The next morning felt different.
Jay stood in front of her mirror.
For the first time in weeks…
She wasn't staring at her clothes nervously.
She wasn't wondering what Yuri would like.
Or what he would hate.
She just looked at herself.
Quietly.
Then she opened her wardrobe.
Instead of picking something to please Yuri…
She chose something she liked.
A simple outfit.
Comfortable.
Something that felt like her.
Jay looked at her reflection again.
For a moment she remembered Ella's words.
"Just be Jay again."
Jay took a deep breath.
And walked out.
At college…
Jay felt nervous at first.
But she tried to act normal.
She talked to her classmates.
She smiled.
She even helped a junior who dropped their books.
For the first time in a long while…
Jay felt a tiny piece of her old self coming back.
Then Yuri arrived.
He immediately noticed her.
His eyes moved from her head to toe.
His expression darkened.
"What are you wearing?"
Jay stayed calm.
"My clothes."
Yuri frowned.
"I told you not to wear things like this."
Jay replied quietly.
"I like it."
Yuri looked shocked.
"You like it?"
His voice started rising.
Jay stood still.
Yuri stepped closer.
"You're embarrassing me again."
Jay took a deep breath.
Normally this would have made her panic.
But today…
Something inside her had changed.
She looked straight at him.
"I'm not embarrassing anyone."
Yuri laughed angrily.
"Oh really?"
"You think you suddenly know better?"
Jay's voice was steady.
"I think I know what I like."
Students nearby slowly started noticing the argument.
Yuri's anger grew.
"Did Ella fill your head with nonsense?"
Jay didn't answer that.
Instead she said calmly,
"I'm just being myself."
Yuri scoffed loudly.
"Yourself?"
"That childish girl who talks about cats and helping people?"
Jay didn't look away.
"Yes."
For a moment Yuri was silent.
Then he exploded.
"I'm tired of this!"
"You always make me look stupid!"
"You never behave properly!"
"You—"
Jay suddenly raised her hand.
"Stop."
Yuri froze.
Jay's voice was firm.
Not loud.
But strong.
"Don't talk to me like that."
Yuri looked stunned.
"You're telling me to stop?"
Jay nodded.
"Yes."
Yuri laughed sarcastically.
"You've changed a lot."
Jay answered quietly.
"No."
"I'm just being who I was before."
Yuri's expression hardened.
"If you keep acting like this… we're going to have a problem."
Jay looked at him calmly.
Then she said something he never expected.
"Then maybe we shouldn't be together."
For a moment…
Yuri had no words.
Jay picked up her bag.
Her hands were shaking slightly.
But she didn't show it.
She looked at him one last time.
"I'm done feeling small."
Then she turned.
And walked away.
Her heart was beating fast.
But for the first time in a long time…
Jay felt something she had almost forgotten.
Pride. 💙