ROOM 7
Chapter Fifty-Four: The Fall
Six months after the partnership began, Yuri found himself in Jay's office more often than necessary.
The Hanamitchi-Mariano merger required meetings. Lots of meetings. Spreadsheets. Projections. Conference calls. Yuri was the liaison. That was his official title. He was the one who traveled between buildings, carried documents, sat through hours of negotiations. He told himself it was business. He told himself it was duty. He told himself he was there because his father asked him to be.
But every time he walked into Jay's office, his heart pounded a little faster. Every time she looked up from her desk and smiled, his stomach flipped. Every time she said his name—Yuri, not the loud boy from Room 7—he forgot how to breathe.
He was falling for her. He'd been falling for years. He just hadn't admitted it.
Until now.
Part One: The Office
Jay's office was on the twenty-third floor. Glass walls. A view of the city. A desk covered in papers and sticky notes and a small stuffed shark.
Yuri stood in the doorway. He was holding a folder. Reports. Projections. Nothing urgent. Nothing that couldn't have been emailed. He was looking for excuses. He'd been looking for excuses for weeks.
Jay looked up. "Yuri."
"Jay."
She set her pen down. "You're early."
"I'm on time. You're early."
She raised an eyebrow. "The meeting isn't until three."
He walked to her desk. Set the folder down. "I had nothing else to do."
She looked at the folder. At his face. At the way his hands were shaking. "You could have emailed these."
He shrugged. "I was in the area."
Her office was in Makati. His office was in Quezon City. He was not in the area.
She didn't call him out. She just looked at him. Her eyes were soft. Her lips were slightly parted. She was wearing a gray blouse. The same gray as Keifer's shirt. The one she'd stolen years ago. The one she'd never given back.
Yuri's throat tightened.
"How are you?" he asked.
She leaned back. "I'm fine. Busy. The merger is—"
"I didn't ask about the merger."
She went still. "What did you ask about?"
He looked at her. At her face. At the way the afternoon light caught her hair. "You. How are you?"
She was quiet for a moment. Then: "I'm happy."
He nodded. "Good."
She stood up. Walked to the window. The city spread out below. The sun was setting. The sky was gold.
"Yuri."
He walked to the window. Stood beside her. Not touching. Close enough.
"Why are you really here?"
He looked at her reflection in the glass. At her face. At the way she was watching him.
"I don't know," he said.
She turned. Faced him. "You don't know?"
He shook his head. "I don't know."
She looked at his face. At his eyes. At the way he was looking at her like she was the only thing in the room worth seeing.
"Yuri."
"Jay."
She touched his arm. "You're my friend. One of my best friends. You know that, right?"
He covered her hand with his. Held it for a moment. Then let go.
"I know," he said.
She smiled. "Good."
He picked up the folder. Walked to the door. Stopped. Turned.
"The meeting. Three o'clock. I'll be there."
She nodded. "I'll be here."
He walked out. The door closed behind him.
She stood by the window. Watched the sun set. Didn't move.
Part Two: The Dinner
His mother invited her to dinner again.
Yuri didn't ask. His mother just called Jay. She had her number. She'd had it for years. She used it often.
Jay arrived at 7 PM. She was wearing a blue dress. The same blue dress. The one from her first date with Keifer. The one she'd worn to Yuri's house months ago.
Yuri opened the door. His heart stopped.
"You're here," he said.
She smiled. "I'm here."
She walked in. His mother hugged her. His father shook her hand. The table was full. Food everywhere. Dishes she remembered. Dishes she loved.
Yuri sat across from her. His mother sat beside her. His father sat at the head.
"How is the merger?" his father asked.
Jay set her fork down. "It's going well. The numbers are strong. The teams are working well together."
His father nodded. "Yuri speaks highly of you."
Jay looked at Yuri. "Does he?"
His father smiled. "He says you're the smartest person in the room."
Yuri's ears went red. "Dad—"
"It's true." His father looked at Jay. "He's been saying it for years."
The table was quiet. Yuri's mother was watching. Her eyes were bright. Her smile was soft.
Jay looked at Yuri. "Thank you."
He picked up his fork. "Don't thank me. It's just facts."
She laughed. He laughed. His mother laughed. His father laughed.
The night passed. The food disappeared. The dishes were cleared.
Yuri walked her to the door.
"You didn't have to walk me out," she said.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. "My mother would kill me if I didn't."
She smiled. "She's lovely."
He nodded. "She likes you."
"I like her too."
They stood in the doorway. The street was quiet. The lights were on. The stars were hidden.
"Jay."
She looked at him.
"I meant what I said. About you being the smartest person in the room."
She touched his arm. "Yuri."
"I'm not saying it to—" He stopped.
She waited. "To what?"
He looked at her face. At her eyes. At the way the porch light caught her hair.
"To make you uncomfortable," he finished.
She squeezed his arm. "You don't make me uncomfortable."
He nodded. "Good."
She walked down the steps. Turned. "I'll see you at the office."
He nodded. "Monday."
"Monday."
She walked down the street. He watched her go. The door closed behind him.
Part Three: The Confession
It happened on a Thursday.
Jay was in her office. The door was open. Yuri was standing in the doorway. He wasn't holding a folder. He wasn't carrying reports. His hands were empty.
She looked up. "Yuri."
"Jay."
She set her pen down. "You're not holding anything."
He walked in. Sat in the chair across from her desk. "I know."
She leaned back. "Then why are you here?"
He looked at her. At her face. At the gray blouse. At the stuffed shark on her desk.
"I need to tell you something."
She went still. "What?"
He took a breath. Held it. Let it go. "I'm in love with you."
The room was quiet. The city hummed outside. The clock on the wall ticked.
"Yuri—"
"I know." He held up his hand. "I know you love him. I know you're happy. I know you're not going to leave him."
She didn't say anything.
"I'm not asking you to." He looked at his hands. "I'm not asking you for anything. I just—" He stopped.
She waited.
He looked up. "I just needed you to know."
She stood up. Walked around the desk. Sat in the chair beside him. Took his hand.
"Yuri."
He looked at her.
"You're one of my best friends. You've been one of my best friends since Room 7. You've been there for me through everything. The crash. The hospital. The merger. All of it."
He nodded.
"I love you," she said. "Not the way you want me to. But I love you. You're family."
He squeezed her hand. "I know."
She squeezed back. "Are you okay?"
He laughed. It was small. Broken. "I will be."
She pulled him into a hug. He held on. Didn't let go.
When she pulled back, her eyes were wet. His eyes were wet.
"I'm sorry," she said.
He shook his head. "Don't be."
He stood up. Walked to the door. Stopped. Turned.
"Jay."
She looked at him.
"Don't tell Keifer."
She nodded. "I won't."
He walked out. The door closed behind him.
She sat in her office. The city was bright. The sun was setting. The shark was on her desk.
She didn't move.
Part Four: The Night
She told Keifer anyway.
They were in bed. The lights were off. The city hummed outside. The shark was between them.
"Keifer."
He turned. Faced her. "Yeah."
"Yuri came to my office today."
He went still. "What did he want?"
She looked at his face. In the dark. In the quiet. "He told me he's in love with me."
Keifer didn't move. Didn't breathe.
"He said he's not asking for anything. He just needed me to know."
Keifer was quiet for a long moment. Then: "What did you say?"
She touched his face. "I told him I love him. Not the way he wants. But I love him. He's family."
Keifer covered her hand with his. "Are you okay?"
She moved closer. Her forehead touched his. "I'm okay. Are you okay?"
He pulled her into his arms. His face was in her hair. His voice was low.
"I'm okay."
She held him. He held her.
"I'm sorry," she said.
He kissed her hair. "Don't be."
They lay in the dark. The city hummed. The shark was between them.
"Keifer."
"Yeah."
"I love you."
He pulled her closer. "I love you too."
From across the hall, muffled through the walls, Lyra's voice: "GO TO SLEEP."
Jay laughed. Keifer laughed. The apartment was warm. The city was bright. The world was waiting.
She closed her eyes. Keifer was beside her. The shark was beside her. Yuri was somewhere in the city, alone, hurting.
She said a prayer for him. Then she slept.
Part Five: The Morning
The next day, Yuri wasn't at work.
His office was empty. His desk was clean. His chair was pushed in. Jay stood in the doorway. Her hands were empty. Her heart was heavy.
She called him. He didn't answer. She texted him. He didn't reply.
She called his mother. "He's fine," his mother said. "He just needs time."
Jay hung up. Walked back to her office. Sat at her desk. The shark was in front of her. She picked it up. Held it.
Keifer appeared in the doorway. "He's not there?"
She shook her head.
Keifer walked to her. Took the shark from her hands. Set it on the desk. Pulled her up. Pulled her into his arms.
"He'll be okay," he said.
She leaned against him. "I know."
"He just needs time."
She nodded. "I know."
He kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes.
"I love you," she said.
He held her tighter. "I love you too."
They stood in the office. The city was bright. The sun was high. The world was moving.
Yuri was somewhere. Alone. Hurting.
But he would be okay. They would all be okay.
They always were.
End of Chapter Fifty-Four