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

you, I'm sorry." The darkness in Justin's eyes hid any trace of emotion

“Jasper, do you still have feelings for her? You haven't let

Justin's voice grew deeper, marked by a

the same mother, but ask yourself —how have I treated you since we were kids?"

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

seemed bleak, as he was

standing by him when the

life

would have been the one sitting in the wheelchair

bound to this wheelchair for the rest of my

just to

that I don't deserve

Alyssa.

she's willing to spend time with me

all humans

being overseas and away from home on my own for so many years, I often feel lonely and

is just

companionship of someone |

too, want a normal life—to get married, start a family, and have a happy and fulfilling relationship." Jasper

a family? And the woman he wanted to share that with was

Jasper's chest tightened.

at the orphanage, where Alyssa and Justin had shared a smile in