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

The darkness in Justin's eyes hid any trace of

still have feelings for her? You haven't let go, have you?" A lump rose in Jasper's throat,

marked by

I treated you since we were

his mind, moments of warmth shared with Justin, four years his senior, a brother who had always been like

family, his life seemed bleak, as he was met

him care, standing by him when the household

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

would have been the one sitting in

be bound to this wheelchair

medications are the permanent part of it too, just to keep me going." Panting slightly,

I don't

Alyssa.

willing to spend time with me

humans have

and away from home on my own for so many years, I often

ask myself if my life is just going to drift away like

crave the companionship of

married, start a family, and have a happy and fulfilling relationship."

world, longed for a family? And the woman he wanted to share that

Jasper's chest tightened.

Alyssa and Justin had shared a smile in the snow -covered courtyard, their eyes filled with