It took a while before Elara finally walked out of Adrian’s residence. By the ti she stepped onto the road outside, her pace had already slowed down on its own.
She stopped.
The street ahead was clean and empty, lined with tall buildings and closed gates. It was the kind of high end residential area where cars did not just pass by for no reason. Most people here moved with drivers or booked rides ahead of ti. Random taxis were almost nonexistent.
Only then did it fully settle in her mind that she wasn’t with her bag or phone. She lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening and loosening at her sides as she thought.
Even if a car passed now, how exactly was she supposed to stop it without a phone or anything on her?
She bit her lips.
Should she go back?
Her head turned to the back, her eyes moving in the direction of the gates she had just walked out from.
No.
Her fingers curled again.
Going back would an facing him again... and right now, she did not trust herself to stand there and keep her expression calm like she always did. She had already done enough.
She turned her head forward again quickly, as if cutting that thought off before it could grow.
Just then, the faint sound of a car engine reached her ears.
Her eyes moved sideways and caught sight of a car approaching from the distance. At first, she paid little attention to it. Most likely it was already occupied and would pass by like every other car in a place like this.
But as it got closer, the car began to slow down. Then it stopped right in front of her.
Elara’s brows drew together.
The passenger window rolled down, and a familiar face ca into view.
"Elara–"
Ziva’s voice ca out quickly, but the rest of her words stopped halfway when her eyes fell on Elara’s dressing.
Her expression seed to stiffen.
Elara did not say anything. She simply walked around the car and opened the door, getting in without hesitation.
She gave a small sigh of relief. "How did you know I was–"
"Mr. Vale called this morning," Ziva cut in imdiately. "He said you were here and told to co pick you up in an hour."
She reached to her side and picked up a bag. "Your bag. Your phone is inside."
Elara took it and placed it on her lap without checking it. She only gave a small nod.
"Drive," Ziva said while the driver nodded and started the car again.
After a few minutes of silence, Elara spoke up as a thought crossed her mind.
"Stop at a private clinic." she said and the driver nodded again.
Ziva slowly turned her head to look at Elara, her brows drawing together. "Clinic?" she repeated, confusion clear in her voice.
"Yes." Elara replied imdiately.
Ziva stared at her for a mont longer before turning back to the front, her lips pressing together into a thin line.
The car continued moving.
A few minutes passed before Ziva spoke again. "Did sothing happen last night?"
Elara let out a soft scoff, her gaze still fixed ahead.
Ziva had never sounded like this before.
Her fingers tapped against her thigh as a thought crossed her mind.
What was wrong with her this morning? That tone... it almost sounded like she was upset.
Had she guessed what happened?
Elara’s eyes lowered to her fingers.
If that was the case, then this reaction... it was unexpected.
Did Ziva think she was that kind of person too?
The thought made her chest tighten, but she only gave another scoff.
Thinking about it again, maybe it did not even matter. Weren’t those rumors already everywhere? She had heard enough of them. Maybe they were not entirely wrong either.
After all, in last night’s event... though she was drunk. She had been the one who crossed that line first. She had stepped into Adrian’s space, pushed things forward, and refuse to back down.
What else would people call that?
A faint, bitter thought passed through her mind.
Shaless.
Her lips pressed together.
Adrian was a man. It was only natural for him to respond. If anything... she was the one who started it.
Her expression did not change as she opened her mouth. "I don’t rember, so what is there to talk about?" she said casually.
Ziva went silent. Her fingers rested on her lap, tightening a little before relaxing again. After a long pause, she gave a small nod.
"Okay."
Then... she muttered quietly–
"I’m sorry."
Elara turned her head to look at her. She noticed the stiffness in Ziva’s posture, the way she avoided looking at her directly.
Elara’s brows eased a little and she looked away again. "It’s nothing," she said. But even to her own ears, the words felt a bit empty.
She moved her gaze to the window, watching the buildings pass one after another. Her mind was still not settled.
She only sat there quietly, counting the buildings outside one by one as the car moved forward, waiting for them to reach the clinic.
–
Elara knew sothing was off the mont they stepped into Voice.
As she walked past the lobby, a few people who had been talking suddenly went quiet, then leaned toward each other and started whispering again. So glanced at her, covered their mouths, and let out small giggles before quickly walking away.
This was not the kind of reaction she had expected after the concert.
Ziva walked beside her. Her expression had tightened a little as she noticed it too. After a few more steps, she spoke under her breath, "Don’t mind them. People will always have sothing to say."
Elara turned her head to look at her and gave a small nod. "Yeah," she replied quickly, even though she was not fully convinced.
They continued walking down the hallway together and when they turned into the corridor that led to Elara’s room, both of them slowed down at the sa ti.
Then they stopped.
Almost in sync, they turned to look at each other for half a second, confusion clear in their eyes. Without saying anything, they both turned back toward the front.
Elara’s door was barely visible.
Flowers.
Bouquets upon bouquets were stacked in front of it, spreading across the floor and climbing up against the wall. There were so many that they nearly blocked the entire passage, leaving only a narrow space to walk through.
For a long mont, Elara just stood there, her gaze resting on the pile as if trying to understand what she was seeing.
Ziva blinked in surprise. Then she let out a small sigh.
"Maybe one of your fans," she said, her lips curving into a faint smile.
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