The afternoon felt the same—
the same sun, the same breeze, the same sound of waves crashing gently against the shore.
Nothing around him had changed.
But for Stephan—
everything felt different.
His phone screen lit up once.
A soft notification.
A new contact.
Pixel.
He stared at the name for a few seconds.
Longer than necessary.
Longer than normal.
His thumb hovered over the screen—
as if he was about to do something.
Text.
Call.
Anything.
But he didn't.
Instead—
he locked his phone again.
And slipped it back into his pocket.
But even then—
that one name stayed.
Somewhere in his mind.
Refusing to leave.
By evening—
they were all at the beach again.
The sky had started turning slightly golden.
The light softer.
Warmer.
Stevan ran ahead as usual—
full of energy.
"Pixel!"
She turned slightly.
Her hair moved gently with the wind.
"You came," he said, smiling brightly.
"I said I would."
Her voice was calm.
Certain.
Like she never said things she didn't mean.
Stephan reached them a moment later.
His steps slower this time.
More aware.
But Pixel's eyes didn't go to him.
They shifted—
past him.
"Ketty, come here."
Stephan paused.
Just for a second.
Ketty walked closer, a little surprised but happy.
Pixel stepped aside—
creating space.
Again.
"You both talk," she said simply.
Then she turned to Stevan—
"Come."
And just like that—
she walked away.
Leaving them behind.
Again.
From a distance—
Johan let out a quiet breath.
"She did it again."
Hill nodded slowly.
"And he hates it."
Back near the shore—
Ketty smiled, trying to keep everything normal.
"So… you've been quiet today."
Stephan nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
His answer was short.
Distant.
Ketty tried again—
"I thought we could spend some time together."
Her voice was soft.
Hopeful.
Genuine.
But Stephan's attention—
was already gone.
It had followed someone else.
Someone walking away again.
Like it didn't matter.
"Stephan?"
He blinked.
Looked back at her.
"You're not even listening, right?"
There was a pause.
A real one.
This time—
he didn't deny it immediately.
"I am."
But even he knew—
it didn't sound convincing.
Ketty noticed.
Of course she did.
But instead of reacting—
she smiled slightly.
Soft.
Understanding.
"You're thinking about something else."
Stephan didn't answer.
Because even he didn't fully understand what that "something" was.
A few seconds passed.
Quiet.
Uncomfortable.
And then—
he stood up.
"I'll be back."
No explanation.
No reason.
And before she could say anything—
he walked away.
From far—
Hill watched him.
"He didn't even try this time."
Johan shook his head.
"He's already gone."
Stephan walked.
Not towards his friends.
Not towards the crowd.
But towards her.
Pixel stood near the water.
The waves touching her feet lightly.
Stevan beside her—
talking endlessly.
Laughing.
Pulling her into his small world.
And she listened.
Like always.
Stephan stopped at a distance.
Not too close.
Just enough to see.
To observe.
Because now—
he understood something clearly.
It wasn't just about her.
It was about the distance she kept creating.
The space she left behind.
And how much—
that space was starting to affect him.
More than he expected.
More than he wanted.
More than he could control.
Night Time
The room was quiet.
Dim lights.
Soft silence.
The kind that doesn't feel empty—
but full of thoughts.
"Pixel…"
Ketty's voice broke it gently.
Pixel didn't look up from her book.
"Hmm?"
"What do you think about Stephan?"
Pixel's fingers paused on the page.
Slowly—
she closed the book.
And looked at her.
"For you… or in general?"
Ketty frowned slightly.
"What does that mean?"
Pixel leaned back against the pillow.
"It means you're asking like it matters."
Ketty sat up a little.
Her expression more serious now.
"It does matter."
Pixel raised an eyebrow slightly.
A small hint of understanding in her eyes.
"Then you like him."
Ketty froze.
Just for a second.
"I didn't say that."
Pixel watched her quietly.
"You didn't have to."
There was silence.
Not awkward—
just real.
Ketty looked away.
Then smiled slightly.
A little shy.
"Okay… maybe I do."
Pixel didn't react much.
But there was a faint teasing softness in her eyes.
"He's different…" Ketty said slowly.
Pixel tilted her head.
"How?"
Ketty thought for a moment.
"He doesn't try to impress anyone… he doesn't act fake."
Pixel nodded slightly.
"And?"
Ketty looked at her now.
Serious.
"I want to try… seriously."
Pixel's expression changed just a little.
"Serious?"
Ketty frowned.
"Why are you saying it like that?"
Pixel smiled faintly.
"Because you've never been serious before."
Ketty grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.
"I am serious this time!"
Pixel caught it easily.
A small smile still on her face.
"I can see that."
A pause.
Then—
"Good for him."
Ketty narrowed her eyes.
"Are you teasing me or supporting me?"
Pixel leaned back again.
"Both."
Ketty laughed softly.
Then lay down beside her.
Looking at the ceiling.
"Do you think he'll like me?"
Pixel didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze shifted slightly—
as if thinking.
Then she said—
"If you keep talking like this… maybe."
Ketty rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible."
Pixel picked up her book again.
"And you're overthinking."
Silence filled the room again.
Soft.
Calm.
Then—
very quietly—
Ketty said—
"I really like him."
This time—
Pixel didn't tease.
Didn't smile.
Her voice was softer.
Gentler.
"Then don't stop trying."
Ketty closed her eyes.
A small smile forming.
And the room fell silent again.
Not empty.
But filled—
with feelings neither of them fully understood yet.
Stephan Room
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence where even your own thoughts feel loud.
Stephan lay on the bed, one arm resting behind his head.
His eyes fixed on the ceiling.
But he wasn't seeing it.
His mind kept going back—
to her.
The way she walked away.
The way she spoke.
The way she didn't stay.
He turned slightly and picked up his phone.
The screen lit up.
Her name.
Pixel.
Just one word.
But somehow—
it felt different.
He opened the chat.
Blank.
No messages.
Nothing.
His thumb hovered over the keyboard.
For a second—
he almost typed something.
Then stopped.
Deleted even the thought.
Locked the phone.
Silence again.
He exhaled slowly.
Then unlocked it again.
Opened her contact.
Stared.
Closed it.
A quiet frustration settled inside him.
Not because of her—
but because of himself.
He wasn't used to this.
Not knowing what to say.
Not knowing how to start.
Not being in control.
He sat up slowly.
Ran a hand through his hair.
Then leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.
For a few seconds—
he just stayed like that.
Thinking.
Trying to make sense of something he couldn't define.
"You don't talk without reason."
Her voice echoed in his mind.
He let out a quiet breath.
"Then what's the reason…"
he murmured softly.
But there was no answer.
He looked at his phone again.
Still in his hand.
Still unlocked.
Still on her name.
This time—
he didn't open the chat.
He just looked at it.
And after a few seconds—
he locked the phone.
Kept it aside.
And leaned back again.
His eyes closed slowly.
But even then—
she was there.
Near the water.
Calm.
Distant.
Untouchable.
And for the first time—
Stephan didn't try to understand it.
Didn't try to control it.
He just let it stay.
Because whatever this was—
it wasn't something he could force.
And maybe—
that's why he didn't send the message.
Because for the first time—
he didn't want to rush something
that actually mattered.