MasukTara’s POV
I watched Jasper walk away, his footsteps echoing down the empty hallway until they faded completely. The way he’d looked at Xavier before leaving, the complete devastation and betrayal in his eyes hit me hard.
Jasper really hadn’t known. He’d been completely in the dark about what Xavier was doing. And I blamed him. I’d accused him of being an accomplice, of misleading me, when he’d been just as much a victim of Xavier’s lies as I was.
Guilt twisted in my stomach, mixing uncomfortably with the anger that was still burning through me like wildfire. I felt bad about pushing all that blame and anger onto Jasper. He hadn’t deserved it.
But at the same time, the fury toward Xavier was playing th
Tara’s POVTwo months had passed since that dark day at the hospital. A month of healing, of learning, of slowly rebuilding the fractured relationships that had been shattered by lies and betrayal.Today was graduation day.I stood in the hallway outside the auditorium, adjusting my cap and gown nervously. My hands were trembling slightly whether from excitement or anxiety, I couldn’t quite tell.I could see Jasper and Sarah down the hall, and I smiled watching them. Jasper had finally realized what I’d known for weeks that he was completely in love with Sarah. Just last week, they had officially started dating, and seeing them together made my heart happy. They deserved each other. They deserved this happiness after everything.Nearby, I caught sight of Tony and Zoey together. They had grown closer over the past month in a way that surprised everyone. Tony had asked her out two weeks ago, and she had said yes with that signature smirk of hers. Now they were practically inseparable, t
Tara’s PovI returned to school the following Monday, and the atmosphere felt different. Lighter, somehow, despite everything that had happened.The principal came inside our class and made an announcement that caught everyone’s attention.“I want to inform the student body that the charges regarding the leaked video have been dropped,” the principal said from the podium. “The family of the victim has decided to pursue alternative measures for justice and healing.”Whispers erupted through the auditorium. People turned to look at Sarah, who sat calmly in her seat, her expression unreadable.“Why.” I asked. “My parents dropped the charges,” she said simply. “I asked them to.”“What?” I said, shocked. “But why?”“Because you helped me,” Sarah said, looking directly at me. “When I was at my lowest, when I wanted to hurt myself, you showed up for me. You defended me. You cared about me even when I didn’t care about myself. I couldn’t hurt someone that you care about, even if that person
Jasper’s POVThe hospital room fell silent after Tara’s declaration of forgiveness. Xavier lay in the bed, tears streaming down his face, his hand still gripping Tara’s like she was his lifeline.My parents stood in the doorway, their expressions shifting from relief to confusion as they processed what they’d just witnessed. The tenderness between Tara and Xavier, the way she held his hand, the intimate nature of her forgiveness it was all adding up to something they didn’t understand.My mother’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Wait,” she said, stepping further into the room. “What exactly is going on between you two?”I watched as Tara’s face flushed deep red. Xavier looked away, unable to meet their gaze.“They were dating,” I said flatly, the words falling from my mouth before I could stop them. “Xavier and Tara. That’s what all of this has been about.”My parents’ jaws dropped simultaneously. My father looked like he’d been punched in the stomach.“Dating?” my mother repeated, her voice
Multiple POVThe next morning, Xavier didn’t come down for breakfast.His mother set a plate for him anyway, as she always did, waiting for him to appear. But minutes ticked by, then an hour, and still no Xavier.“Jasper, can you go check on your brother?” his mother asked, her voice carrying a note of concern. “See if he’s feeling alright.”Jasper looked up from his cereal, his expression hardening. He set down his spoon with deliberate slowness. “No,” he said flatly. “I’m not going.”His mother’s face fell slightly, but she didn’t push. Instead, she turned to Tara, who had come down for breakfast and was sitting quietly at the table, her untouched plate in front of her.“Tara, sweetheart, would you mind checking on Xavier? Just to make sure he’s okay?”Tara’s stomach twisted. The thought of facing Xavier alone made her anxious, but she was already shaking her head before she could think it through. “I can’t,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry, but I just
Xavier’s POVI woke up with a pounding headache that made even thinking feel like a monumental task. The sun was streaming through my window, casting harsh light across my room. I groaned and rolled out of bed, stumbling toward the bathroom.The hot water of the shower did nothing to ease the tension in my shoulders or the weight pressing down on my chest. I stood under the spray for longer than necessary, letting the water cascade over me, wishing it could wash away everything I’d done, every lie I’d told, every person I’d hurt.When I finally emerged from the bathroom, I was dressed but felt no better. My head still ached. My heart still felt broken.I made my way downstairs, hoping to find some peace in the quiet of the morning. That’s when I saw Jasper in the hallway, heading toward the kitchen. I immediately moved toward him, desperate to say something, anything, to bridge the gap between us.“Jasper, wait…” I called out.He didn’t even look at me. He simply continued walking, hi
Tara’s POVThe walk home from school felt longer than usual. My feet dragged against the pavement as I replayed Jasper’s words over and over in my mind. ‘You’re still in love with Xavier, aren’t you?’ The question haunted me with an uncomfortable truth I wasn’t ready to face. Was he right? Despite everything Xavier had done. the lies, the manipulation, the betrayal. Did some part of me still care for him? Or was I confusing hurt with lingering affection?I pushed through the front door of my house, hoping to slip upstairs unnoticed. But my mother’s voice called out from the kitchen before I could make it to the stairs.“Tara! You’re here on time. Lunch is almost ready. Come help me set the table.”I didn’t want to face anyone right now. I didn’t want to make conversation or pretend everything was fine when my entire world felt like it was crashing down. But my mother wouldn’t accept no as an answer. She never did.I reluctantly made my way to the kitchen and began setting out plates,







