The next morning, Rowen returned to routine—but something inside him felt heavier. He didn't think about the club directly, nor about what he saw, but there was a residue to the night that lingered in how he looked at things.
In the afternoon, Lira visited again—alone. She brought another phone, a backup device with a faulty battery. Her tone was casual, but her eyes searched Rowen a bit more—like she was trying to read something beneath his stillness.
They spoke briefly. She mentioned her fiancé might finalize a deal soon. She watched for a reaction. Rowen gave none.
He asked for her number again to note the new job. She teased: "Still pretending we haven't met before?" He didn't answer.
As she turned to leave, she hesitated—just long enough for Rowen to notice. But she said nothing more and walked out.
That evening, Rowen sat with his notebook open. He wrote one sentence:
People say a lot when they don't say anything.
Then he closed it and turned off the light.