Shina came down the stairs with the brightest smile I’ve ever seen on her. For a second, I forgot how messed up my condition was. She stopped right in front of the gate where I was waiting, her eyes scanning my face as if something was off.

  “Eroan… are you okay?” she asked, surprised, maybe even worried.

  All I could give her was a quiet, “Hmm.”

  I wasn’t lying. That was all I had the energy for.

  Her maid followed right behind her, and then her mother appeared as well. I greeted them politely, and Shina’s mom responded the same way. It was her first time seeing me in person—before this, I’d just been someone she heard about from her daughter. Naturally, she talked a little, asked simple things. I replied where needed.

  When she offered that we should go by car with their driver, I almost refused. Then she insisted that I stay for dinner since dusk had already settled in.

  But in my condition… I couldn’t.

  “I appreciate the offer, ma’am,” I said softly, “but I’m not in the state to sit for dinner today.”

  I could see she understood. But the ride… that, I couldn’t refuse. Not when Shina’s safety was involved. Responsibility isn’t something I pick and choose- it’s something I hold. So I accepted the car plan.

  After greeting them once more, I entered the car and started driving.

  Shina sat beside me. Outside, I felt stern and steady, like nothing could shake me. But inside, she was on fire. I could sense it without even looking.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw her hiding her face with her hands, whispering under her breath,

  *“This is my first time being alone with him…”*

  Her voice had this shy tremble to it.

  *“First time being alone with any guy… let alone in a car…”*

  Then, trying to regain composure, she muttered, “No… no, I need to act cool and calm,” forcing her tone steady like she was practicing.

  The silence stretched for too long, so I finally asked,

  “Why so quiet? Is everything okay?”

  She jolted a bit, then answered—stuttering, “Y-yea…h everything’s… f-fine. Why wouldn’t it be okay?”

  “Hmm,” I said. “Good to hear that. To me, it seemed like you were nervous.”

  “Huh!? Then you’ve got the wrong idea. What gives??”

  Her voice jumped back into that typical sharp, rude tone she used whenever she tried to hide something. She pointed at herself and at me, glaring like I accused her of a crime.

  I ignored her act. Let silence settle for a breath. Then I spoke clearly, softly—

  “Well… it’s obvious you’re nervous. I can tell from your movements and your body language. The slight change in your voice. Acting out of place. You’re blinking too much. Your lips move before you speak. You keep touching your eyebrows. And you’re itching your palm.”

  She stared at me, wide-eyed.

  “Wow… he’s so perceptive…” she murmured.

  I continued driving casually,

  “I know being alone with a man at night can make any girl uncomfortable. But don’t worry. I brought you here, so it’s my responsibility to make sure you reach home safely.”

  Maybe it was the tone, or maybe the way I said it was calm, steady, without theatrics.

  But when I glanced at her, she was staring at me like she was seeing someone completely new. As if she fell in love right there.

  Then she whispered, almost in disbelief,

  “Are you… Eroan?"

  I allowed a faint smirk, kept my eyes on the road, and replied,

  “Maybe I am… maybe I’m not.”

  Lights everywhere.

  The city had no intention of sleeping. Lights spilled from every direction: shop windows glowing in warm gold, street lamps standing like silent guardians, buildings rising high into the night with entire floors illuminated. It wasn’t just brightness; it was life, pulsing and breathing through glass and concrete. The streets glittered as if tiny pearls were scattered everywhere, reflecting in puddles, mirrors, and polished metal. Cars flowed like glowing rivers, their headlights painting lines across the road. From above, the city looked like a constellation that had fallen to earth. From inside the car, it felt unreal, almost dreamlike — a world where everything shimmered, and for once, the darkness felt distant.

  Shina rested her forehead lightly against the cool glass of the window, watching the skyscrapers stretch higher and higher as they passed. Their silhouettes cut through the night sky like sharp blades of light. In the reflection, she could see herself — and just beside her, Eroan. Two figures in the same frame, yet worlds apart. His face was calm, unreadable, while hers was soft with quiet wonder. The soft glow from the city painted gentle shadows on their features, merging their reflections with the moving skyline. For a moment, the outside world and the inside of the car blended into one shared space, and she wondered if he noticed the way their images overlapped, like fate trying to make a picture of them together.

  After a while, the car slowed, turning into a quieter street away from the busy glow. Eroan parked and spoke in his usual low, steady voice. “I’ll be here in no time. Take care.” Then he stepped out, walking toward a small, old shop tucked between taller buildings. The owner’s face lit up at the sight of him.

  “Long time no see,” the man said, smiling.

  “Hmm. Guess it is.”

  “As quiet as ever,” he chuckled. “Everything going well?”

  The shopkeeper’s smile faded for a second. “Guess you could say that…”

  Eroan reached into his pocket and placed a broken watch on the counter - a familiar item, carrying a history only he truly understood.

  “I’d like to sell it back to you for half of what I bought it for,” Eroan said, his tone precise, calculated. “l’ll fix it. And when I return, I’ll take the money back. The watch stays yours.”

  The shopkeeper stared at him, surprised. Then he laughed softly. “You always leave me speechless, Eroan. No bargaining, just straight to the point at what you want. Unlike everyone else.”

  He held the watch carefully, as if it were fragile in more ways than one. “Fine. If that’s what you want, then make sure you come take and your watch when you can.” There was affection behind his words, the kind that only comes with long, silent understanding between two men who spoke very little, yet understood very much.

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  “Yeah,” Eroan replied. “You bet, Just so you wait. Care.”

  A cheque rested between Eroan’s fingers " $1,500". He folded it once, slipped it into his pocket, and stepped back outside. The city’s glow welcomed him again as he returned to the car. When he reached it, he found Shina on the phone, her voice soft but slightly tense. The moment she noticed him, she looked up and spoke into the call, her tone shifting.

  “Took you long enough.”

  She ended the conversation, slipping her phone away. For a second, their eyes met and unspoken questions hanging in the air, but none of them voiced. Whatever that call had been about, she buried it behind a faint smile. And Eroan, as always, chose silence over curiosity.

  Driving a little further, Eroan parked again, this time in front of a place glowing with soft, elegant lights. He stepped out first, the door clicking shut behind him. Then, without a word, he walked around to her side and extended his hand. Not rushed. Not hesitant. Just an open invitation waiting for her to accept or deny. The city noise faded into a dull background. His hand stayed there, steady, patient. In that moment, it wasn’t just a gesture — it was a choice offered under the quiet night sky.

  Shina looked at his hand for only a second before her expression softened. She reached out and placed her own in his. Her fingers were warm, slightly trembling but not from the cold, but from something deeper she refused to name. With his help, she stepped out of the car smoothly. Their hands never separated. It felt natural. A small yet powerful connection formed in that simple touch, something neither of them addressed, but both felt clearly in the silence between their heartbeats.

  The moment her feet touched the ground, the sky filled with colors. Fireworks burst open like blooming flowers made of light : reds, blues, golds raining down in sparkling trails. It looked less like a celebration and more like the heavens themselves had chosen to perform for them. The light flickered over their faces, painting them in shifting colors, freezing the moment in something unreal. For an instant, the entire world disappeared, leaving only them- standing side by side, under a sky filled with fire.

  Eroan remained still, his face calm and unreadable, as if the spectacle above meant not much than a moment of surprise to him. Beside him, however, Shina’s face glowed with quiet joy. Her eyes reflected the fireworks, wide and full of childlike wonder. She smiled — a genuine smile that made the whole scene feel warmer. Two people under the same sky, yet experiencing two completely different storms inside their hearts.

  10 — Under the moon

  Feeling her hand still in his the warmth reached up to him, Eroan turned slowly to look at her. The fireworks faded, leaving behind the pale, gentle glow of the moon. Moonlight settled on her face, outlining her features like a soft painting. For once, his eyes did not hide behind indifference. He simply… watched her. Her smile, her presence, the way light touched her skin. He realized he didn’t want to look away. Finally, he tilted his head up at the moon itself, and the smallest smile appeared on his lips. Together, beneath the same silent witness in the sky, they shared a moment that did not need words.

  The restaurant felt unlike anything Shina had ever entered before — neither overly luxurious nor plainly simple, yet somehow perfect in its quiet elegance. Glass walls stretched from floor to ceiling, revealing the city's view as it's reflecting on them, alive in drifting headlights and faint neon lines. Above, the ceiling reflected soft golden light, almost resembling a calm night sky. The air carried a faint aroma of roasted coffee and warm spices. Every detail seemed intentional, crafted to calm the mind. Shina slowly turned her head, taking it all in, her eyes widening in awe.

  “This is… a unique restaurant,” she whispered, her voice barely louder than the music floating around them.

  Eroan didn’t rush to respond. With his chin resting slightly on the palm of his hand, he looked at her through half-lidded eyes, a barely noticeable smirk forming at the corner of his lips. His gaze locked in on her.

  “Sure it is,” he replied simply.

  There was something about his tone — calm, grounded, certain. As if he had the world and found few places worthy of comment. Yet he had brought her here, and that silent implication added more meaning to the moment than any compliment ever could.

  He picked up the menu only to see it without any particular interest. Then, lowering it slightly, he looked directly at Shina instead.

  “The choice is yours,” he said casually, sliding the menu a little closer to her side of the table.

  It wasn’t a question. It was a simple statement — one that placed quiet trust in her hands. No pressure, no suggestion, no guidance. Just freedom. And that alone was enough to make her freeze in place for a moment, caught entirely off guard.

  “Huh! what?”

  Her eyes blinked repeatedly, caught between confusion and surprise. Her fingers tightened slightly around the edges of the menu as her thoughts scrambled. She hadn’t expected that responsibility or maybe it wasn’t even responsibility, but consideration. Either way, the simplicity of his words had shaken her. Most people would tell her what to order, what to like, what to choose. But Eroan simply gave her the space to decide, and that… felt strangely intimate.

  She glanced down again, the printed words blurring for a second as her mind continued racing.

  It’s like a date… isn’t it?

  The thought whispered through her mind, sudden and uncontrollable. She could feel her pulse fluttering slightly faster as a faint warmth crept onto her cheeks. Why did it feel different this time? It wasn’t any ordinary outing. The soft lighting, the silence between them, the way his eyes had rested on her — everything felt heavy with unspoken meaning.

  But what do I even choose? she wondered, her thumb gently tracing the edge of the menu as if the answer might be carved there.

  After a moment of silent hesitation, she looked up at him again, trying to steady her voice.

  “Would you like to drink something?” she asked gently.

  Her gaze stayed on him, searching for some form of reaction - any hint of preference, hesitation, or desire. But as always, he remained calm, composed, his expression locked behind that quiet, unreadable mask. And yet his eyes… they always seemed to listen.

  “Sure. Why not?”

  His answer came without the slightest pause. Casual. Effortless. As if the idea had never truly needed consideration. His posture never changed, his voice never shifted, but the ease of his agreement carried a strange warmth beneath it. The kind that said I’m fine with whatever as long as it’s with you.

  Whether he meant that or not… only the silence knew.

  “Okay then… how about two espressos?” she suggested, a bit more confident now. “Just enough to keep our appetite steady.”

  Her tone softened as she spoke, imagining the rich bitterness of the coffee warming her throat, grounding her heart before whatever came next. She felt oddly comfortable saying “our” as, for this moment, they truly were sharing the same space, the same time, the same breath.

  “In that case… one sandwich for each of us should be fine.”

  Eroan tilted his head slightly toward the passing waiter. With a simple snap of his fingers, the man immediately turned, alert and respectful, hurrying over as if called by instinct. Eroan listed the order in a calm, composed tone, and confident - the kind of voice that didn’t need to be raised to be heard.

  He didn’t even look back at Shina afterward, yet somehow she knew he had chosen it carefully… for both of them.

  The café had grown quieter. The earlier chatter had faded into a soft murmur, replaced by the faint clinking of cups and a distant hum of traffic outside. Steam curled lazily from the surface of their espresso, carrying a bitter yet comforting aroma into the air. For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply sat there, two souls sharing a silence that felt unusually natural.

  Shina lifted her cup, took a small sip, then rested it back on its saucer with a delicate tap. Her fingers traced the rim thoughtfully.

  “So… what are your plans for tonight?” she asked, her tone casual but her eyes searching his, as if there was an unspoken meaning behind the question.

  Eroan’s fingers froze slightly around his cup. His brows drew together, a faint crease forming as he studied her expression. Something about the way she asked that didn’t feel entirely random. It carried an undercurrent, subtle but undeniable. Was she simply making conversation? Or did she have something else in mind?

  He lifted the cup to his lips to hide the slightest flicker of uncertainty in his eyes and took a slow sip, allowing the bitter liquid to ground his thoughts.

  “Well… nothing special,” he replied after a beat, his voice calm, carefully controlled. “Just something to work on.”

  His eyes drifted briefly toward the window before returning to her. “You?”

  Shina leaned forward, resting her elbow lightly on the table. The corner of her lips curved upward, mischief dancing in her eyes. A playful spark seemed to replace the calm in her earlier expression.

  “Then how about spending the night at my house?” she said, tilting her head slightly. Her tone was teasing, almost musical, as though tossing a harmless joke into the air just to see where it would land.

  The dim café lights reflected in her eyes, making the moment strangely intimate. A light laugh escaped her lips as she straightened again, watching him closely, waiting for his reaction - curious, amused, but also… slightly hopeful, without fully realizing it.

  Eroan froze.

  His breath caught in his throat, and a sharp cough broke through the stillness as he choked on his drink. He hurriedly turned his face away, bringing his hand up to cover his mouth while the embarrassment burned across his expression.

  What the heck! Is she serious?

  His heart pounded, thoughts colliding violently inside his mind. For a split second, every possibility rushed through him — confusion, suspicion, curiosity, disbelief. He couldn’t understand whether she truly meant it or if it was simply another playful jab.

  His eyes widened as he forced himself to calm down, steadying his breath. Slowly, he turned back toward her, trying to regain the composure he prided himself on.

  Her lips parted into laughter, the sound light and sincere as she leaned back in her chair. “Ha ha! Did you really think I was serious?” she teased. “For real, I was joking.”

  The words hit him with sudden relief. He released a slow breath, then coughed lightly again just to regain his voice properly, straightening his posture.

  “It’s… time to go home,” he said, his tone deep and firm, as if drawing a line beneath the moment.

  The waiter arrived with the bill. Eroan scanned it quickly, pulled out the money, and placed ten dollars on the table including the three-dollar tip. Meanwhile, Shina sat frozen, staring at the tabletop blankly thinking about what he said.

  Wait… what? Is he really going now? Did I take the joke too far?

  Eroan stood and walked toward the cashier without another word. Moments later, he returned with three neatly packed sandwiches, a dark chocolate bar, and a soda can in hand.

  “Sir, the total is twenty dollars including VAT,” the cashier had said. He paid without hesitation through his banking app.

  Shina had watched the entire process, confusion written all over her face.

  “Did… did you buy all that for me?” she asked in a soft, curious voice.

  He gave her a sideways glance, a faint smirk touching his lips. “Who said it’s for you?” he replied lightly. “Come on, let’s go.”

  He gently took her hand and led her outside. The cool breeze rushed past them. Her hair went with the flow of the wind, but her attention was locked on him alone.

  What Shina didn’t realize was that while she had been absorbed in choosing items from the menu earlier, While Eroan had been doing something else entirely.

  He had scanned the cheque with his phone, the screen glowing faintly in his hands as the cheque rested on his lap. After that, he opened his banking app, verifying the numbers carefully before transferring the necessary amount into his account.

  It had been smooth. Quiet. Calculated.

  That calm efficiency, hidden beneath his reserved demeanor, was a part of him she had yet to truly uncover. And maybe… that mystery only made him more intriguing in her eyes now, even if she didn’t fully understand it yet.

  They settled into the car, the city lights reflecting against the windshield, painting streaks of gold and blue across his focused eyes. He reached into the bag and handed her the dark chocolate box.

  “It’s yours,” he said simply, with a rare, genuine smile.

  She stared at the package in shock. “These… you bought them for my family?

  He kept his eyes on the road, one hand steady on the steering wheel, the other lifting the cold soda to his lips.

  “I’ve been driving your car,” he replied in a calm, low voice. “It’s the least I could do as compensation".

  Outside, the city glowed with life. The city lights reflecting on him- Inside the car though, a quiet shadow remained - a strange mix of distance and care surrounding him, impossible for her to ignore.

  He parked in front of her house. Stepping out, he walked around and offered her his hand. Without hesitation this time, she took hold of his arm.The brief touch sent warmth through her. Kinda unexpected.

  "Take care" , he said gently

  "So, he's not staying?" she thought as he began walking away. Guess he was just messing with me.

  But as she turned toward her gate, today’s moments replayed in her mind — the café, the laughter, the teasing, the kindness behind his silence.

  Down the street, Eroan chuckled to himself. “Maybe she really thought I’d go inside,” he whispered “Well… it was fun.”

  Suddenly —

  “Eroan!”

  He looked back. Their eyes met under the dim streetlight.

  “It was fun… I loved it. Thanks to you. See you soon!” she called.

  A soft, genuine smile bloomed on his face as he waved.

  “See you soon,” he replied.

  And this time, the night felt a little less lonely.