She didn't know how long she walked.
The streets blurred together.
Lights. Voices. Passing cars.
None of it felt real.
Her steps slowed eventually.
Then stopped.
She looked around.
A quiet street.
Unfamiliar.
She had left without thinking.
Without planning.
Just… left.
Her hands trembled slightly as she wrapped them around herself.
The night air felt colder now.
"…What am I doing?" she murmured.
For the first time—
Uncertainty crept in.
Home—
Was no longer home.
And there was nowhere else to go.
Her grandmother was gone.
Long gone.
No friends close enough.
No family to return to.
Just…
Her.
Alone.
A hollow laugh escaped her lips.
"…I really have nothing."
The words felt heavier said out loud.
Her phone buzzed.
She didn't check it.
It buzzed again.
And again.
Slowly—
She pulled it out.
His name.
Over and over.
She stared at it.
Then—
Silenced it.
No answer.
No message.
Nothing left to say.
She slipped the phone back into her bag.
"…I'm tired," she whispered.
Her legs felt weak.
There was a bench nearby.
She sat down slowly.
Her head lowered.
For a moment—
Everything went quiet.
Then—
Footsteps.
She didn't react.
Didn't look up.
Until—
They stopped in front of her.
"…You shouldn't stay out this late."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
That voice.
Calm.
Familiar.
She lifted her head slowly.
It was him.
The man from the café.
Standing there.
Looking down at her.
Not surprised.
Not concerned.
Just…
Certain.
"…You followed me?" she asked quietly.
"No."
A pause.
"I was already here."
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"…That doesn't make it better."
He didn't respond.
Just stood there.
Watching her.
"…Why are you here?" she asked.
"To see you."
Simple.
Direct.
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"…That's not normal."
"I know."
Silence.
The honesty caught her off guard.
"…Then why do it?"
A brief pause.
Then—
"…Because you looked like you would leave tonight."
Her breath caught slightly.
"…What?"
"I thought you might not go back."
Her chest tightened.
"…You talk like you know me."
"I do."
Her expression shifted.
"…No, you don't."
He stepped closer.
Not too much.
Just enough.
"I know you won't cry," he said quietly.
Her fingers curled.
"I know you'll pretend nothing happened."
Her gaze wavered slightly.
"I know you'll go back… even after this."
Silence.
Her heart beat faster.
"…Stop," she said softly.
But he didn't.
"You'll clean everything," he continued.
"Erase the traces."
"Act like you didn't see anything."
Her breathing became uneven.
"…Stop."
His gaze didn't leave her.
"And tomorrow…"
A pause.
"You'll still cook for him."
That—
That was enough.
"Stop!" she snapped.
The word came out sharper than she expected.
Her chest rose and fell quickly.
For the first time—
Emotion cracked through.
"…You don't know anything," she said.
But her voice wasn't steady.
He didn't argue.
Just watched her.
"…Then don't go back," he said quietly.
Silence.
The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"…What?" she whispered.
"Don't go back."
Simple.
But impossible.
Her lips parted slightly.
"…Where would I go?"
No answer came.
Because there wasn't one.
Not for her.
She let out a shaky breath.
"…You see?" she said softly.
"I don't have a choice."
A pause.
Then—
"You do."
Her gaze lifted slowly.
"…What?"
He met her eyes.
Calm.
Certain.
"You just haven't made it yet."
Silence.
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
Then—
He took a step back.
"…Go home," he said.
Her brows furrowed.
"…You just told me not to."
"I said don't go back."
A pause.
"But you will."
Her chest tightened.
"…Then why say it?"
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then—
"…So you remember you don't have to."
Silence.
Something in her expression shifted.
Slightly.
Not enough to change anything.
But enough to stay.
He turned.
And began to walk away.
Just like that.
No hesitation.
No explanation.
"…Wait," she called out softly.
He stopped.
But didn't turn around.
"…Who are you?" she asked.
A brief pause.
Then—
"…Someone who noticed you."
And then—
He left.
Leaving her alone on the bench.
But this time—
The silence felt different.
Not empty.
Just…
Uncertain.
And somewhere in her chest—
A thought lingered.
Small.
Fragile.
Dangerous.
What if I really don't have to go back?