Maybe we got lost in translation,
Maybe I asked for too much,
Maybe this thing was a masterpiece till you tore it all up


See you later x – Jesse

Eponine sighed after reading the text message, shutting her phone off and buried her face in her hands. She thought about the mess that was her life, and wondered why did she let everything spiral out of control until she felt like her life was not really her own.

Her relationship with Jesse nowadays was weird. They're both trying hard to go back to the way they once were, but no one could deny the cracks that had already formed, ready to break and destroy everything they tried to build. Jesse was oblivious of her unhappiness but she did not make any effort to tell him the truth between her and Enjolras. She did not know why she was so scared. Perhaps she did not have the guts to break Jesse's heart again. No, not after everything they've been through.

She remembered Jesse apologizing profusely after he found out about Cosette's accident. She remembered the unread texts and missed calls from him that she received when she was spending the night with Enjolras. She remembered them being the reason why she was torn between feeling content about waking up next to the man she loved and feeling guilty for not being the man she was in a relationship with.

Confused and scared, she left before Enjolras woke up and went straight to Jesse's, knowing that if she stayed with Enjolras, she would not leave.

There, she had to pretend that everything was alright even when it was not. But everything came with a price, and pretending made her feel like someone was choking her alive.

She was in pieces.

And after a while, she knew that she had to do something to put herself together.

Right now, she was in the park near her place. Her eyes darted to the people around her, some were laughing and smiling, some were enjoying each other's company, some were playing around, enjoying life. Eponine wished for a simpler life, but then a simpler life was the thing that she threw out of the window the moment she fell in love with Enjolras.

Her fingers were cold despite the warm evening, and her mind was a spiralling mess that soon, she hoped, would turn into clarity.

To be honest, she knew it could end up like this. She would hurt someone, someway. Eponine was not an idiot. She knew she had to make a choice on what she wanted and what she needed, but then knowing and executing something were two completely different things.

And she was not looking forward to this.


"Are you still mad at me?"

Eponine's turned her head to look at Jesse. She realized that she had not uttered a single word ever since Jesse got to the park. She remained passive and quiet when he sat next to her. She made small, contented sound when he touched her hand, but then quickly withdrew it, refusing to meet his gaze.

She was distant, and she knew that Jesse was getting tired of reaching out.

"No, I'm not mad at you," Eponine said, her voice soft and barely audible. Jesse chuckled disbelievingly.

"I thought we're past this. We promised to not keep any secret from each other, remember?"

"Of course I do."

"Then what is it?" Jesse snapped, "You've been acting weird lately, and don't tell me that it's because of work because we both know that work never bothers you. There's something that you're not telling me, and I am tired of convincing myself that it's nothing. I'm your boyfriend, Eponine. If there's anything, you should tell me."

Tears welled in her eyes, "I don't know how to tell you this."

"What is it?" Jesse turned back to her, his heartbeat picked up when he realized that she was crying, "Ep, what is it?"

"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Eponine cried, guilt finally took over her and broke her walls.

Jesse faltered. He remembered the last time Eponine was like this. Disappointment and anger kicked in, and he was shaking, "Something happened between the two of you? Again?"

"I'm sorry?" Eponine asked between sobs.

"You and Enjolras," Jesse said through gritted teeth. He did not know why he was surprised, really. He knew Eponine's feelings for Enjolras, and he was not too deep in the state of denial, he'd admit that she would always come back to him, no matter how hard she tried to run. As it was, he hoped that she would not go to Enjolras, but to him instead. When it came to Enjolras, he somehow believed that he would keep his distance from Eponine, and respected that she was now his girlfriend. Perhaps hoping that he would not mess with someone's girlfriend was too much to ask.

Eponine did not deny anything, proving that his guess was right. Something did happen between the two of them.

Eponine did not deny anything, proving that his guess was right.

"I can't believe this." Jesse cursed under his breath, looking away from Eponine. Eponine wiped the tears off her cheeks and said, "I messed things up. I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, you keep saying that," Jesse whispered, chuckling bitterly, trying hard to control his disappointment, "But are you really sorry?"

"I am," Eponine replied, "The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you."

"But then that's the first thing that you do. The one thing that you always do."

"Jesse…"

"No, Eponine!" Jesse exclaimed, swatting her hand away when she tried to touch him, "You keep coming to me, but you still love him. You keep saying that you'll try, but you never do! I'm the one who tries. I'm the one who has to believe that you're giving us a chance. But every time I trust you, you go behind my back and do… this."

Eponine looked down to the ground and said nothing as she could not come up with anything to refute everything Jesse had said. She could not deny that they're all true. She could not blame him for being paranoid when it came to her and Enjolras as she never gave him a reason to not be worried. He had every right to be anxious because everything he was afraid of came true the moment he closed his eyes and decided to trust her.

"You're still in love with him, aren't you?" Jesse asked after a moment of silence.

Eponine turned back to Jesse, finding that he was already staring at her. Feeling her eyes misting over, she nodded, "Yeah, I am."

She could see tears in Jesse's eyes before he broke their gaze and looked away from her. She could almost feel her heart breaking for him, but she knew that it was nothing compared to what he was feeling right now. It was incredibly cruel of her to do this to him, but she could not keep hurting him. She could not keep lying to him. He deserved much better.

Jesse stood up after a while, preparing to leave. Eponine would not blame him if he just left without saying another word, but to her surprise, he turned back to her. He took a deep breath to compose himself, and said, "I hope you find what you're looking for, Eponine. For what it's worth, I actually loved you."

Muttering the last goodbye, he walked away from there, leaving not only traces of histories and memories that they would always cherish, but also wonders of what could have been if things were different and they loved each other right.

She could not do anything right. How could she when every time she tried to do something, her mind went back to last week, and she recalled how devastated Jesse was, how she had broken him.

"For what it's worth, I actually loved you."


He loved her, and she did not love him back. She did not love the man who treated her like she was his everything. She did not love the man who gave her everything she needed and more, who could probably be her future if she was not so messed up.

She put down her mug on the kitchen counter and sighed. Wrapping her bathrobe around her, she made her way towards the living room and sat on the couch. It was quiet today. Her mornings were usually filled with calls and text messages from her friends, asking if she was alright after they heard about her break up with Jesse. She did not reply to any of them because she did not know what to answer. A part of her was relieved that she was no longer with him because by this, he was no longer hurting. But a part of her felt empty, and as hard as she tried, she could not deny that Jesse once filled her life with laughter, happiness and promises of future, and when he was gone, he took everything with him.

She had lost count of how many times she cried because of this matter. She had come to the point when she did not even remember why she cried. Sometimes she cried because she regretted everything she did with Enjolras. Sometimes she cried because she hated herself for hurting Jesse. Sometimes she cried because she missed Jesse, and sometimes she cried because she was scared, lonely and miserable.

Now, well now, she felt numb. Everything about her life was so fucked up, and she was so tired. Tired of crying, tired of feeling miserable.

Eponine sighed, getting up from the couch to take a shower, but then she heard a knock on her door. Startled, she looked at the clock. It was too early for anyone to come.

"Ep? I know you're in there! Open up!" Combeferre called, as if he knew that she was hesitating. Eponine's eyes went wide. She did not expect him to come to her place.

Eponine rushed to open the door for him. There, Combeferre stood with two cups of coffee and bag of food. Seeing Eponine's puffy face and red eyes, his smile vanished from his face, replaced by genuine look of concern.

Eponine hated that look.

"You look like shit." He said, laughing nervously when Eponine glared at him.

"Is that your way of comforting a girl?" Eponine replied cheekily, crossing her arms as she leaned against the door, "You suck."

"Yeah, well, I guess I need more practice. May I come in?"

Eponine shrugged, stepping aside so that Combeferre could come in. As he walked in, Eponine snatched a cup of coffee from his hand, startling him.

"What? Is it not for me?"

"It is for you." Combeferre replied simply, making his way to the dining table to put the stuff he brought with him on it, "Have you eaten?"

"Nope. I don't have the appetite." Eponine said as she took a seat, gazing up at Combeferre. "Have you?"

"No. Thought I'd eat with you. You didn't return any of our calls, and Cosette was worried that you're not taking a good care of yourself."

"And you volunteered to check on me?"

"Well, yeah."

Eponine smiled, "Thank you. I'm glad you came."

Combeferre returned her smile and sat next to her. Eponine snuggled closer to him and put her head on his shoulder as he sipped his coffee. For once after a few days, Eponine felt at peace.

"Can I ask you something?" Eponine asked. Combeferre nodded and replied, "What is it?"

"You haven't, by any chance, talked to Jesse, have you?"

Eponine could feel Combeferre tense when she asked the question, and the silence that followed caused her curiosity to grow.

"You have." She said in understanding, "When?"

Combeferre sighed and put down his cup of coffee as he turned to Eponine. He seemed reluctant to tell her what he had to say, but then he knew that Eponine would not stop asking until she got her answer.

"Last night, at Musain."

"What's he doing there?"

"He's with his mother, having coffee." Combeferre answered, "You don't have to worry about him though. He seems to be doing just fine."

Eponine felt a little burden in her heart lift when she heard that Jesse was okay.

"That's good."

"Yeah. He… well, he told me to give you something."

Eponine frowned, questions in her eyes.

"What is it?"

Combeferre sighed heavily, looking like he was struggling with himself, like if he could, he did not want to give Eponine what he had to give. Eponine had known him long enough to understand that whatever it was, it was going to devastate her.

"Ferre, just come out and tell me." Eponine braced herself for a bad news, "I can take it."

Combeferre seemed to not believe her, but then he knew that there was no point in arguing with Eponine. So, he took out a little box out of his pocket and handed it to her. Confused, Eponine took the box from Combeferre's hand and gazed at her friend, asking what it was. However, he said nothing as it was better if Eponine found it out herself.

Shaking slightly, Eponine opened the box. She felt her jaw drop and her heart beat even faster. It was a gold necklace with an eternity sign.

And she felt tears welled in her eyes again.


He remembered.

"What do you think of this?" Eponine showed Jesse a gold necklace that she had been eyeing for weeks. They were in a jewellery shop as Jesse wanted to get something for his mother. Eponine was there to accompany him because he needed 'a woman's opinion' as according to him, he was terrible when it came to buying gifts.

Jesse looked up from comparing a golden and a silver watch to see what Eponine had chosen. She was holding the necklace up, eyes bright and enthusiastic, but unfortunately, his eyes did not mirror hers.

"I don't know," he hesitated, "The infinity symbol seems a little… I don't know, mainstream?"

"Mainstream?" Eponine laughed, "What does that even mean?"

"Well, my mother likes something that is one of a kind." Jesse answered, returning his focus back to the watches, "I don't see her wearing that necklace. She might just put in her drawer and never wear it."

Eponine pouted, "I guess the necklace is out then. Such a shame. I actually liked that one."

"You do?" Jesse turned to her when he felt her snuggling close to him. Eponine nodded enthusiastically.

"I think I'll see the necklace again, please?" Jesse suddenly told the salesgirl, and Eponine smiled as she stared up at him. She was holding his hand as she put her head on his shoulder.

"Do you think we are infinite?" she asked out of the blue, and Jesse stopped in his action. He looked at her, wondering if he heard her question right.

Eponine's gaze was serious, "Do you think we'll last?"

"Eponine, what's with the question?"

"I'm just asking." Eponine shrugged, letting go of his hand, "You know what? Forget it."

"No no," Jesse held on to her hand, causing her to turn back to him, "I want to answer that."

"You do?" Eponine's eyes widened in surprise, " Okay, what's your answer?"

"Ah, that's the thing," Jesse said, "I want to hear yours first?"

Eponine raised a brow, trying to read Jesse who was smiling cheekily at her. When he seemed adamant of wanting to know her answer first, she replied, "I know better than to put too much hope for the future, but to be honest, I want nothing more than for you to be there."

Jesse's smile was bright, and he looked truly happy, "Really?"

Eponine nodded, "Really."

"Well, I'm glad you think that way, because I'm not going anywhere," he said, his voice low and sultry. He put his arms around her as he rested his forehead against hers, "My future is you, Eponine Thenardier."

Eponine laughed, feeling happier than she had ever been. Placing a chaste kiss on his lips, Eponine asked, "So, have you made your choice?"

"Not yet," Jesse held her there as he deepened the kiss, "I'll think about the necklace later."

"Oh, Ep?" Jesse pulled back for a moment, and said, "As the answer to your question, yes, I think we are infinite."


Eponine did not realize that she was crying until Combeferre reached out and held her hand.

"I did not know that he'd actually buy this necklace for me," Eponine sobbed, "I thought… I thought…"

"Hey, hey," Combeferre quickly pulled her into a hug when her sobbing got more erratic, "Everything that happened between you two is not your fault. You're not in control of who you're in love with, and Jesse does not blame you for that."

"But I feel like he is blaming me. Why else would he give me this necklace? He wanted to remind me of the promises that I've broken."

"Whatever his attention is, I'm sure it's not what you think it is." Combeferre tried to comfort her, "He just figured you should have the necklace, but he doesn't blame you. He understands why you did what you did. We have all been in love, and we all know that sometimes, things just don't go the way we wanted it to be."

"Do you think he will ever forgive me?"

Combeferre did not answer. Although Jesse seemed alright, from his tired eyes, Combeferre could tell that Jesse took the break up harder than Eponine, and he knew that the man still loved Eponine with everything he had. Jesse would be lying if he said that he had already forgiven Eponine for cheating on him. Jesse might still love Eponine, but it did not mean that things would go back to the way they were, and when it came to their case, love had destroyed any possible friendship that could form between the two of them.

Combeferre did not know how to put everything into words, so he simply put his arms around Eponine as she cried.

"I'm here. It's going to be okay. I'm here."

And Combeferre hoped that for that night, he was enough.


Author's Note:

Hi, I'm still alive! I know it's been a long, long time, and I am not surprised if some of you thought that I had abandoned this fic. I haven't. Life is crazy lately, and university assignments sucked my soul and I had no inspiration to write for a long time. It was a really dark time for me, but I'm still trying to get out of this terrible writer's block. I'm sorry if this chapter is not what you expected, but the plot is really coming together, and I hope that's enough reassurance?

Thank you to anyone who hasn't given up on me. Thank you so much for reading, and I cannot tell you enough how much that means to me.