The black sedan slowed to a gentle stop on the side of the long, quiet road. Dust swirled lightly in the sunlight as the tires crunched to a halt on the gravel shoulder. I reached for the door handle, the leather seat creaking softly under as I shifted.
*Clack.*
I pushed the door open and stepped out into the bright afternoon. The warm breeze hit my face right away, carrying the faint sll of dry grass and distant rain. I turned back toward the car, one hand still on the open door.
"Thank you very much for dropping back," I said, giving the driver a small, grateful smile.
He lowered the tinted window with a soft whir, leaning one arm on the fra. His dark sunglasses caught the sunlight, and he flashed a quick, easy grin. "Haha, ntion not. We picked you up on short notice yesterday, so obviously we’re dropping you back too."
"Hehe, yeah..." I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck.
He tilted his head slightly. "You sure you want to get off here only? I can drop you straight to your ho if you want. No trouble."
I glanced around at the familiar stretch of road—the sa narrow path lined with wild grass and a few scattered trees. "Yeah, this is good. This is exactly where you picked up yesterday, right?"
The driver nodded. "Yep. Sa spot."
"Then this is good enough, I like to walk and feel a little fresh."
"Okay then. If that’s what you want," he said, putting the car back in gear.
"Yes, please," I replied, giving him a small bow with my head. "Thank you for the ride."
"No problem at all," he said, his tone turning a little softer, more concerned. "Just take care of yourself, alright? You look pretty tired."
I forced a small, tired smile. "Ahuh... I will. You too."
He gave a quick nod, rolled the window back up with that sa quiet whir, and the sedan pulled away smoothly. I stood there watching it go—black paint gleaming in the sun, taillights flashing once as it signaled, then disappearing around the gentle curve of the road.
I let out a long, slow breath. "Sighh... now then... let’s walk ho."
I slipped both hands into the pockets of my jeans, shoulders relaxing a little as I started down the familiar path. The sun should feel warm but it was biting cold on my face, the breeze tugged lightly at my t-shirt, and the quiet crunch of gravel under my shoes was the only sound for a while. In the distance, the city skyline shimred faintly against the horizon, waiting for .
The road stretched out long and empty under the pale winter sky. Each step I took made a soft *tap-tap* on the cracked pavent, the sound echoing in the quiet afternoon. My breath ca out in small white clouds every ti I exhaled, hanging in the cold air for a second before disappearing. I pulled my black jacket tighter around , hands shoved deep into the pockets of my black pants. My white boots crunched over loose gravel and bits of frost that had ford overnight. The wind bit at my ears and nose, sharp and an.
Winter was harsh this year. Jeez.
I kept walking, eyes on the ground most of the ti, watching my boots move one in front of the other. My mind wandered back to everything that had happened—the mansion, the theatre room, Elizabeth’s warm arms, the nightmare that still felt too real. And Aeri...in my dream...always Aeri.
"I wonder what Aeri must be doing right now?" I muttered under my breath, voice low enough that only I could hear it.
The thought made my chest ache. After all the effort, all the hope I’d built up, she still said no. She still looked at like I was the little boy she’d raised, not the man who wanted to stand beside her. If that was how she saw , then what was the point of everything I’d been working for? My goals, my dreams... who were they even for anymore? If I couldn’t have her, then...
I kicked a small pebble off the road. It skittered away into the grass. "Even Elizabeth seems to have fallen for ," I thought, a small, bitter smile tugging at my lips. "Or maybe she’s just obsessed because I’m good at thrusting my hips. Hehe... sothing to feel proud of, I guess."
But the smile faded fast. No matter how many people wanted , no matter how many nights I spent tangled in sheets with soone else, my heart still hurt. It ached every ti I thought about Aeri—about the way she’d gently pushed away, about how I couldn’t have her the way I wanted.
"But still... my heart aches, knowing I can’t have Aeri with yet..." I muttered, exhaling hard enough that a bigger cloud of white breath puffed out in front of my face.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket, screen lighting up cold and bright. No new ssages. No missed calls. Nothing from her since yesterday.
"Where is she?" I whispered to the empty road. "She hasn’t called once. Does she want to have so ti in peace to think everything over properly?"
The question hung in the air, unanswered.
I turned the final corner toward ho. My small street ca into view, quiet houses, a few parked scooters, the familiar gate with its blue paint.
And then my heart stopped.
Aeri stood in front of our house. Getting out of the car with soone else.
She was wearing her usual long coat, mini skirt wrapped around her waist, hair loose and catching the wind. She looked beautiful, like always. But she wasn’t alone.
There was soone else standing beside her.
A man. Tall, well-dressed, hands in his pockets, smiling down at her as they talked.
My feet froze to the pavent. The world narrowed to just them, her soft laugh, the way she tilted her head when she listened, the easy way he leaned in a little closer.
I stood there, phone still in my hand, breath caught in my throat, watching the only person I’d ever truly loved talk to soone who wasn’t .
And for the first ti all day, the cold didn’t feel so bad anymore.
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