The small café smelled faintly of roasted coffee and vanilla, a soft murmur of conversations blending with the clink of cups and occasional laughter. Rashely sat quietly by the window, tracing the rim of her teacup with slender fingers. The afternoon light softened her features, but inside, her heart was a tempest calm only on the surface.
She hadn't expected Ethan to come. Yet when he walked in, his familiar easy smile softened the years like a gentle breeze.
"Rashely," he said, sliding into the seat across from her, "It's been a while."
She nodded, folding her hands calmly on the table. "Yeah. Too long."
For a moment, the silence stretched, thick but not uncomfortable. He searched her eyes, as if trying to find the girl he once knew hiding behind layers of quiet strength.
"I... I've been thinking about you," he finally said. "After that day, I didn't understand why you disappeared. I wanted to talk. To know."
Her throat tightened, but her voice was steady. "I didn't tell you because I wanted to protect you. Your future, your dreams." She looked down briefly, fingers tightening around her cup. "I was pregnant. I thought I could raise the baby alone, without dragging you into it."
Ethan blinked, shock flickering across his face, quickly replaced by concern. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I knew what it would mean for you," she said, voice low but clear. "You had everything ahead of you. Scholarships, competitions, universities abroad. I couldn't be the one to stop you. So, I left. I thought I was doing the right thing."
He was silent for a moment, then reached out, lightly brushing a stray curl from her face. "You shouldn't have had to do this alone, Rashely."
She met his gaze, a faint, bittersweet smile playing at her lips. "I thought I could. But... I was wrong. My parents found out. They wanted me to have an abortion. They said I'd ruin our family's name. So I ran away."
Her words were calm, almost detached, but Ethan felt the weight behind them — the battles fought in silence, the scars beneath the surface.
He squeezed her hand gently. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. If I had... I would've stayed."
She shook her head, eyes misty but steady. "It's not about blame. It's just... I missed you. More than I thought possible. I thought I could be strong, but sometimes, I just want to fall apart."
A quiet vulnerability slipped through her usual composed exterior. Yet when she spoke again, there was resolve. "But I won't give up. Not now. Not ever. For the baby. For myself."
Ethan nodded slowly, admiration and something deeper in his eyes. "We'll figure it out. Together."
For the first time in a long while, Rashely felt a flicker of warmth in her chest — fragile, hopeful, and real.
Outside, the sky was beginning to darken. But inside the little café, amidst the quiet clatter and whispered promises, something new was beginning too.
Ethan frowned, his brows creased with concern. "What should we do now? Do you have a place to stay? If not... come home with me."
Rashely shook her head gently, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "It's okay. I found a nice abandoned house at the edge of town. It's the only one in that area, so it's quiet, and actually... it's pretty cozy and clean."
Ethan stared at her in disbelief. "An abandoned house? Are you sure that's safe?"
"I've handled worse," Rashely replied calmly. "I've got enough experience freelancing to find a decent part-time job. I could join a small company, earn steady income, and eventually get an apartment. If my parents don't allow you to stay with me, then—"
"Wait—no!" Rashely's voice rose, sudden and firm. "You can't just drop out of school for me, Ethan! You have to graduate, go to university like you planned. You can't ruin your life… I wouldn't forgive myself if you did."
He blinked, surprised at her sudden intensity. For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of unspoken emotions thick between them.
"Trust me," Rashely said softly, her voice settling again. "Where I'm staying is fine. Actually, it's better than fine. It's a small suburban house—I even furnished it myself. Come check it out. It's peaceful, and I feel... safe there."
Then her eyes lit up with a quiet excitement. She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "I even started planning the nursery."
She spread it out on the bench between them. It was a hand-drawn sketch—simple, but full of love. A small room with soft colors, a crib near the window, shelves lined with books and toys, and little stars hanging from the ceiling.
Ethan stared at the drawing in silence, then looked up at her.
"You really thought of everything," he said quietly. His throat tightened. "You're really going through with this."
Rashely nodded. "I have to. It's not just about me anymore. I want to give this baby a life worth living. And I want to stay strong… for both of us."
Ethan let out a breath, the weight of reality settling into his chest. "Then let me help. Not by dropping out. But by being there. However I can."
Rashely smiled faintly, the first real one he'd seen in days.
"Deal," she whispered.