"I love you." *silence*

One speaks. The other breaks.

---

They're back in their hotel suite.Not a word exchanged since the interview.

The room is too quiet.Too clean.Like neither of them belongs there anymore.

Kole paces near the window, arms folded tightly across his chest. His reflection in the glass is pale, lips bitten raw. He hasn't spoken in hours-not since the staged smiles, the robotic interview, the photos they had to pose for, inches apart but oceans away.

Jackson is on the bed. Not even pretending to be busy anymore. Phone abandoned. Back hunched, fingers rubbing the bridge of his nose like he's trying to hold his entire body together.

"Kiss for the camera," the host had said earlier.And they'd done it.Just like always.

But something had cracked in Kole the moment Jackson's lips brushed his cheek and nothing lingered-not even a glance.

He turns now, hands trembling. "Say something."

Jackson doesn't look up.

"I'm losing it here," Kole says, voice shaking. "You're shutting me out like I'm a stranger."

Jackson finally lifts his head. His eyes are tired. "What do you want me to say?"

Kole stares. "Anything. Everything. Just stop acting like this didn't wreck you."

Jackson rises slowly, crossing the space between them with calm, calculated steps.

"It did," he says quietly. "But we agreed to the game, Kole. You just forgot the rules."

Kole flinches. "I never played you."

Jackson shrugs. "Maybe not on purpose."

Silence.

And then-

"I love you."

Kole doesn't even realize the words are out of his mouth until the air changes.Until Jackson goes completely still.Until something flickers in his eyes-fear, confusion, devastation. Something old. Something buried.

Jackson says nothing.

Kole waits.

And waits.

But all he gets is silence.

A silence that screams louder than any rejection ever could.

Kole lets out a broken laugh. "Wow."

Jackson takes a step forward. "Kole-"

"No," Kole says, voice cracking. "Don't. Don't explain. Don't apologize. Don't act like you didn't see this coming."

Jackson's jaw clenches.

"You don't get to look at me the way you do," Kole whispers, "touch me like I'm yours, kiss me like it means something-and then freeze when I say it out loud."

Jackson opens his mouth, but the words won't come. They're stuck somewhere behind a wall he built a long time ago. One that even Kole hasn't broken through completely.

"I get it now," Kole says, swallowing hard. "You only want this if no one says what it is."

He grabs his bag from the couch. His hands are trembling.

"Kole-wait."

But Kole's already at the door. "I'm not asking you to love me back, Jackson. I'm just done pretending you never could."

He opens the door.

And walks out.

Jackson stands there, hand still outstretched, mouth still open, and the words still-still-don't come.

Not even when he's alone again.

Not even when the door clicks shut behind the only person who's ever made him feel like more than just a role.