Chapter 25 You Don’t Get To Choose When #3
“Thanks.” I laughed, the sound bubbling out before I could stop it. “That sounds like every subway experience in New York. You’re officially initiated.”
He grinned, his teeth bright against his tanned skin. “Thanks. I’ll take my honorary New Yorker card now.”
I swirled the straw in my drink, feeling the warmth of the alcohol spreading through me. “You said you’re studying architecture, right?”
“Yeah, at Columbia,” he said. “It’s… a lot. But I love it. There’s something so satisfying about creating something from nothing, you know?”
I nodded, surprised at how much I understood. “It’s like that with ballet, too. You take this blank stage and fill it with movement, with emotion. Sometimes it feels like magic.”
He tilted his head, studying me. “Do you feel that way now? Like it’s magic?”
The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated. “Not always,” I admitted. “Lately, it’s been more… suffocating than anything else.”
Arjuna’s expression softened. “That sounds hard. Do you ever think about walking away?”
The thought made my stomach twist, and I shook my head. “No. I couldn’t. It’s who I am, you know?”
“Yeah,” he said quietly, nodding. “I get that.”
We fell into an easy rhythm after that, sharing stories about childhood, our families, the things we loved and hated about the city.
He told me about growing up in Jakarta, about his younger siblings and how much he missed his mom’s cooking.
I told him about Soleh, about the nights we stayed up late playing Sims and bickering over the smallest things.
“You’re lucky,” he said, smiling. “You sound close.”
“Yeah,” I said softly, a pang of warmth tugging at me. “I guess we are.”
At some point, I pulled out my phone and held it up. “Let’s take a picture. You’re officially my favourite person I’ve met tonight, which is such a win for you considering the fact that I met up with my best friend Sydney today and she’s pretty neat! ”
He laughed but leaned in, letting me press a kiss to his cheek as the flash went off. I posted it immediately, feeling bold, the caption a simple
YohItsSoh: New favourite person.
A minute later, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, and my stomach flipped at what someone had commented under my post.
Wynter: ?
I showed Arjuna the screen, snorting. “My overprotective childhood friend. He’s probably freaking out right now.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I didn’t kiss him back.” I snorted a laugh.
“Why not mystery girl from Jakarta?” He leaned back,
“Because why should I? He needs to give me a reason.” I sighed. “He’s probably plotting second-degree on you right now.”
Arjuna grinned. “Should I be scared?”
“Not unless he actually shows up,” I joked, but a part of me wondered if he would.
I hit call, holding the phone to my ear. Wynter answered immediately.
“Where are you?” He breathed.
“Why is he British…” Arjuna wondered,
“I keep asking him the same thing, he doesn’t even like tea and scones,” I commented and we laughed.
“Weird.”
“I am at a club,” I said, grinning despite myself.
“You, at a club?” He questioned, “Did someone make you?”
“No I wanted to be here, and you’re probably at home being a loser.” I giggled.
“And you’re drinking? Since when?”
“Since now. Since you pissed me the fuck off and I wanted to go out and have fun without you.” I informed him.
“Irresponsible.” He scolded.
“Whatever, Come find me if you can.” I giggled.
“Yesoh, don’t—”
I hung up before he could finish, laughing as I turned back to Arjuna. “Men are so predictable.”
We made our way to the dance floor, the lights flashing around us in dizzying patterns. Arjuna was a great dancer, his movements easy and confident, and for a while, I forgot about everything else.
His presence reminded me of something I hadn’t realized until then— that there were other men, who could understand me, who didn’t need years of distance and convincing to like me back.
Who didn’t need for me to grow up and turn pretty for me to hold their attention.
Meeting Arjuna that night made me realize that I wasn’t trapped in some Wynter prison, that I had the key all along and that It didn’t have to be him if I didn’t want it to be.
That just like him I could wake up one day and decide what I truly wanted.
But then a hand closed around my arm, and I turned to see Wynter standing there, his jaw tight, his eyes burning.
“What are you doing here?” I gasped.
“What you asked.” He breathed, “I came to find you.”
“How did you know where I was?”
“I analyzed the background of the photo you posted.” He explained slightly ashamed, “It was consensual stalking.”’
“Consensual stalking?” I repeated realizing that he sounded crazy. He sounded just like me. I was no longer insane about this man all on my own— he was getting wheeled away to the loony bin over me too.
“Let’s go,” he said, his voice low but commanding.
“What?” I pulled back, frowning. “I’m fine.”
“You’re drunk,” he said. “You need to go home.”
Arjuna stepped in, looking between us with confusion. “Is everything okay?”
“She’s fine,” Wynter said sharply, his hand still on my arm.
Cahya appeared beside him, his brow furrowed. “Wynter, what’s going on what are you doing?”
“What I should’ve done many summers ago. I’m taking Yesoh home. She’s too drunk to stay here,” he said, his tone clipped.
Cahya crossed his arms, his expression sceptical. “Why is that your call to make?”
“It’s not but I want her to choose her own safety.” Wynter shot back, his voice firm. Then he glanced back at me, “Yesoh, choose.”
Cahya raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you care so much what my sister does at the club? I thought we were all looking out for each other, and I’m pretty sure she’s safe with me—”
“You’ve been drinking too.” Wynter reminded him.“ Therefore It’s not up for debate,”
Cahya’s eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between us. “You’re awfully intense about this. Do you even hear yourself?”
Wynter didn’t answer, but the way he avoided his gaze said everything.
“Yesoh please, let me take you home. I know you’re angry with me but let me care for you,” he said again, his voice softer but no less determined.
Wynter was desperate, desperate for me to forsake all else and choose him, I recognized that In his eyes, it was almost as if that longing had left mine and dissolved into his gaze.
I could see it in the way his jaw tightened when I tried to pull away, in the way his shoulders tensed as he blocked Arjuna from stepping in. It wasn’t just anger—it was something deeper, something that made his voice shake when he said my name.
“You’re drunk,” he’d said, but it sounded more like You’re in danger. And when Cahya challenged him, his answers were quick, and defensive, his gaze darting to me like he was scared of what she might figure out.
Cahya was shocked and so was everyone else by the sheer determination Wynter displayed.
“Alright calm down Wyn, Soh he's right you should get a safe ride home.” Sydney intervened playing the good cop.
“But if you ever interrupt a girl's night out for my best friend again I’ll break your neck,” Remi warned him.
It wasn’t just the words he couldn’t say; it was the way he stood too close, the way his eyes locked onto mine like they were searching for something—maybe proof I was okay, or maybe permission to fall apart.
Even when we got outside, his desperation lingered. He hovered near me, his hands twitching as if he wanted to reach out but wasn’t sure if he should.
I just followed him to the car and closed my eyes.