Don’t You Think That’s Enough Answer?

It had been around noon when Jayce had sent him that text— “Bro, I need a favor. Won’t be home till very late in the night. Can you check on Bri? Help me feed her?” At the time, Ethan had replied confidently, “Say less. I got you.” But now he was more than five hours late, and the guilt was already biting at him.

Just then, his phone buzzed where it lay on the passenger seat. A WhatsApp notification lit up the screen— Jayce again.

Jayce: “Yo, have you helped me with Bri?”

“Shit,” Ethan hissed, swiping the message open. He quickly typed a lie: “Sure, a couple hours back.” Then tossed the phone back onto the seat with a thud.

The traffic light turned green.

But the car in front of him didn’t budge.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ethan growled, slamming his palm on the horn. The blaring noise cut through the air, but the black sedan ahead didn’t flinch.

“Will you move out of the way?!” Ethan shouted, knowing damn well the guy couldn’t hear him through the sealed windows. He slammed the horn again, the irritation bubbling over. “For fuck’s sake, man!”

Losing patience, he jerked the wheel and swerved into the next lane, stopping beside the car. His window rolled down with a buzz as he leaned toward the driver.

The man, a bearded guy in his forties with sunglasses on, looked over, flipped him his middlefinger, and shouted, “Fuck you!”

Ethan smirked bitterly and shook his head. “Asshole,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, then rolled his window back up and pressed on the gas. “Stupid people everywhere.”

The sleek vehicle cruised smoothly into Jayce’s neighborhood, the atmosphere instantly calmer. It wasn’t long before he pulled into Jayce’s driveway, killing the engine in one motion and stepping out. Without missing a beat, he jogged to the front door and jabbed the smart lock. A beep, a click, and the door creaked open.

“Bri!” Ethan called as he stepped inside, voice echoing through the modern hallway. No response.

“Briii,” he called again, tapping on the edge of the dog bowl with his finger. Still nothing.

“Where the hell is this dog?” he murmured, frowning. He walked deeper into the house, the sound of his shoes thudding against the wooden floor.

And then he froze at the living room entrance.

Jayce sat casually on the couch, legs crossed, a smirk on his lips. Lying sprawled across his lap, tail flicking lazily, was Bri — fast asleep.

Ethan blinked. “You’re home?”

Jayce didn’t even look up. “Obviously.”

“You texted me now asking me if I've fed Bri!” Ethan snapped, stepping forward.

Jayce chuckled. “Yup. Got home thirty minutes ago to find out you hadn’t shown up. So I fed her myself.”

“Then why did you still text me?” Ethan demanded, exasperated.

Jayce raised a brow and patted Bri’s head. “Because I knew you’d lie. And guess what? You did.”

Ethan let out a heavy breath and rubbed his forehead. “Look... I got caught up, alright? I was... I didn’t mean to flake. I just lost track of time.”

Jayce leaned back, folding his arms. “Hmmm… lost track of time. Doing what, exactly?”

“Cynthia,” Ethan admitted as he slumped into the single chair opposite Jayce.

Jayce narrowed his eyes. “Wait— Cynthia Again? Bro, I thought we buried that disaster when you came back from Moscow, after she turned you down. Harshly, if I recall. She said she didn’t need your help not even considering you traveling across continent for her— a stranger.”

“I know,” Ethan said quietly, staring at the coffee table. “I know, man.”

Jayce shifted forward, intrigued. “So what? You went to see her?”

“I packed not too far from her place, and just… waited. Hoping I could catch a glimpse. Talk to her. Something.”

Jayce sighed. “Let me guess— nothing?”

“Didn’t see her,” Ethan muttered. “Sat there for hours. Dozed off eventually.”

Jayce let out a low whistle. “Bro... that might be a sign.”

“A sign of what?” Ethan looked up, eyes tired.

“That you need to back off. The universe has spoken, man. Let her go. She’s hasn't reached out. That woman told you to your face that she doesn’t want your help.”

“She’s scared,” Ethan said firmly, sitting up. “She’s pushing me away ‘cause she’s afraid.”

Jayce scoffed. “Or maybe she’s actually fine, and you need to accept that.”

Ethan went quiet.

Jayce softened his tone. “You went all the way to Moscow for her, Ethan. And she still shut you out. Don’t you think that’s enough answer?”

Ethan rubbed his hands together, suddenly feeling cold despite the cozy room. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, man. I just can’t shake her. Every day I try to convince myself she's fine, as she claimed … but then I see her face again in my head... and I can't shake the feeling she's not.”