Chapter 4 RUMORS AND RAIN

Jay didn't mean to eavesdrop.

He was on his way back to the dressing room, still drying his hair from the downpour outside, when he passed by the break room. The unmistakable sound of Blue's voice made him pause. He hated that he recognized it so quickly now,that low, even tone that never cracked, never wavered.

On screen, Blue sat across from a talk show host, surrounded by warm lighting and fake laughter.

"...You've been in the spotlight since you were a teenager," the host was saying. "And yet, you're still such a mystery. People are curious,how do you feel about being called cold?"

Blue didn't blink. "People like labels. It makes things easier to digest."

"That's not a denial," the host teased. "Come on,no feelings at all?"

Then a panelist laughed. Jay didn't know his name,some Z-list actor trying too hard to be relevant.

"He's like a mannequin," the guy said. "I've worked with Blue before. It's like talking to a pretty wall. No warmth. No soul. Honestly? It's a little creepy."

Laughter.

Jay's jaw clenched.

He didn't know why it bothered him so much. Blue was cold, Aloof and Annoying. Their entire marriage was a PR stunt, and Blue treated it like a business deal. So why did this comment feel like a punch to the gut?

Maybe because Jay had seen cracks in that mask. Not often, not clearly, but they were there. The silence between them wasn't always empty. Sometimes, it felt like something waiting to be understood.

He didn't even realize he'd left the room until he was outside again, rain soaking his sleeves as he rushed toward the apartment they now shared.

The door was unlocked.

Jay frowned as he pushed it open and stepped inside. The apartment was unusually quiet. No lights. The faint sound of rain tapping against the balcony doors.

"Phi Blue?" he called, dropping his bag. "Hey, why didn't you lock the door? Are you trying to get murdered or what?"

No answer.

Jay kicked off his shoes, irritation building. "Seriously, I swear to God, if this is your new way of ignoring me....."

Then he saw Him.

Blue was on the floor, half-collapsed against the couch, one arm limp over his stomach, the other pressed weakly against the cushions. His skin was pale. His lips dry. His chest rose in slow, unsteady breaths.

Jay's heart stopped.

"Phi Blue?"

He rushed over, dropping to his knees. He shook him gently at first, then harder.

"Phi Blue! Wake up,hey!"

Nothing.

His hand found Blue's forehead, and panic clawed at his chest. Burning hot. Feverish. His skin was damp with sweat, his breathing shallow.

"Shit, shit" Jay scrambled to his feet, dragging blankets down from the bedroom, wetting a towel, grabbing water, medicine, anything he could find.

By the time he returned, Blue hadn't moved.

Jay pulled him carefully onto the couch, tugging the blankets around him. He sat beside him, pressing the cool cloth to Blue's forehead and cursing under his breath.

"You idiot," he muttered. "You don't eat, you don't sleep, and for what? Just so some stranger can call you heartless, emotionless on TV?"

Blue stirred, his eyes fluttering slightly. Then, softly, like it wasn't meant to be heard, he whispered, "I'm trying..."

Jay froze.

He stared at Blue's face, so vulnerable, so unlike the man he fought with daily. This wasn't the 'emotionless robot' people saw on-screen. This was someone tired, someone hurting, someone breaking quietly where no one could see.

Jay sat back slowly, his throat tight. His fingers trembled slightly as he wiped the sweat from Blue's brow again.

"You're such a pain in the ass," he whispered. "But..."

He didn't finish.

Instead, he sat there, listening to the rain, watching Blue sleep, and wondering what the hell was happening to him. A flicker of something warm and unfamiliar curled in his chest. It scared him more than he wanted to admit.

He leaned back against the couch, arms crossed tight.

It's nothing. Just a moment. Just... exhaustion or guilt or whatever.

He kept telling himself that.

But even as he looked away, he didn't move from Blue's side.

This chapter means a lot to me. "Rumors and Rain" is where Jay's walls start to crack, even if he refuses to admit it out loud. I wanted to show the quiet vulnerability that often hides behind a strong front, and how sometimes, care shows up in the smallest moments.

Thank you for reading, for feeling, and for being here. If you liked this chapter and the previous ones too , don't forget to leave a vote, drop a comment, or just scream in the tags 😀

Your support means everything. See you in the next chapter!

With love,

1234onyinyechi❤️.