Chapter Four: "Jet Lag and Hallways"
Katie escorted me to my not so new room with my luggage "do u wanna do anything tonight " Katie said . No I just wanna rest I am tired ,I replied softly.Alright I will leave u to rest for today bye .
I remember this room my room when I used to come here ,it looked the same , as if it was frozen in time .The walls are painted a muted purple color , calming and earthy, and a woven cream rug stretches across the hardwood floor. In the corner, a plush armchair with a knitted throw draped over the back sits beside a small wooden bookshelf, filled with worn novels, framed photos, and a candle flickering softly.
The house was quiet that night, except for the rain tapping softly against the windowpanes.
I lay on my back in the unfamiliar bed, staring at the ceiling. The sheets smelled like lavender and something warm—homey in a way that made me feel even more like an outsider. I could hear muffled laughter downstairs—probably Mira and my mom catching up like teenagers again—and the occasional clinking of dishes.
But I couldn't sleep.
Not with him just across the hall.
Ace .
It was like my brain couldn't decide what to do with him. One minute, I remembered him as the boy who pushed me on the tire swing, who made fart jokes and climbed trees barefoot. The next minute, I remembered the way he looked at me today. Like I wasn't just Siya anymore.
Like he noticed me.
I rolled over and sighed.
Then came a soft knock on the door.
I sat up, startled. "Yeah?"
The door creaked open slightly, and Ace poked his head in. "You awake?"
I nodded. "Couldn't sleep."
He stepped in, barefoot and hoodie-clad. He didn't turn on the light—just crossed the room and sat on the windowsill. The rain behind him blurred the city lights into streaks of gold and gray.
"You okay?" he asked.
I shrugged. "Jet lag. Nerves. You?"
He smirked. "Same. Plus, I forgot how weird it is having you here."
I raised an eyebrow. "Weird?"
"Not bad weird," he said quickly. "Just… different. You're different."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it keeps surprising me."
We sat in silence for a second.
Then he said, "You know Mira still has that photo of us dressed like pirates?"
I groaned. "Don't remind me."
"You had missing teeth and a fake parrot taped to your shoulder."
"You had eyeliner on."
He chuckled. "Yeah, thanks for that."
I looked at him for a long moment. The rain made his eyelashes look longer, the shadows softened his features. He wasn't the same Ace , but in some strange way, he still was.
"I missed this," I said quietly.
He turned to me, expression unreadable. "I missed you too."
And then, softer: "Siya, what are we doing?"
I swallowed. "What do you mean?"
Never mind "he muttered''
You seem older," he said, still staring out the window.
I shrugged. "So do you."
"I guess we both are."
We fell quiet again.
I shifted slightly on the bed. "What did you mean earlier?" I asked, my voice softer than I meant it to be.
He looked over, confused. "Earlier?"
"When you said it's weird having me here. And that I'm different."
He looked away, like the window suddenly got interesting again. "I dunno. I just didn't expect you to feel like… a stranger and familiar all at once."
That made my chest ache a little. "Yeah," I said quietly. "I know what you mean."
He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not trying to be dramatic or anything. I'm just—figuring it out, I guess."
"I get that."
His gaze flicked to mine again, and for a moment, I thought he was going to say something else. Something more.
But instead, he stood slowly. "Well… I should probably let you sleep."
"Yeah," I said, suddenly wishing he'd stay just a little longer.
He paused at the door. "Let me know if you want to see the city tomorrow. I could show you around."
I nodded. "I'd like that."
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Night, Siya ."
"Night, Ace ."
The door closed behind him with a quiet click, and I exhaled—finally.
He hadn't said much. And yet, everything felt like it had shifted just a little.
We weren't kids anymore.
But we weren't something else yet, either.
And maybe that was the part that made my heart beat faster than I wanted it to.