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"Ms. Endorssi," Bam says; Yuri called a break when he entered the room, and Endorssi has time to mop sweat from her face, careful not to do anything vulgar like using the hem of her shirt because it's not that she would anyway, but in front of him it's a loss of something she can't explain, "Can we talk?"
"Right now?" Yuri protests, but there's something in his eyes that doesn't give any room for arguments, and Yuri finally nods, before swatting Endorssi's shoulder, "Don't skip out. We're going back to training as soon as you're done."
"I've had enough of training!" Endorssi protests, but Yuri's already out the door. She gives one last lingering glance to Bam before she's out, and then it's just Bam and Endorssi.
The last time they were alone together, she was pushing him down, telling him to give up Rachel or give up her, and there was no middle ground.
He took the middle ground anyway. He always does.
"Are you here to apologize?" she asks, as though she's not the one feeling guilty. She puts a hand on her hip, tilts her head, tries to look arrogant, like he doesn't make her come undone with a glance.
"Yes," he says.
(She comes undone with the look in his eyes, crosses her arms over her chest, looks away, turns away, walks away.)
"You're too late," she says, haughtily, to the wall, "You already chose Rachel over me."
"It wasn't about Rachel," he says, like he said in her room, "I'm not. . . the same person I used to be. And I'll be different tomorrow, and the day after that."
She looks at him now, at the way he holds himself in, curls in on himself, his hands clenched tightly into fists. He looks vulnerable and guarded at once.
She should be protecting him, but she can't protect anyone, not even herself.
"And I am sorry," he says, looking up at her, "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I was afraid of making the wrong choice, and I let you down because of it."
"You let me down?" she asks; her voice is hollow brass to her ears, "I told you I'd wait for you."
"I know," he says, and bows his head as though that were an accusation directed at anyone but herself.
"I didn't wait," she says, impatiently, "I said I'd wait, but I didn't, and I'm not going to."
"I'm still not ready," Bam says, immovable and unphased.
"I know," she says, "But I'm not waiting. I might not be here when you're ready. I might be gone. So don't take me for granted anymore."
"I won't," he says.
"I'm sorry," she says again, "For trying to force you to. I'm sorry for not believing in you."
That's all she has to say. He thinks over it for a moment, before nodding.
"I never asked to be believed in," he says, "But thank you."
He turns to go, but at the door he looks back, "And I'm . . .glad you're here with us. I don't think I told you that."
"No, you and Kun definitely didn't say anything of the sort," she replies, arrogantly, like she can wall herself back up so quickly, "No 'thank you's or 'we're relying on you's. Mostly you guys didn't seem to want me here."
He looks back at her, "I still wasn't sure what to think of what happened."
"I know," she says, and then, "I don't blame you."
She's surprised at herself for saying. For a moment she thinks, maybe this is too weak. Maybe it's too much.
But Bam doesn't press; he nods, "Thank you."
Endorssi has had enough of softness. She sighs, runs her fingers through her hair, "And send that damn woman in here. I need to talk to her."
"About what?" Bam asks; he's a little bit wary now. Endorssi isn't sure if he's being overprotective of Min or if he still doesn't trust her.
"Nothing bad," she grumbles, "Just about this."
Bam nods. Endorssi considers thanking him, but it's too similar to what he'd said earlier. It feels like stealing his words just to give them back.
"Hurry up!" she says instead, "Before Yuri decides to start training me again!"