The question she asked wasn't planned. It had never crossed her mind before.
His eyes widened, his thoughts racing — what? who? when?
She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear the answer...
while he was too shocked to say anything at all.
Even in silence, her thoughts kept circling back to him.
Ian moved to respond — but before he could even say a word —
"Aira, are you okay, dear?" her father's voice came from behind.
"Yes, Dad... umm... I just..." She avoided Ian's gaze, her eyes slightly red.
"You're back, right? I'll leave now. I'll be back in the evening,"
She said it casually, but her voice carried a quiet urgency — an attempt to escape both the situation and the answer she had just asked for.
In a way, she was trying to outrun her own question.
"Okay, have a good rest, dear." Her father's gaze shifted to Ian.
"Aren't you getting late, Ian?" he asked, glancing at his watch.
Ian wasn't ready for that.
His eyes flickered away. He paused, searching for something — anything — to say.
"There's still some time. Actually... I have an afternoon shift today, Uncle."
"Oh... well, then, if possible, could you please drop her home?" her father asked.
"Yes, su — "
"No, why?"
Their voices overlapped.
And then their eyes met.
Something unspoken passed between them — sharp, almost like a warning.
"Dad, I'm not new here. I can go by myself." she said quickly.
He didn't want to miss the chance — to be alone with her, to finish what had been left hanging.
The thought pressed harder.
I haven't answered her question. I need to clear this. I can't miss this chance... not again.
But how do I do that without making it obvious?
Then —
fate intervened.
"I know, Aira. But after what happened with your mom, I can't help worrying. Please listen to me. Let Ian drop you home safely." her father insisted.
She couldn't refuse.
She gathered her things — her bag, phone, charger — with deliberate slowness, stretching every second for as long as she could.
She couldn't have been any slower, doing her best to stall time while he waited patiently.
He watched her, his eyes following her every movement, a faint smile resting on his lips — as if he could see right through her.
In just few minutes, there were nothing left for her to pick.
And now, his smile had grown wider.
The walk to the car felt unusually quiet, and the silence felt familiar.
He observed her quietly, his heart oddly light.
A flicker of joy crossed his face as he imagined her expression when he would finally tell her the truth.
He opened the car door for her.
She paused and glanced at him, a silent warning in her eyes — stay away.
But he couldn't have cared less.
She stepped in, and he closed the door before walking around to take his seat.
He waited a moment before starting the car, staring at her.
"So angry you even forgot your seatbelt?" he teased.
She didn't reply. She simply fastened it.
Embarrassment flashed across her cheeks, a soft red blooming there.
The car started, and so did the silence.
For the first time, she noticed something strange.
His car... his presence...
Had no fragrance at all.
And yet, for some reason, it felt easier to breath.
It wasn't unsettling — if anything, it felt oddly comforting.
She kept her fingers clasped in her lap, hoping he wouldn't bring up what they had left behind at the hospital.
Her grip tightened with every passing second, as if holding herself together required effort now.
While he... gathered his courage, wondering where to begin.
"Aira... about that engagement — you've got it wrong," he said.
She unclasped her hands and clenched her fist, taking a small breath, bracing herself for what was coming next.
"It's not me. My brother is engaged to Shasha. He's a well-established lawyer now, settled in the capital. They liked each other... we only found out when the marriage was discussed."
She exhaled slowly, turning her head toward the window, her mind going blank for a moment — like the calm before a storm.
That was not what she expected.
And now...
For once, her heart and mind were in sync.
Not to steady her —
but to make her restless, impatient... and embarrassed.
What... why did I even ask him that? I could have known it later.
So embarrassing... I just want to jump of the car right now.
He read the silence and waited for her to respond.
But it never came.
He didn't interrupt it this time.
The rest of the ride passed in silence, as she chose not to answer, saving what little face she had left.
But the chaos inside her was heavy.
Once again, they were at her door — but this time, it felt different.
She stepped out, ready to leave, offering a brief nod in goodbye.
But —
"Can I have a glass of water?" he asked.
There was already a water bottle in the car door, but he asked anyway. There was more he wanted to say — he just needed a way in.
She hesitated, then nodded.
And he, without wasting a moment, followed her.
He sat on sofa, nervous, his fingers tangling together.
It wasn't the first time he had been there.
But this time... everything was different.
She brought him a glass of water and sat across from him, watching him — waiting for him, to finish and leave.
The scent in the house was stronger today. The air felt different — heavier somehow.
And she couldn't understand why it unsettled her.
He sipped slowly, almost deliberately.
The situation felt strangely familiar to him . Not long ago, she had been the one trying to stretch time — just like he was doing now.
His thought tangled. He had already spoken about the engagement... so where should he begin now?
But he had to.
He clasped his hands tightly together.
And then...
"Aira... Shasha is engaged to my brother. Not me."
He paused, exhaling softly, his gaze dropping for a moment.
"I've never been in a relationship. Never... with anyone."
She didn't know what to feel — how to react.
Her fingers tightened in her lap.
"I couldn't say it before," he continued, his voice quieter now. "I didn't know how."
A pause.
Then —
"I've liked you since the first time we met. Since that day... when I saw you dancing in the rain at your grandpa's house."
A faint, almost nervous smile touched his lips.
"I still remember what you were wearing... how you looked. I remember everything."
He looked at her, steady this time.
"I don't think I ever moved past that moment."
Something in her chest shifted — too sudden, too much.
As the words left him, something inside him eased.
He paused.
Then looked at her again, waiting — hoping.
But she was blank, as if her thoughts had scattered beyond reach.
Not because she didn't understand —
but because she understood too many things at once.
She stared at him, brows slightly drawn, her gaze distant.
A single question was written all over her face —
"What?"
She shook her head slightly and tucked her hair behind her ears.
She looked at him, ready with a question —
but he spoke first.
"But... " he said, his voice tightening,
"I don't think I am meant to be in relationship with anyone. There are... reasons I can't explain."
The words landed wrong.
"I didn't want you to get stuck on me," he continued.
"That's why I needed to tell you."
Confession and rejection, back to back — leaving her with nothing to hold on to.
She stared at him, trying to make sense of it.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"What am I supposed to understand from everything you just now?"
"And how do you always find a way to get on my nerves?" she added, her voice uneven.
She pressed her lips together, swallowing whatever else threatened to come out.
Something about all of this felt sharper than it should — her thoughts, her senses, her reaction. It made no sense.
She didn't know what to feel.
A flicker of happiness.
A sting of hurt.
A wave of confusion.
For the first time, she felt... foolish.
And her questions left him just as silent.