The bell above the café door rang softly as Katie stepped outside.
She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and began walking down the quiet street, her footsteps light against the pavement. The glow from the restaurant windows faded behind her with every step, replaced by dim streetlights and the calm hush of night.
Inside the café, Tian froze.
His chopsticks paused mid-air the moment he heard the bell.
He looked up instinctively—just in time to see the door swing shut.
"She left," Nico said casually, following his gaze.
Tian didn't answer right away. He lowered his chopsticks slowly, his expression unreadable as always, but his eyes stayed fixed on the door for a second longer than necessary.
Nico narrowed her eyes at him. "You came here just to eat, right?" she teased, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Tian stood up, pulling his hoodie properly over his gray T-shirt. "I'm done."
Nico blinked. "Already?"
He grabbed his jacket without meeting her eyes. "I'll head out."
Outside, Katie walked with her head slightly down, her breath visible in the cool air. She hugged her bag closer to herself, unaware of the quiet footsteps that soon followed at a careful distance.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Tian kept his hands in his pockets, his pace steady. He didn't call her name. He didn't speed up.
He just walked behind her—silent, watchful—making sure she wasn't alone.
The dinner rush slowly faded, and the restaurant finally grew quiet.
Katie wiped her hands, untied the apron from her waist, and folded it neatly.
Her father looked up from the counter.
"That's enough for today. You can go home."
Katie smiled faintly.
"Good night, Dad."
She slipped on her bag, pushed the door open, and stepped outside.
The small bell above the door rang softly behind her.
The warm lights of the restaurant stayed behind as the cool night air wrapped around her.
Her shoulders relaxed for the first time that evening.
Inside, Tian sat at the table, chopsticks paused mid-air.
He looked toward the door without realizing it.
She's done already…
Outside, Katie walked down the street, unaware that someone was quietly watching her leave.
Tian stood a few feet away, hands tucked into the pockets of his dark gray hoodie, his brows furrowed slightly as he searched Katie's face for a hint of her thoughts. The soft glow of the evening city lights painted their surroundings in muted gold and pink, but it did little to ease the tension between them.
They walked side by side, their footsteps falling into an uneasy rhythm.
The streetlights stretched their shadows long and thin, never quite touching.
Tian broke the silence without looking at her.
"Why did you act like you didn't know me there?"
Katie's fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. She kept her eyes on the road ahead, pretending to focus on nothing in particular.
"I didn't know what else to do," she said softly.
He exhaled, slow and controlled.
"So ignoring me was easier?"
She hesitated, then nodded once.
"In that place… in front of everyone… it felt safer."
The silence returned, heavier this time—no longer empty, but full of things neither of them was ready to say.
"I noticed you've been avoiding me," he said quietly, his voice carrying a mix of concern and hurt.
Katie's fingers fidgeted with the hem of her orange T-shirt. She avoided his gaze for a heartbeat, then looked up, her eyes hesitant but earnest. "No… I'm not," she whispered, though the faint tremor in her voice betrayed the uncertainty she tried to hide.
For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the distant hum of the city. It was a simple exchange, but the weight of unspoken feelings lingered in the cool evening air, binding them together in quiet tension.
The bus hummed softly along the quiet streets, carrying the city's early risers toward their destinations. Katie stood at the stop, clutching her bag, her heart beating a little faster than usual. The familiar figure of Tian approached, his hoodie drawn over his shoulders, expression unreadable.
"The bus is here… see you later," she said, forcing a casual tone, though her throat felt tight.
Tian said nothing. He just watched her, eyes fixed, as if committing her every movement to memory. Katie hesitated, then stepped onto the bus. She cast one last glance at him through the window, meeting his gaze for a fleeting second before the doors closed with a soft hiss.
Seated by the window, Katie stared out at the passing streetlights, their reflections dancing across the glass. What just happened today? Did I say something wrong? Her chest felt heavy, and the question refused to leave her mind. She hugged her bag closer, trying to shake the unease that had settled deep in her stomach.
Later, back at her house, she collapsed onto her bed. The covers enveloped her in warmth, yet sleep eluded her. Her eyes traced the ceiling as memories of the day replayed over and over. Why can't I stop thinking about him? Why does it feel like something changed? The questions swirled in her mind, unanswered, leaving a restlessness that refused to be soothed.
The next morning, sunlight had barely touched her bedroom when a sharp voice cut through the quiet.
"Katie! Why are you still sleeping?!"
She bolted upright, her heart racing. "Ugh… five more minutes…" she muttered, dragging herself out of bed. But even as she moved, her mind remained elsewhere, tangled in yesterday's conversation with Tian.
That night, the house glowed softly against the star-strewn sky, the warm light spilling from the windows onto the neatly kept garden. Inside, Katie's thoughts kept her awake, turning over every word, every glance, every pause from the day before. Beyond the walls, the neighborhood slept under the same sky. Streetlights cast gentle pools of light over the curved roads, illuminating neat rows of houses, all quiet and peaceful. Families slept, unaware of the small, quiet turmoil in one bedroom.
Katie lay there, staring at the ceiling, a mixture of uncertainty and anticipation knotting in her chest. Tomorrow, she would see him again, and she had no idea whether it would be simple… or complicated.