The night feels… softer than usual.
Cool air.
Quiet wind.
The kind that makes everything slow down whether you want it to or not.
I walk along the narrow path, hands tucked into my sleeves, chocolate wrapper folded neatly in my fingers out of habit.
The place Lalita chose is… nice.
Too nice.
A wide stretch of grass spreads out under the night sky, soft and slightly damp, dotted with small white flowers that almost glow under the moonlight.
Trees frame the area like they're guarding it, their shadows stretching long and quiet.
And beyond that—
the city lights.
Far away.
Twinkling.
Calm.
Like nothing bad ever happens there.
I stop when I see her.
Lalita is already sitting on the grass.
Back straight.
Hands resting lightly beside her.
She looks… composed.
Like she planned this.
Like she rehearsed it.
She glances up when she hears me.
"…you came."
I nod once.
"…you asked."
A small pause.
Then she gestures beside her.
"Sit."
I hesitate.
Then walk over and sit down.
Not too close.
Not too far.
The grass shifts softly under me.
Cold seeps through slightly.
But it's not uncomfortable.
Just… grounding.
For a moment—
neither of us speaks.
The wind moves between us.
Quiet.
Then she turns slightly.
"…how are you?" she asks.
Simple.
But careful.
I blink.
"…alive."
She exhales softly.
"That's not funny."
"I wasn't joking."
That earns the smallest reaction from her.
Almost a smile.
Almost.
"Your back?" she asks.
"Better."
"Your head?"
"Still attached."
She gives me a look.
"Min-Jun."
I sigh.
"…I'm okay."
That seems to settle something in her.
Not fully.
But enough.
She reaches into her bag.
Pulls something out.
And hands it to me.
A chocolate bar.
I stare at it.
Then at her.
"…you didn't have to."
"I know."
I take it anyway.
"…thank you."
She nods.
Then looks ahead again.
At the city lights.
At nothing.
At everything.
Her fingers tighten slightly against the grass.
"…I was there," she says quietly.
My hand pauses mid-unwrapping.
"…what?"
She doesn't look at me.
"That day."
The air shifts.
Subtle.
But real.
"Everything's just… getting confusing," she continues.
Her voice is steady—
but something underneath it isn't.
"…I was out with my brother. Kai."
I glance at her.
She keeps talking.
"And Ji-Ah was there too."
A pause.
"…they were on a date."
That lands.
I stay quiet.
"He brought me along," Lalita says. " She didn't want it. I didn't want to be there."
A small, bitter breath escapes her.
"So I told them I needed something from school. So we stopped by."
She finally looks at me.
"I ran upstairs. Yes Up the roof."
Her eyes sharpen slightly.
"Because I knew Seo-Yeon would be there. He told me she texted him."
My chest tightens a little.
"…you were looking for her?"
"I was looking for him."
A beat.
"…Niran."
Silence.
The wind moves again.
Softer this time.
"She liked him," Lalita says. "He didn't like her back. I knew she'd be angry."
Her fingers press into the grass.
"…we talked," she continues. "Me and him."
I don't interrupt.
"Then—after a while—my brother came up."
Her voice lowers.
"…and we heard it."
I don't need to ask what.
"…a scream."
She swallows.
"His voice."
My grip tightens slightly on the chocolate.
"…we ran."
Her gaze drifts.
Not here anymore.
Not now.
"Seo-Yeon was there," she says. "Standing."
"Breathing hard."
"Just… staring."
I feel it.
That moment.
Like I'm being pulled back into it.
"…we followed her gaze," Lalita whispers.
"And he was there."
A pause.
"On the ground."
Another pause.
"He was bleeding."
My throat feels tight.
"…but his face—"
She hesitates.
"—it didn't look like he was gone yet."
That makes my breath catch.
Just slightly.
"…so we looked up," she says.
Slowly.
Carefully.
"…and we saw you."
My heart skips.
"…you were standing there."
Her eyes lock onto mine now.
Sharp.
Clear.
"You were holding a book."
I freeze.
"You were shaking."
The memory flickers—
blurry—
broken—
but there.
"Seo-Yeon called the police," Lalita continues. "Kai pulled me away."
Her voice drops.
"We ran."
A pause.
"She ran too."
Silence.
Heavy.
Loud.
I blink slowly.
"…I stayed," I murmur.
More to myself than to her.
She watches me.
"Yes."
The word lands softly.
Then—
I look at her.
"…why are you telling me this?"
A beat.
Something shifts in her expression.
Not sharp.
Not guarded.
Just… real.
For a second.
She moves slightly closer.
Not enough to alarm.
Just enough to matter.
Her hand brushes lightly against mine—
resting on the grass.
Warm.
Intentional.
"…because I trust you," she says quietly.
The world pauses.
Just for a second.
My cheeks heat up instantly.
Too fast.
Too obvious.
I look away.
"…it's the weather," I mutter. "It's cold."
She smiles.
Small.
Knowing.
Then she points lightly.
"Your face."
I blink.
"…what."
"Red."
I immediately turn further away.
"Nothing happened."
"Mm."
"I'm fine."
"Of course."
Her hand stays there.
Lightly touching mine.
Like she's not even thinking about it.
Like it's natural.
And somehow—
that makes it worse.
I shift slightly.
Trying to act normal.
Failing.
Completely.
And behind me—
unseen—
unheard—
Niran stands in the shadows.
Watching.
Silent.
Still.
His gaze fixed on the space between us—
on her hand—
on mine.
Something in his expression flickers.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
Something else.
Something tighter.
Something unfamiliar.
And whatever it is—
it doesn't feel good.
The night doesn't rush them.
It just… holds them there.
The grass is still soft beneath us, the flowers barely moving, the city lights far enough to feel like another world.
For a moment—
we just sit.
Her hand still lightly against mine.
Like it belongs there.
Like it's always been there.
I clear my throat quietly.
"…so," I start, trying to sound normal. "You said you were there… but when you saw me—what did you think?"
She tilts her head slightly.
"That you looked terrified."
That's immediate.
Honest.
I wince a little.
"…accurate."
She watches me.
"Why didn't you run?"
I pause.
Because I've asked myself that too.
"…I don't know," I admit. "I think… I just couldn't."
Her gaze softens slightly.
"Most people would have."
"Most people don't see things like that."
That slips out.
Too fast.
Too real.
Her eyes narrow slightly.
Not suspicious—
but noticing.
"…see things like what?" she asks.
I immediately shake my head.
"Nothing. I just mean—it was shocking."
She studies me for a second longer.
Then lets it go.
For now.
"…after that," I continue, "did Seo-Yeon say anything? Like—anything strange?"
Lalita exhales slowly.
"She was… off."
"Off how?"
"Too quiet," she says. "Not panicking the way she should've been."
A pause.
"Like she was thinking more than feeling."
That sends a small chill through me.
"…and your brother?"
"Kai?" she shrugs slightly. "He just wanted to leave."
"Did he seem scared?"
"Everyone was scared."
She looks at me again.
"Except you."
I blink.
"…I was scared."
"You didn't move."
I look down at the grass.
"…sometimes I freeze."
That seems to make sense to her.
At least a little.
Silence slips in again.
But this time—
it's not empty.
Just… full.
Then—
she says it.
Simple.
Clear.
No hesitation.
"…I really like you."
My brain stops.
Just—
completely stops.
I turn to her slowly.
"…what?"
She doesn't look away.
"I like you."
Like she's stating a fact.
Like it's obvious.
Like I'm the only one who didn't know.
My face heats up instantly.
"…oh."
Brilliant response.
Amazing.
Incredible.
I internally cringe.
Say something normal. Say something cool. Say literally anything that isn't 'oh'.
Nothing comes out.
She smiles a little at my reaction.
Not mocking.
Just… amused.
Softly.
"…you're cute when you don't know what to say."
I immediately look away.
"That's not helping."
"It's true."
I rub the back of my neck awkwardly.
"…why?"
She blinks.
"Why what?"
"Why do you like me?"
She pauses.
Then leans back slightly, looking up at the sky.
"…because you're strange."
I stare at her.
"That's not a compliment."
"It is to me."
A small smile tugs at her lips. "You don't act like everyone else."
She glances at me again. "You stay when things get bad."
That lands quietly.
Then—
she adds,
"And… you feel familiar."
I frown slightly.
"Familiar?"
She nods.
Then her expression shifts.
Softer.
Distant.
"…I remember Niran," she says.
My chest tightens.
"Before all of this."
I don't interrupt.
"We were kids," she continues. "Nine… maybe ten."
A faint laugh escapes her.
"He was annoying."
I blink.
"That tracks."
"He was loud," she adds. "Too clingy. Always around."
She smiles slightly to herself.
"But… he cared a lot."
Something in my chest pulls at that.
"…him and my little sister always—"
She stops.
Mid-sentence.
Her expression flickers.
Then she turns away slightly.
Like she said too much.
I catch it immediately.
"…your little sister?" I ask.
She's quiet for a second.
Then—
she smiles again.
Too smooth.
"…it's nothing."
That's not nothing.
But she doesn't give me time to push.
She turns back to me.
Closer now.
Her hand lifts slightly—
and before I can react—
her fingers brush the corner of my mouth.
I freeze.
"There's something there," she says softly.
My brain malfunctions.
What.
What is happening.
Why is she so close.
I go completely still.
She wipes it gently.
Like it's normal.
Like people do this all the time.
This is not normal.
This is not normal behavior.
Why is my heart doing this.
Why is my brain empty.
"There," she says.
Then pauses.
Still close.
Still looking at me.
And somehow—
she doesn't move away immediately.
Like she doesn't mind being there.
Like she likes being there.
I swallow.
"…thanks."
My voice sounds weird.
Not mine.
She notices.
Of course she does.
Then—
her expression shifts again.
More serious now.
"…I can feel him, you know."
I blink.
"What?"
"Niran," she says quietly.
Everything in me goes still.
"Sometimes… it feels like he's close."
Her eyes search mine.
"…if you know anything—"
My heart spikes.
"—you should tell me."
I immediately shake my head.
Too fast.
"…I don't—know anything."
That sounds suspicious.
Very suspicious.
She tilts her head slightly.
Watching me.
"…you're not a good liar."
"I'm not lying."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I—"
My words trip over each other.
Great.
Perfect.
Smooth.
She studies me for another second.
Then—
her phone rings.
Sharp.
Breaking everything.
She glances at it.
Sighs slightly.
"…I have to take this."
She answers.
Turns slightly away.
Speaks quietly.
I don't listen.
I can't.
Because my brain is still stuck on everything that just happened.
After a moment—
she hangs up.
Stands.
"…I have to go."
Just like that.
Back to normal.
Like nothing shifted.
"…it was nice," she adds.
Then she looks down at me.
And—
ruffles my hair.
Casually.
Like I'm something soft.
Something easy.
Something hers.
My curls fall messily into my eyes again.
"Hey—"
Too late.
She's already stepping back.
"Get home safely," she says.
Then turns—
and walks away.
Just like that.
I sit there.
Frozen.
Processing.
Failing to process.
And somewhere behind me—
unseen—
Niran is still there.
Watching everything.
Silent.
And whatever he's feeling now—
it's louder than anything she said.