CHAPTER 219: THE AIR FEELS HEAVY [JUNE’S POV]

It was strange how quiet the house felt without Dominic and Ash.

Like everyone was waiting for something to happen but pretending before they said something.

Even the waves outside were louder. Rude.

The twins had completely taken over the couch, laughing at something on their phones.

I had no idea which was which. They looked exactly the same. Same jawline, same smirk, same everything. How did people even tell them apart?

Then I remembered Ash mentioning once that Jasper was the one with the tiny scar near his eyebrow... a faint line that caught the light when he laughed.

So... scar equals Jasper.

No scar equals Casper.

At least, I hoped I was right.

If I’m wrong, I’m never speaking again (Ps: She’s right)

Ren sat near the window, reading a book titled Glass Hearts. It shimmered under the light like it had a secret or something.

He looked too calm for a guy reading something that screamed "tragic love story and internal suffering."

And then there was Ian.

He was pacing. Again.

He always does that when he’s overthinking. Back and forth, hand in his hair, other in his pocket... like he’s about to fist-fight his thoughts.

Honestly, the room was giving "too much tension, not enough snacks."

Then one of the twins... Jasper, I think (scar guy?) turned to me with a mischievous grin, that screamed "I’m about to cause problems."

"So this is the famous Juney, huh?" he said, dragging out my name like he’d been waiting to say it all night. ""

I blinked. "Um... the who now?"

Casper chuckled. "The one Ian never shuts up about. He’s been acting like a total simp for weeks."

Jasper nodded.

"Oh yeah," Jasper added, grinning way too wide. "He’s been acting like a total simp. Weeks of ’Juney this,’ ’Juney that.’ We were starting to think you were imaginary."

My brain just... stopped. "I...what? No, he doesn’t..."

"Please," Jasper said. "The man’s obsessed. We wanna know, what’s so special about you, huh? Witchcraft? Voodoo? You got crystals in your pockets or something?"

Ian glared. "You’re both idiots."

Casper cackled. "Nah, we’re observant."

"Oh my God," I groaned, hiding my face in my hands. My whole soul was cringing.

Then Ren, of all people, looked up from his book. "Can’t really blame him," he said. "You’re kinda hard not to talk about."

My heart skipped.

"I’m...uhmmm" I stammered.

Jasper leaned forward, like he was feeding on the chaos. "She’s shy. That’s cute. Ian’s dated, flirted, whatever... but this? This is next-level. We just wanna know what spell you used."

I looked at Ian, praying he’d deny it. Save me.

He didn’t.

He just folded his arms and looked at me like...Nope. Don’t think about it.

"Wow," I muttered, staring at the floor. "You guys are relentless."

"Come on, Juney," Jasper said.

I was about to choke out a nothing, but Ian beat me to it.

"Maybe it’s not a trick," he said quietly.

Everyone froze.

"Maybe she’s just... real," he glanced at me, and smiled softly. "She doesn’t try to impress anyone. She just shows up as herself, and somehow that’s enough."

...Okay, who gave him the right?

My heart did this annoying skip thing in my chest.

I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so I rubbed them on my jeans and forced out a tiny laugh. "That’s uh pretty cheesy, Ian."

"Yeah," Jasper teased. "Since when did you get poetic?"

Ian rolled his eyes. "Since now. Don’t ruin my moment."

Casper chuckled. "Wow. He’s actually soft for you, Juney."

"Stop," I groaned, covering my face.

But behind my hands, I was smiling.

Because maybe I liked hearing it.

Maybe I liked him saying it.

Casper grinned. "Man’s changed. He doesn’t even flirt anymore. He shows up on time. Drives slower. We’re worried."

"Yeah," Jasper added. "Love’s turned the menace into a gentleman."

"Can you guys chill for one second?" Ian tapped the table.

Jasper shot back.

"Okay, dad."

Ian rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh. "Seriously, leave her alone. You’re gonna make her run back to the car."

I exhaled softly.

Then he crouched by the paper bags we brought earlier, pulling out the cake box and a few bottles. "Anyway," he said, trying to shift the energy, "I just texted Ash. Dom’s coming down in a minute. So let’s not make this weirder than it already is, yeah?"

They all nodded.

Ian looked around. "Tonight’s been messed up enough. Let’s at least try to make him smile when he gets down here."

Something in his tone softened the whole room.

Everyone just... listened.

And I don’t know why, but I couldn’t stop looking at him.

The way his hand brushed the frosting off the cake box before setting it on the table.

"Happy Birthday, Dom" written in sloppy icing.

Like the person’s hand was shaking.

He looked tired.

The part that made my chest ache a little.

I swallowed hard and smiled faintly. "Hey," I said softly, just loud enough for him to hear.

"That was... really sweet, Ian."

He glanced up, that boyish smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Don’t sound too shocked, Juney. I have my moments."

Ren groaned, standing up. "Okay, lovebirds, I’m going outside before this turns into a Hallmark special."

I laughed nervously, but he didn’t...he just walked toward the door, with his hands in his pockets.

"I’m gonna step outside," he said, quietly. "I’ll be back when Dominic comes down. Need to feel the air before it chokes me."

He didn’t look at anyone when he said it, just kept his eyes on the floor.

Ian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "He always does that...gets all deep and disappears for a bit. Probably talking to the moon or something."

Jasper and Casper were whisper-laughing, probably still clowning us.

I just sat there, watching Ian’s back as the night light hit him.

He turned slightly, smiling to himself. "He’s not wrong. The air does feel heavy."

And I swear, I could feel it too.

That heaviness that sits right under your ribs.

The kind that makes you realize you’re way too gone for someone who doesn’t even know how much space they take up inside you.

The sound of footsteps made everyone turn.

Dominic came down the stairs with Ash right beside him. His hair was a little messy. Ash’s hand brushed his arm once, steadying him as they reached the bottom.

Dominic widened his eyes, looking shocked.

"You guys... did this for me?"

Ian smiled first. "Of course we did, man. We had this whole chill plan before your dad decided to hijack your birthday and make it about himself."

"Yeah," Jasper added.

Dominic let out a shaky laugh. "He really ruined everything, didn’t he?"

Casper crossed his arms. "Not everything. We still got the best part....you. And you’re here, with us. That’s what matters."

Ash’s fingers twitched like he was holding back tears. "They’re right," he whispered, looking up at him. "You still have us, Dom."

He smiled at him...that kind of smile that hurts to look at because it’s trying so hard not to break. "You guys really don’t know how much this means to me."

Ian stepped closer, patting his shoulder. "We do, actually. And whatever happens next...your dad, Estrella, the mess of it all, we’ve got your back. All of us."

"Always," Jasper said.

"Ride or die," Casper added.

Ash laughed, wiping his cheek.

Dominic blew out the candle.

And even though it wasn’t my moment, I felt it in my chest....how much love was in that room, even with all the chaos.

Still, something felt off.

Ren hadn’t come back yet.

I glanced toward the balcony, then at the glass doors that led outside. I should go check on him.

"I’ll be right back," I murmured, mostly to myself, but Ian heard.

He looked up. "Where you going?"

"Just outside. I’ll be a minute."

He nodded, quietly watching me as I slipped away.

The cool breeze hit my face the moment I stepped out. The noise from inside faded, replaced by the soft hum of waves.

And there he was.

Ren stood near the railing, hands tucked into his pockets, head tilted up toward the moon.

The silver light caught in his hair, in the edge of his jaw. He looked still...too still, like he’d been standing there for hours.

Just like they said he would.

"Ren?" I called softly.

He turned slightly, looking really tired. "Hey, Jellybean."

I walked closer, folding my arms. "You disappeared."

He gave a small, sad smile. "I just needed some air. The room felt heavy."

"It’s lighter now," I said quietly. "You should come back in."

"Maybe in a bit," he murmured. Then he looked at the sky again. "The moon’s brighter tonight. Like it’s pretending not to see the mess down here."

I didn’t know what to say to that.

So I just stood next to him in silence, the kind that said more than words could.

From inside, I could hear faint laughter...Dominic’s voice, Ash’s soft giggle, Ian calling someone an idiot.

Ren didn’t say anything for a while, he just kept staring at the moon.

I shifted beside him, "You’re awfully quiet," I said.

He glanced at me, then looked away again. "Thinking."

"About?"

"You’ll laugh." He chuckled.

"Try me," I said, trying to sound casual, even though my heart was already racing.

Ren exhaled, looking down at his shoes. "It’s stupid. I just... I keep trying to figure out how people do it."

"Do what?"

He hesitated. "Move on."

My chest squeezed a little. "Jackie?"

He didn’t answer. Just gave a shrug, still staring at the sky.

I tried again. "She hurt you, didn’t she?"

He shook his head slowly. "No. I think I hurt her. I just... stopped feeling it. And I didn’t even know why. Maybe that’s worse."

Something about the way he said it made my throat tight.

And I couldn’t help it... this stupid, horrible thought just slipped in.

Did he stop feeling it... because of me?

I bit my lip, staring at the sky so he wouldn’t see my face.

Then he suddenly cleared his throat, like he could feel where my mind was going.

"Hey," he said softly, pointing up. "See that?"

I followed his finger. "The moon?"

He shook his head. "No. Those stars."

I squinted. "They all look the same."

He chuckled. "You sound like Ian."

"Rude."

He smiled wider now, that quiet Ren kind of smile. "Those two... there and there. That’s Lyra. It’s a constellation. They say it’s about love and music. Orpheus’s lyre. He tried to bring his love back from the dead. Didn’t work, but he tried."

I looked at him. "That’s... actually kind of depressing."

He laughed. "Maybe. But I like that he still tried. Maybe I should try too."