on my chest. I felt something deep inside me shift, not relief, not exactly pain either, just the sense that something old was closing.

"Yeah," I said finally. "Okay."

Her lip trembled slightly. She blinked fast, trying not to cry. "Good. That's… good."

She looked away for a moment, breathing out slowly. "I didn't think you'd say it that easily."

"It wasn't easy," I said quietly.

She nodded once, still avoiding my eyes. "I believe you." Then she added, "But I want to be there when you tell them. When you break it off."

That made my stomach drop. "You want to be there?"

"Yes," she said. "I don't want there to be any confusion or half-truths. I want them to hear it from you, with me there. I want it to be clear."

I looked at her, unsure what to say. The idea of facing all of them like that, with her watching, made my skin crawl. But I knew she wouldn't back down.

"Okay," I said after a long pause. "If that's what you want."

She checked the clock on the wall. "It's almost eight. They'll be awake soon, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Probably."

"Alright then let's go," she said, standing up and pulling her coat from the hanger near the door.

There was no hesitation in her movements. No second guessing. She just moved like she'd been ready for this all night.

I followed her out of the apartment, my heart hammering. The air outside was cold, biting against my face. The street was quiet, the sky dull with early light.

She didn't say a word as we walked to the car I borrowed from Nala. I got in the passenger seat, and the silence stretched between us, heavy and fragile.

The city moved past in blurs of gray and gold. My reflection in the window looked like someone else, someone older, tired, almost hollow. My thoughts drifted one after another.

Jasmine's laugh. Nala's quiet strength. Kim's patience. Tessa's grin when she teased me. Minne's shy smile that still felt like a new start.

Every memory cut into me. Each one was a reminder of what I'd built, what I'd been given, and what I was about to lose.

I clenched my fists on my knees, trying to steady my breathing. Maybe she was right. Maybe this was the only way to stop the bleeding. Maybe this was what being responsible actually looked like.

But deep down, I knew it wasn't that simple. I wasn't doing this because I truly believed it was right. I was doing it because I couldn't stand to see her cry again.

And that truth sat heavier than anything else.

I wanted this to continue, but... she was pregnant. I couldn't just leave her alone like that. I had to take a step forward and take responsibility. For her. For our baby. I had to wake up from this stupid dream. I didn't want to, but I had to—because it was Delilah's wish.

❤︎‬‪‪❤︎‬‪‪❤︎

I unlocked the door and stepped in.

The first person I saw was Nala, a piece of toast in her mouth while she rummaged through her bag. Her face lit up the second she saw me, that usual spark of warmth that made this place feel like something close to home. But the moment her eyes shifted to Delilah standing behind me, and then to the expression on my face, that light vanished. Her smile faltered, fading into confusion.

I stepped inside without saying anything, and neither did Delilah. The room felt too quiet, the kind of silence that eats at you. Nala dropped her bag to the floor, toast forgotten, and looked at me with worried eyes, waiting for an explanation I couldn't yet give.

"Hey," I said finally. My voice came out small, dry. "Can you get the others? Let's meet at the dining table."

"O-okay?" she said slowly. "Where were you? I didn't see you when I woke up."

"Long story," I muttered. "I'll tell you later."

"Okay…"

I hated this. Every step, every breath, every second of this moment. I hated how heavy the air felt, how my chest seemed to tighten with every word I didn't say. But what else could I do? Say no to her, leave her alone again?

Delilah had every right to be angry, to want something real, something steady. She didn't want to live under her daughter's roof, constantly reminded that she'd fallen apart. I knew how much she hated that helplessness, that feeling that her life wasn't hers anymore. And now she was carrying my child. How could I leave her like that?

Delilah and I walked to the dining table and sat down. I could hear the soft click of her heels against the floor, the sound echoing faintly in the wide, open space. She sat with her arms folded, staring down at the table. The morning light from the tall windows made the room look almost too perfect, like something from a photo that didn't belong to either of us.

Seconds later, the others started appearing one by one.

Jasmine and Kim came from their rooms first, both still half-dressed for the day. Jasmine's hair was tied in a messy bun, a half-eaten piece of fruit in her hand. Kim carried her tablet under one arm, frowning slightly when she saw us sitting there together. Then came Tessa, fresh from the shower, towel draped around her neck and her usual grin nowhere to be seen.

"Evan?" Kim said softly as she sat down. "And… Delilah. Hey. What's happening?"

Her tone was careful, like she already sensed something bad.

As the rest of the girls took their seats, the air thickened. My heart was pounding. I cleared my throat, one hand resting on the table, trying to stop it from shaking.

How was I even supposed to start? The words were there, buried somewhere inside me, but they wouldn't come out. Every version of what I wanted to say sounded worse than the last. How could I tell them this was it? That everything we'd built, all the nights, the laughter, the moments that actually felt like family, was about to end?

I couldn't do it.

"Why?" Delilah's voice broke through the silence before I could find the courage.

Everyone's eyes turned to her.

"Why do you all stay with Evan?" she asked, her voice clear, almost too calm.

"What?" Jasmine blinked, confused.

"You heard me." Delilah leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table. "I know what kind of relationship you all have with him. I'm simply asking… why?"

"Delilah…" I began, but the words caught in my throat.

She didn't look at me. Her gaze stayed fixed on the girls, unflinching.

Jasmine shared a look with Tessa. Nala glanced at Kim. Nobody spoke. For a few seconds, it was dead silent, the kind of silence that stretches until it hurts.

Then Jasmine cleared her throat and met Delilah's eyes. "What is this all about, Delilah?" she asked. Her tone was sharper now, defensive.

"Why?" Delilah said again, her voice colder this time. "Why do you all… stay around him? Don't you think he's using you?"

The words hit like a slap.

The girls stayed silent again, glancing between each other, then back at me. They looked more confused than angry, like they were still trying to figure out what exactly was happening.

And I just stood there, feeling smaller by the second. What was she trying to do? Humiliate me in front of them? Break whatever tiny bit of peace was left?

Man... wasn't this enough…

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