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

By the ti 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.

"Welco 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.

"Co on."

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

He turned imdiately.

"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 eting her while she’s falling apart?" I exhaled. "What if she doesn’t like ?"

Ian gave this tiny laugh.

"I’d love to et 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 ntion... 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 . Please open up."

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

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

There was a pause....then the door cracked open. Nari stood there with sared 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 soone else here? Ian!" She groaned. "Why would you soone when I look like this?"

I took a tiny step forward.

"For what it’s worth... you still look amazing. ssy 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 soone left 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 we’re all furious."

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

Ian didn’t even let speak.

"She’s one of his closest friends."

Nari’s eyes went wide.

Then she dropped Ian’s hand and grabbed mine.

"Okay. That ans he has ntioned to you. He must have."

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

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

She grabbed a worn out panda plush from the bed.

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

Dummybear. I almost choked.

That na should not be that adorable for a six foot sothing man.

Her voice cracked.

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

She collapsed into my arms and suddenly it beca 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 sotis... people mistake that for sothing else."

Nari raised her head.

"So you think he never liked ? 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 littlesister. Soone 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 for being less poetic than my girlfriend."

I blinked.

"Girlfriend?"

He looked at a nodded.

"Yeah. My girlfriend."

That word hit different.

And Nari’s eyes went huge.

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

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

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

She squinted at him.

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

My snort escaped before I could stop it.

Ian glared at .

"She compared 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 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 soone who doesn’t see you back."

"You do?" She smiled softly.

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

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

Ian’s attention snapped to .

"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. Sotis we love soone who just... doesn’t love us that way. And we have to be brave enough to accept it and move forward."

Sothing Marcus once said to .

Her eyes shimred again.

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

I squeezed her hands.

"Letting go doesn’t an you stop loving him overnight. It just ans... 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 sa."

"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 with this soft, genuine smile.

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

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

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

If Nari can let go of Dominic...

maybe I can let go of Ren.