Can’t Win Me Back

Jasper remained silent.

His hands balled into tight fists at his sides, trembling ever so lightly as a dark expression settled over his face.

After amoment of silence, Justin offered a casual smile, ignoring the tension on Jasper's face as he moved past him.

"Justin, I've always respected you since I was young." Jasper's voice broke the silence, hoarse and strained, with his back turned to Justin.

“There are things I can compromise on, but some matters, I can't." Justin, his back still facing Jasper, narrowed his eyes and asked, " Such as?" "My need to see her now." A fierce determination lit Jasper's darkened eyes.

"Justin, I won't deny your feelings for her.

It's none of my business.

But you have no right to stop me from seeing her either.

"If you and Ms.

Alyssa are officially together, I'll never go near her again.

You won't even need to say a word.

I'll give you both my blessings and wish you a happy life together." As Jasper said "happy life", his throat tightened, and a bitter taste of bile rose at the back of his mouth.

Still, he continued, "But as long as she's not yours, we're equals in her eyes.

see her, and so can

in Justin's eyes hid any

haven't let go,

marked by a few dry

not share the same mother, but ask yourself —how have I treated you since we

mind, moments of warmth shared with Justin, four years his senior, a brother

life seemed bleak, as he was

to show him care, standing by him when the household staff mistreated him and offering

one who had put his own life on the line to help Jasper escape that

the one sitting in the wheelchair today, unable to

bound to

of it too, just to keep me going."

that I don't deserve

Alyssa.

to spend time with me

all humans have

from home on my own for so many

I'd ask myself if my life is just going to

the companionship of someone

family, and have a happy and fulfilling

so detached from the world, longed for a family? And

Jasper's chest tightened.

scene at the orphanage, where Alyssa and Justin had shared a smile in the snow -covered