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𝐎𝐌𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓

𝐉𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐈 sat across from Jace, her hands resting stiffly in her lap, eyes locked on the cold, unreadable expression etched on his face. She could feel the weight of his gaze digging into her, knowing he was about to say something she wasn't ready to hear. The tension between them was thick, almost suffocating, and she wasn't in the mood to face it head-on.

"Jiani, why do you choose to play with me?" Jace's voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to it, a quiet intensity that made her stomach churn. His eyes narrowed as they focused on her, demanding an answer that she didn't have.

Jiani let out a frustrated sigh, the exhale coming out sharp, like a release of air from her chest. Her fingers involuntarily ran over her lips, smoothing the surface, a familiar gesture that reminded her of her sister. She didn't even realize she was doing it until the motion became automatic, like a defense mechanism she couldn't shake.

"Can you just let me talk?" Her voice came out softer than she intended, but the frown pulling at her face deepened, the frustration clear in the way her eyes flicked to the side before snapping back to Jace. She could feel the heat of his stare, unwavering, demanding. He wasn't letting up, but she couldn't bring herself to meet it just yet.

Jace didn't budge. His posture was rigid, every inch of him focused, waiting. The room felt smaller with each second that passed, his presence filling the space between them, and Jiani could feel the quiet pressure bearing down on her. She just wanted him to stop looking at her like that.

"What is there to possibly say? I saw it with my own two eyes, G," Jace snapped, his thick Chicago accent becoming more pronounced, his voice rising with irritation. The volume hit Jiani like a slap, and she flinched instinctively.

She wasn't a fan of loud voices—especially after growing up with Chance and her ex-boyfriend, both of whom would yell at each other when she was younger. It made her insides twist, feeling small all over again.

"You didn't see right, that's why I'm trying to explain!" she shot back, her frustration boiling over. She jumped to her feet, pacing around her room, her hands shaking with the energy of everything unsaid. She was at her house, alone, but in that moment, it felt like she was suffocating. "You're too caught up in your trust issues to even hear me out."

Jace's gaze followed her, steady and unwavering, his posture taut with the anger brewing beneath his calm exterior. He jabbed a finger in her direction, his eyes narrowing. "Talk, I ain't gon' stop you, unless it's some bullshit. If you say some bullshit, I swear..."

The threat hung in the air, heavy and sharp, and Jiani scoffed, rolling her eyes. The last thing she needed was his overbearing energy adding fuel to the fire.

She took a deep breath, her shoulders slumping slightly, trying to steady herself. "Yes, I was talking to Omar," she admitted, her voice softer now, tinged with guilt. She hesitated for a split second before continuing, "But it wasn't like that. He was trying to find a reason to get back with me, and since I'm in a relationship, I told him to leave me alone. He wouldn't listen."