Elena didn't sleep well.
The apartment was too quiet.
Too clean.
Too unfamiliar.
Even the bed didn't feel like hers.
She had woken up twice during the night, staring at the ceiling, trying to force something—anything—to come back. A memory, a feeling, a name attached to something in this place.
Nothing came.
By morning, she gave up.
She was standing in the kitchen, staring at a cup of untouched tea, when the doorbell rang.
Her body tensed immediately.
Claire had said she would come later.
There was only one other person who showed up without asking.
Elena didn't move at first.
The bell rang again.
Longer this time.
More impatient.
She let out a quiet breath and walked to the door.
The moment she opened it—
Adrian.
Of course.
He stood there like he belonged, dressed in a dark suit, his expression calm, unreadable.
Elena didn't greet him.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you."
"You could have called."
"I did."
She frowned slightly. "When?"
"This morning."
Elena turned back into the apartment, grabbing her phone from the counter.
Missed calls.
Three of them.
All from him.
She hadn't heard it.
Or maybe she ignored it.
She wasn't sure.
"That doesn't mean you can just show up," she said, walking back toward the door.
"I needed to talk to you."
His tone didn't change.
Still calm.
Still controlled.
Still irritating.
Elena crossed her arms. "Then talk."
He stepped inside.
Without asking.
Her jaw tightened.
"You really like doing that, don't you?" she said.
"Doing what?"
"Acting like you have permission."
Adrian closed the door behind him, ignoring her tone. "You're already starting again."
"I never stopped."
He walked further into the apartment, his eyes scanning the space like he was checking something.
Like he knew this place.
Better than she did.
That didn't sit right with her.
"Make yourself at home," she muttered.
"I already am."
The words came out before he could stop them.
They both heard it.
Elena's head snapped toward him.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
That hesitation said enough.
Elena's chest tightened slightly.
"You've been here before," she said.
It wasn't a question.
Adrian exhaled quietly. "Yes."
"How many times?"
Silence.
Elena let out a short laugh. "Of course."
She turned away, running a hand through her hair.
"Why are you here, Adrian?"
"I told you. To talk."
"Then talk."
Another pause.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
Elena felt it immediately.
That same uncomfortable pressure.
"Do you remember anything?" he asked.
"No."
"Not even a little?"
"No."
His gaze lingered on her face.
Like he was searching for something.
Elena shifted slightly. "Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're waiting for me to suddenly recognize you."
"I am."
Her patience snapped a little.
"Well, it's not happening."
Silence.
Adrian's jaw tightened slightly.
"It will," he said.
"There you go again."
"I'm not wrong."
"You don't know that," Elena shot back. "You keep acting like you do."
"I do."
"How?"
"Because of what we had."
The words hung in the air.
Elena felt her chest tighten again.
There it was.
That phrase.
Again.
"What did we have?" she asked.
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
Elena stepped closer this time, her eyes locked on his.
"No more vague answers," she said. "Tell me clearly."
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then—
"We were together."
The words hit harder than she expected.
Together.
Elena's brows drew together.
"Together… how?"
Adrian didn't look away.
"We were dating."
Silence.
The room felt smaller.
He said it so easily.
So simply.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Elena stared at him.
Trying to feel something.
Anything.
Nothing came.
"You're serious?" she asked.
"Yes."
Elena let out a quiet breath.
Dating.
Her eyes dropped for a second.
Then slowly, she looked back up.
"If we were dating…" she said, "why don't I feel anything?"
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"You will."
"No," she said, shaking her head slightly. "That's not how it works."
He didn't respond.
Elena studied him carefully.
Something wasn't adding up.
If they were really together…
Why did everything about him feel wrong?
Why did his presence make her uneasy instead of comfortable?
Why did she feel like she needed to keep her distance?
Her thoughts shifted.
Claire.
The way she defended him.
The way she avoided certain questions.
The tension between them.
A quiet realization started forming in her mind.
Unclear.
But unsettling.
Maybe…
Maybe things weren't as simple as he was making them sound.
Elena didn't say anything out loud.
But inside—
The thought settled.
If we were really together....
What if… I wasn't the only one?
Her chest tightened.
What if I wasn't even the main one?
She looked at Adrian again.
At his calm face.
At the way he stood there like nothing was wrong.
What if I was just… the other woman?
The idea made her stomach twist.
And for some reason—
It didn't feel impossible.
---
"Say something," Adrian said.
Elena blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.
"What do you want me to say?"
"That you understand."
"I don't."
His expression darkened slightly.
"You will."
She let out a small, frustrated breath.
"Why do you keep forcing that?"
"Because it's the truth."
"Or because it's the version you want me to believe?"
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means…" Elena hesitated, then continued carefully, "something feels off."
"How?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "But it does."
Silence.
Adrian stepped closer again.
This time, Elena didn't step back.
But her body tensed.
"You're confused," he said. "That's all."
"Don't dismiss me."
"I'm not."
"You are."
He reached for her arm.
Elena froze for a split second.
Then instinct kicked in.
She pulled back immediately.
"Don't touch me."
The words came out sharper than expected.
Adrian's hand hovered in the air for a second before dropping.
"You used to like it," he said.
Something about that made her chest tighten again.
"I don't remember that."
"You will."
"Stop saying that!"
Her voice rose.
The frustration she had been holding back finally broke through.
"I'm not some machine you can reset!" she snapped. "You can't just say things and expect me to suddenly feel them!"
Adrian's expression hardened.
"I'm trying to help you."
"No, you're trying to control me!"
"That's not true."
"It is!" Elena shot back. "From the hospital till now, you've been deciding things, speaking for me, telling me what I should feel!"
Silence.
Heavy.
Tense.
Elena's chest rose and fell quickly.
"I don't trust you," she said again.
That seemed to hit something.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"You trusted me before."
"Maybe that was a mistake."
The words slipped out.
And the moment they did—
Everything shifted.
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"Take that back."
Elena shook her head.
"No."
"You don't know what you're saying."
"I know exactly what I'm saying."
He stepped closer again.
Too close.
His presence felt overwhelming.
"You're confused," he said, his voice lower now. "You don't understand what you're losing."
"I'm not losing anything!" she snapped. "I don't even know what I had!"
"You had me."
The words came out sharper this time.
Possessive.
Heavy.
And that was it.
Something inside Elena snapped.
Before she could think—
Her hand moved.
Slap.
The sound echoed in the room.
Both of them froze.
Elena's chest heaved as she stared at him.
Adrian didn't move.
His head was slightly turned from the impact.
Slowly, he looked back at her.
His eyes were cold now.
Completely cold.
But Elena didn't care.
"Don't ever say that to me again," she said, her voice shaking slightly.
"You don't own me."
Silence.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Elena turned.
She grabbed her bag.
And headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Adrian asked.
She didn't stop.
"Out."
"You're not in a condition to—"
She spun around.
"Stop telling me what I can and can't do!"
Her voice echoed through the apartment.
"I need air," she continued. "And I definitely don't need you following me."
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
But his gaze stayed on her.
Heavy.
Watching.
Elena didn't wait.
She opened the door and walked out.
---
The air outside felt different.
Lighter.
Even though her chest was still tight.
Her hands were still trembling.
She walked without thinking.
Just moving.
Putting distance between herself and the apartment.
And him.
Her mind was racing.
Dating.
That's what he said.
But nothing about it felt right.
If they were really together…
Why did it feel like she was being lied to?
Why did it feel like there was something missing?
Or worse—
Something being hidden?
Claire.
Adrian.
The way they acted.
The way they avoided certain things.
The thought came back again.
Stronger this time.
What if I was never the only one?
Her chest tightened.
She didn't want to believe it.
But it made sense.
Too much sense.
---
She stopped when she saw a café ahead.
It looked quiet.
Not too crowded.
Exactly what she needed.
Somewhere to sit.
To think.
To breathe.
Elena walked toward it, her steps slowing slightly as she reached the entrance.
She pushed the door open—
And walked straight into someone.
Hard.
A cup slipped.
Hot liquid spilled.
Right onto a dark, expensive-looking shirt.
"Oh—!"
Elena froze.
Her eyes widened as she looked up.
The man in front of her was tall.
Well-dressed.
Even with a face mask covering part of his face, there was something about him that stood out.
Sharp.
Composed.
Different.
The coffee dripped down his shirt.
Silence fell between them.
Elena's heart skipped.
"I'm so sorry," she said quickly, stepping back. "I didn't see—"
She stopped.
Because he hadn't moved.
Hadn't reacted.
Hadn't even spoken yet.
And for some reason—
That made the moment feel even more intense.
Like something had just started.
Something she didn't understand yet.
And couldn't stop.