Percy’s POV The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the uncomfortable chair.
The second thing I noticed was Jay.
She was still sleeping.
I slowly lifted my head and rubbed my neck.
“Ow…” I looked around the room.
The curtains were slightly open, and the evening light was coming through the window.
I reached for my phone.
5:35 PM.
My eyes widened.
“I slept that long?” I looked at Jay again.
She hadn’t moved much.
Her breathing was calm.
I stayed quiet for a moment.
Then I noticed her fingers move slightly.
Her eyebrows moved.
She slowly turned her head.
A few seconds later, her eyes opened.
She blinked several times, trying to understand where she was.
Then her eyes landed on me.
She stared.
“Perse?” I smiled slightly.
“Hey, baby.” She slowly pushed herself up against the pillows.
“What are you doing here?” “Nothing.” She gave me a suspicious look.
“Nothing?” “Yeah.” “Then why are you sitting beside my bed?” I shrugged.
“I came to check on you.” She stared at me.
I smiled innocently.
“But…” Her eyebrows raised.
“But what?” I leaned forward slightly.
“I found something.” Her expression changed immediately.
“What?” I didn’t answer right away.
I just looked at her.
She became more confused.
“Perse?” I sighed.
“Baby…” “What did you find?” I looked toward her study table.
Then back at her.
“Your medicine.” She went quiet.
My smile disappeared.
“I saw the bottle on your table.” Jay looked away.
I continued softly.
“Then I opened the drawer.” Her eyes immediately came back to me.
“You opened my drawer?” There was a little surprise in her voice.
“I know.” She stared at me.
I raised my hands slightly.
“I know I shouldn’t have.” “Then why did you?” “Because I was worried.” She didn’t answer.
I looked at her carefully.
“I saw the third drawer.” Her face became still.
I swallowed.
“It was full of medication.” Silence.
I continued.
“Sleep medication.” Her eyes dropped.
“Medication for anxiety.” She remained silent.
“Medication for panic attacks.” Her fingers tightened slightly around the blanket.
“Medication for your headaches.” She finally looked at me.
“And your trauma treatment.” Her lips parted slightly.
I shook my head.
“I knew about your trauma, Jay.” She stayed quiet.
“I knew you were getting treatment.” I paused.
“I knew you had regular checkups.” My voice became softer.
“But I didn’t know about the panic attacks.” She looked down.
“I didn’t know you needed medication to sleep.” Another pause.
“And I definitely didn’t know how many medications you were taking.” Jay sighed quietly.
“I didn’t want you to worry.” I immediately frowned.
“That’s exactly what makes me angry.” She looked at me.
“I’m not angry because you’re taking medication.” My voice became firmer.
“I’m angry because you thought you had to hide how bad things were from me.” She didn’t say anything.
I leaned forward.
“How long?” Jay looked away.
“Jay.” She remained silent.
“How long have you been having panic attacks?” A few seconds passed.
“Some time.” “Some time isn’t an answer.” She sighed.
“I don’t know exactly.” I rubbed my forehead.
“How often?” “Not every day.” “But often?” She nodded slightly.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
“And the sleep medication?” “I don’t take it all the time.” “Only when you can’t sleep?” She nodded.
I stared at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She looked at me.
“Because I knew you’d worry.” “Of course I’d worry!” My voice rose slightly.
Jay flinched.
I immediately softened.
“I’m sorry.” I took a breath.
“I just…” I looked down at my hands.
“I hate knowing you were going through all of this while I thought I knew everything.” She was quiet.
I continued.
“I knew about your trauma, baby.
I knew you were struggling.” I looked into her eyes.
“But I didn’t know how deep it went.” Her expression softened.
“I didn’t want you to see me differently.” My heart hurt.
“Different?” She nodded.
“Like I’m weak.” I immediately shook my head.
“No.” She looked at me.
“Never.” I moved slightly closer.
“Having trauma doesn’t make you weak.” She didn’t respond.
“Having panic attacks doesn’t make you weak.” I paused.
“Needing medication doesn’t make you weak.” Her eyes became slightly glassy.
“It means you’re dealing with something difficult.” I smiled sadly.
“And you’re still here.” She looked down.
I gently said, “You don’t have to hide the ugly parts of your life from me.” Her eyes met mine.
“I’ve seen you at your worst.” A tiny smile appeared on her face.
“Unfortunately.” I smiled.
“Exactly.” She rolled her eyes.
“You are impossible.” “And you’re still stuck with me.” She shook her head.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I remembered the reports.
“There was something else.” Her expression became cautious.
“The reports.” She froze.
“You found those too?” I nodded.
“I saw the weekly checkup reports.” She looked away.
I didn’t push her immediately.
“Every week?” She nodded.
“Usually.” “Usually?” “Sometimes every week.
Sometimes more often if the doctor thinks I need it.” My jaw tightened.
“How long?” “Since the trauma.” I looked down.
“Baby…” She quietly said, “I’m okay.” I looked at her.
“Don’t say that.” She blinked.
“Why?” “Because I know you.” I pointed gently at her.
“When you’re actually okay, you don’t say it like that.” She looked away.
I sighed.
Then I reached for her hand.
She let me hold it.
“I can’t promise I’ll never worry.” She smiled faintly.
“But I can promise I’ll stay.” Her fingers tightened around mine.
I looked at her seriously.
“And I want a promise from you.” “What promise?” “No more secrets between us.” She stared at me.
“Perse…” “No.” I shook my head.
“Listen to me.” My voice became calm.
“If you’re scared, tell me.” She stayed silent.
“If you’re hurting, tell me.” I squeezed her hand gently.
“If you’re having a panic attack, tell me.” She looked down.
“If you can’t sleep, tell me.” A small pause.
“If something is wrong, don’t sit alone and pretend everything is fine.” Her eyes became emotional.
“And if you don’t want to talk about it immediately…” I smiled softly.
“Just tell me you don’t want to talk.” She looked at me.
“At least I’ll know.” She nodded slowly.
“Okay.” I smiled.
“Promise?” She nodded again.
“Promise.” I held out my little finger.
She looked at it.
Then laughed quietly.
“Seriously?” “Very seriously.” She hooked her little finger with mine.
“Promise.” I smiled.
“Good.” There was a small silence.
Then I remembered something else.
“And we’re making another promise.” She immediately frowned.
“Another one?” “Yes.” “What now?” I took a breath.
“Promise me you’ll help me move on from Nishu.” Her expression changed slightly.
I continued.
“And don’t let me fall in love with anyone.” Jay stared at me.
“Perse…” “I’m serious.” I gave her a small smile.
“You know me better than anyone.” She looked at me quietly.
“I don’t want to repeat the same mistakes.” I squeezed her hand.
“If I ever start getting close to someone…” I pointed at her.
“You stop me.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Why me?” “Because you’re my person.” She went quiet.
I continued.
“And we’ll never keep secrets from each other.” I looked directly into her eyes.
“If I ever find out that you’ve hidden something important from me…” My voice became softer.
“I’ll start believing that maybe I’m not a trustworthy person for you.” Her expression immediately changed.
“Don’t say that.” “Then don’t make me feel that way.” She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she nodded.
“Okay.” She held out her little finger again.
“Same goes for you, Perse.” I hooked mine with hers.
“Deal.” She smiled faintly.
“But…” I immediately looked at her.
“But what?” She hesitated.
Her smile disappeared.
“I…” She looked away.
“I have one more secret.” I froze.
“What?” “I can’t tell you right now.” I stared at her.
“Jay.” She shook her head.
“I’ll tell you soon.” “When?” “Soon.” “Tomorrow?” She shook her head.
“Jay.” “No.” “Next week?” “Perse…” “Next month?” She almost smiled.
“No.” I stared at her.
“Then when?” “When I can.” I sighed.
“Baby, you’re literally proving my point.” “I know.” “Then tell me.” “I can’t.” “Why?” “I just can’t right now.” I looked at her suspiciously.
“Is it dangerous?” She shook her head.
“Is someone threatening you?” “No.” “Is it about your health?” “No.” “Your trauma?” “No.” “Your life?” She immediately shook her head.
“No.
Don’t worry.” I studied her face.
“It isn’t about me not trusting you.” She looked into my eyes.
“And it isn’t related to my health or my life.” I remained silent.
“Relax, Perse.” I still wasn’t completely convinced.
But I knew Jay.
When she truly didn’t want to talk about something, forcing her wouldn’t make her tell me.
So finally…
I sighed.
“Okay.” She smiled slightly.
“But I’m going to remember.” “I know.” “And when you’re ready…” “I’ll tell you.” I nodded.
“Promise?” “Promise.” We sat quietly for a moment.
Our little fingers were still connected.
Then I looked at her.
“No more hiding your pain from me.” She nodded.
“And no more pretending you’re fine when you’re not.” She nodded again.
I smiled.
“Good.” Jay leaned back against the pillows.
I stayed beside her.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
But somehow…
the silence felt different.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe she had finally let me see one more piece of what she had been carrying.
I still didn’t know what her last secret was.
And honestly…
that bothered me.
A lot.
But she had promised she would tell me.
So for now…
I would trust her.
Because she was my baby.
And whatever she was hiding…
I would wait until she was ready.