A meeting of two people who understood each other—because they knew what loneliness was.
"Thanks for keeping me company," Catrine said softly, her voice tinged with a quiet sadness.
Recandra blinked, caught off guard by her words. He hadn't expected that. Seeing his reaction, Catrine gave him a faint smile.
"Truth is… I've just been betrayed too. And I've been feeling pretty alone lately. When I walked into that café and saw the way you were staring into nothing—I just knew. I thought… this person feels the same."
"I didn't expect you to be like this," Recandra admitted.
"And I didn't expect I'd say something like this to someone I just met hours ago," Catrine replied, her smile widening slightly, though her eyes still carried the weight of something broken. "But somehow… it doesn't feel heavy."
Recandra fell silent, processing her words. He looked into her face, searching for any trace of a lie. But all he saw was raw honesty—something that mirrored his own unspoken emotions. There was a strange kind of reflection between them that night.
"So…" he began, voice a little softer now, "we're both heartbroken, huh?"
Catrine nodded slowly. "Something like that. It's funny how the world works, yeah? When everything's falling apart, it throws you into the path of someone who's just as shattered."
A gentle breeze drifted by, carrying the scent of damp earth and jasmine from the nearby park. Silence enveloped them again, not the awkward kind, but the kind filled with mutual understanding.
"I don't even know what to say," Recandra murmured, feeling both awkward and oddly at ease. "I mean… thank you. For being honest. I thought I was the only one falling apart."
"You're not alone," Catrine said, her eyes fixed on his. "At least, not for tonight."
He gave a slow nod, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips—part pain, part something close to peace.
"It's strange," he said, gazing at the sky filled with thick cumulus clouds. "We just met, barely talked, but it's like… we already get each other."
Catrine looked up too, as if trying to see what he saw.
"Maybe it's because we're both empty," she said. "So anything even slightly warm… feels like a fire."
They shared a quiet chuckle, more breath than sound. But it was enough to lower a piece of the wall that stood between them.
Recandra leaned back on the bench, exhaling deeply.
"You like that café?" he asked suddenly, glancing at her without really looking.
She shrugged. "Not particularly. I actually just stumbled into it. But when I saw you, sitting there all sad… I felt like I had to sit down."
"Instinct?"
"Feeling," she said with a playful smirk. "If you wanna call it fate, I won't argue."
Recandra laughed softly, eyes once again drifting.
"Fate's never been that kind to me."
Catrine bit her lower lip, hesitating before asking, "Have you told anyone about this?"
He shook his head. "No one. I figured… what's the point? People only care when they need something from you."
Her heart sank a little—not out of pity, but because she understood that feeling all too well.
"Me too," she whispered. "So maybe… this is weird. But for tonight, Recandra, let's not pretend we're strong. No fake smiles, no busy distractions. Let's just sit here. And understand."
Recandra turned to her, really looked at her for the first time—not just a girl going through stuff, not just a stranger. But a soul as wrecked as his, both of them just looking for a quiet place to rest before the world turned cruel again.
POV: Kayla
Over an hour had passed in the underground hideout of the Cakra gang.
Kayla paced back and forth like a storm bottled in human form. Every so often, she glanced at her phone, clearly waiting for a message—one that seemed to mean everything. Her face, usually unreadable, was now etched with anxiety.
Ding. A soft chime broke the silence—a message had arrived.
Mr. Alex987: Don't worry. I have decided to agree to the terms. Tomorrow night, at the designated location, we will make the exchange.
Her lips curved into a smile as she read it. Without wasting time, she sent a quick message to Ale.
Kayla: Mr. Alex987 has agreed to the deal. He wants to proceed with the exchange tomorrow night at the specified location. Honestly, I didn't expect it. I thought he'd reject the offer and try to crush our entire operation. He's a double agent, after all.
On the other side of the city, Ale read the message and chuckled to himself before replying.
Ale: Nice work, Kayla. Just send a few people to handle it tomorrow night.
Kayla glanced at the message, then turned off her phone without replying. She left the underground chamber and headed toward a restricted room filled with file cabinets—one that even core members of the gang rarely entered.
Ten minutes later, another man entered the room through a different door. Upon seeing who it was, Kayla gave a faint, polite smile.
"So? Did Mr. Alex walk into our trap?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"I persuaded him to agree to the terms you laid out," she answered calmly.
"You were the right choice, Kayla," he said, before turning and disappearing through another exit.
Kayla watched him go, chuckling quietly to herself. Her expression darkened as her eyes landed on a framed photo hanging nearby—an older man, perhaps now in his fifties. He was one of the five founders of Cakra, and its first leader.
"You built all of this," she murmured. "I won't let anyone tear it down."
She opened the frame and retrieved a small silver chip, about the size of a SIM card but slightly thicker. She slipped it into her jacket pocket, then exited the room.
Sliding into her sleek black Lamborghini, she sped off to meet Ale at his apartment. But along the way, something caught her eye—Recandra, walking through the park beside a woman she didn't recognize.
Kayla's smile faded slightly.
**To be continued... **