Silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
Not the kind that rests.
The kind that builds.
Day by day.
Word by word that wasn't said.
It had been four days.
Four days since
Evan stopped talking to
Noah.
Not properly.
Not really.
Short replies.
Avoided eye contact.
Distance where there was never supposed to be any.
And Noah didn't understand why.
At first, he waited.
Then he tried asking.
Then he tried fixing something he didn't even know was broken.
But now he was frustrated.
"I don't get it," Noah muttered, pacing inside
Dr. Graham's office.
Graham leaned back in his chair, watching him with an expression that was dangerously close to disbelief.
"I've asked him," Noah continued. "He doesn't answer. I try talking, he walks away. What am I supposed to do?"
Graham blinked slowly.
"…You really don't know?"
Noah stopped.
"…Know what?"
That look.
That look Graham gave him...Unbelievable.
"You're serious," Graham said.
Noah frowned.
"Yes? Why wouldn't I be?"
Graham let out a quiet breath, rubbing his temple.
"…Wow."
Noah's irritation rose.
"Liam, if you know something"
"I do."
"Then tell me!"
Graham looked at him for a long second.
"…It's not my place."
Noah stared at him.
"That's not helpful."
"No," Graham said calmly. "But it's necessary."
A pause.
Then..."…Think harder."
And just like that, he left Noah with more confusion than answers.
Elsewhere
Evan sat beside
Rhea.
A quiet café.
Soft noise.
Warm light.
But Evan was not calm.
"I'm done," he said, leaning back in his chair.
Rhea raised an eyebrow.
"…That sounds serious."
"It is."
A pause.
"…He's not proposing."
Rhea blinked.
"…What?"
Evan leaned forward.
"I've been waiting," he said. "For months."
Rhea stared at him.
"…You're mad because he hasn't proposed?"
"Yes!"
A beat.
"…That's it?"
"That's not 'it'," Evan snapped. "Do you know how many times I thought this is the moment?"
Rhea crossed her arms.
"…Go on."
Evan sighed.
"There was that dinner," he said. "Candlelight, fancy place, he looked nervous...I thought this is it."
A pause.
"He just asked me if I liked the food."
Rhea bit back a smile.
"And then...there was that night by the rooftop," Evan continued. "Stars, quiet, he literally held my hand like he was about to say something...."
"What happened?"
"He said, 'Nice weather.'"
Rhea laughed softly.
"And don't even get me started on the day he went down on one knee..."
Rhea leaned forward.
"He WHAT?"
Evan groaned.
"I thought...finally. I swear my heart stopped..."
"And?"
"He was tying his shoelace."
Silence.
Then...Rhea burst out laughing.
"I'm serious!" Evan protested.
"I know, I know," she said, still smiling. "I'm sorry...it's just...wow."
Evan leaned back again.
"I kept thinking....maybe today. Maybe this time."
A quieter pause.
"But that 'today' never came."
Rhea's smile softened.
"…So you're hurt."
Evan didn't answer immediately.
"…Yeah."
Silence settled.
Then Rhea tilted her head slightly.
"…Why don't you propose?"
Evan blinked.
"…What?"
"Why are you waiting?" she said simply. "If you know what you want… go get it."
Evan stared at her.
And then...Slowly...A smile appeared. Small. But real.
"…You're right."
He stood up immediately.
"I have to go."
Rhea laughed.
"That was fast."
Evan turned already halfway out.
"Wish me luck!"
Rhea waved.
"Good luck!"
Evan gave a thumbs up and ran.
At the Same Time
Noah was running too.
Phone in hand.
Heart racing.
He called.
Evan picked up.
"…Yeah?"
"Come to the riverfront."
A pause.
"…Okay."
Neither asked why.
Neither needed to.
Riverfront
They arrived almost at the same time.
Both slightly out of breath.
Panting.
Tired.
But the moment they saw each other they smiled.
Like nothing had changed.
Like everything still mattered.
Evan stepped forward first.
"Noah, I"
"I'm sorry." said Noah.
Evan stopped.
Noah took a step closer.
"I know I'm late," he said, breathing uneven. "And I know why you're angry."
Evan didn't speak.
He just watched.
And then Noah reached behind him, pulled out a small bouquet.
And a ring.
He went down on one knee.
Evan froze.
"Evan…" Noah said, his voice softer now. "Will you marry me?"
Silence.
Evan stepped back.
Noah's smile faltered.
He stood up slightly.
"…What happened?" he asked quickly. "Are you still angry? Look...I'm sorry, I just..."
But before he could finish Evan moved.
And dropped to one knee too.
Noah blinked.
Evan pulled out a ring.
"…Detective Noah Knox," he said, his voice shaking slightly but steady enough, "will you marry Evan Kale… even after knowing all his shortcomings?"
A small breath.
"How he overthinks… how he panics… how he depends on you more than he should…"
His voice softened.
"…and still chooses you every time?"
Silence.
Then Noah laughed.
A soft, disbelieving laugh.
He grabbed Evan's hand.
"Yes," he said immediately. "I'll marry you, you idiot."
Evan let out a breath.
Noah pulled him up and came a kiss...
"And you're not weak," Noah continued, his voice firm now. "You're my strength."
Evan blinked.
"I like that you depend on me," Noah said. "Because I depend on you too."
A pause.
"You make me… better."
Evan's eyes softened.
"And I love you."
Silence.
Then Evan smiled.
"I love you too."
And then they hugged. Tight. Warm. Unbreakable.
Not holding on out of fear.
But out of certainty.
And for the first time, there was no doubt.
No hesitation.
No "maybe today."
Because today had finally come.
Final Line
Some confessions come too late.
Some change everything.
But the ones that stay...
Are the ones we choose.
....The End