Same place. Same time…
My steps slowed.
What place? What time?
The words replayed in my head, suddenly stripped of all certainty. Had he meant where we first ran into each other, where I bumped into that big guy? Or where we said goodbye later, outside the business center?
And the time… was it when we met? Or when we parted?
For days, I'd been moving toward this moment without questioning it, as if I knew exactly where I was going. Turns out, I'd just assumed.
I took a deep breath, forcing my lungs to work.
The image of that first meeting had stayed with me the entire time. That was the moment that stuck. That was the one my mind kept returning to. So I decided to go for it.
Too much noise in my head already. Too many doubts. If I was wrong, then I was wrong.
I reached the place and stopped nearby, adjusting my disposable mask reflexively.
Today, the hoodie stayed at home, but the mask… No. I couldn't do that.
The thought of being fully visible made my skin prickle.
I checked the time on my phone. Ten minutes had passed since we'd met before.
Okay. Fine. That didn't mean anything yet.
Maybe he was running late. Maybe I'd messed something up.
I told myself to wait.
Fifteen more minutes went by.
Painfully aware of the people around me, I started to feel that everyone was looking at me suspiciously, as if they knew that I didn't belong here.
A sudden urge came over me to pretend I was busy with something. Anything. I don't know… maybe I just… enjoying the view. It was a nice neighborhood, after all. What else was I supposed to do, right?
He still hadn't shown.
Thirty minutes.
That was when the anxiety hit its peak.
I'd misunderstood everything.
He wasn't coming.
He was never going to be here.
Just five more minutes.
Five minutes and I'd go home.
I was already bracing myself for the disappointment when a familiar voice cut through the noise in my head.
"Sorry," he said. "It seems I kept you waiting."
My breath caught.
I turned toward the sound, heart pounding, every thought in my head scattering at once.
And there he was.
Relief crashed over me so strongly I almost laughed out loud.
He wasn't in his usual suit. Instead, he wore a light linen shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and pale trousers. Even though he wasn't dressed formally today, he still looked like he'd stepped off the cover of a magazine.
Meanwhile, I was… me.
"You look good," he said. "I think it's the elbows."
I blinked. "What?"
He chuckled. "I've never seen you in short sleeves before. I'm happy to learn something new every time we meet."
I looked down at my arms. My face flushed instantly. Heat rushed up my neck, my ears burning so badly there was no way he didn't notice.
"Well then," he said, clearly amused. "Shall we?"
I nodded, and we started walking.
The streets blurred together into something glassy and shiny.
Everything around us was the same as last time.
Just like last time, well-dressed people and beastfolk passed by. Laughter sounded here and there. Someone was arguing on the phone. Cars rushed past, adding to that constant hum of traffic.
The city wrapped around us with energy I wasn't used to. On one hand, it scared the hell out of me. On the other… it stirred something… excitement, maybe.
Some places were crowded. Others less so. And without really thinking about it, I stayed close to Ed.
I wanted to touch him. Or for our fingers to brush against each other accidentally. Anything small. Anything that would signal this was a date.
Oh well… it seemed I really did want it to be a date.
Only, from what I knew, people on dates talked and tried to show they were interested. They tried to impress each other.
And we?
We had total silence.
Аfter a few more intersections, I finally gathered my courage and asked, "So… how was your day? Did you… do anything?"
"Do anything?" he repeated, sounding a bit puzzled.
"I mean, you look different today, and I—" I stumbled over my own words. "I figured maybe you had some kind of event before this."
"No. I came straight here. This was my only plan today." He said in a slightly distracted voice.
Maybe it meant my question hadn't been all that interesting, but what mattered more was that I realized now he'd dressed like that specifically for me.
That thought warmed something inside me, giving me a little more courage.
I lifted my head to ask something else, and that's when I noticed Ed was looking around. His head was turning slightly from side to side as if he was looking for something.
Then, out of nowhere, he took my hand. "Actually," he said, already moving, "we should probably find a quieter street."
*** *** *** *** ***
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