Prince steps closer.
"Can we talk?"
Lyrelle looks at him for a long second.
Then nods.
They step aside.
Not far.
Still visible.
⸻
Prince runs a hand through his hair.
"I didn't think it would come out like that—"
Lyrelle lets out a small laugh.
Not amused.
"Like what?" she asks. "Like you and my best friend?"
He flinches slightly.
"It wasn't like that," he says quickly. "We weren't okay at that time—"
Lyrelle cuts in.
"But we weren't over."
Silence.
That's the difference now.
That's what hits.
Prince doesn't answer immediately.
Which is an answer.
⸻
Her eyes glisten.
"You were still mine," she says quietly.
That line lands hard.
"And I was still yours," she adds.
Prince exhales shakily. "Lyrelle, we were barely talking—"
"But we always come back," she says.
Soft.
Broken.
Certain.
"And you knew that."
He looks at her.
He can't deny it.
⸻
"So what was I to you in that moment?" she asks.
He opens his mouth.
Nothing comes out.
⸻
She nods slowly.
"That's what I thought."
Her voice cracks slightly now.
"But you know what hurts the most?"
He looks at her.
"You didn't tell me," she says.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just… tired.
"You let me stay in it. Smiling. Trusting you. Trusting her."
Her breath shakes.
"Do you know how embarrassing that is?"
⸻
Prince steps forward slightly. "I was going to tell you—"
"When?" she asks immediately.
Silence.
Again.
⸻
"You didn't want to lose me," she continues.
He nods faintly.
"And you still lost me," she says.
⸻
That's it.
No shouting.
No drama.
Just quiet destruction.
⸻
She steps back.
This time fully.
"I don't even recognize you right now."
Then softer—
"And I don't recognize myself for trusting you this much."
She turns.
Walks away.
Zyren is watching.
He saw everything.
He doesn't interrupt.
He doesn't interfere.
He just…
Steps beside Lyrelle when she passes.
Naturally.
Like he always has.