The grand ballroom shimmered beneath golden chandeliers, filled with elegant laughter, clinking glasses, and conversations that felt rehearsed. Everyone seemed to be performing for someone.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd0t8Sc5AY
Rei stood quietly among them, her champagne glass resting lightly in her hand. Her gaze wandered across the crowded room, but she felt strangely detached from it all.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw1sj5lnWL
A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E1AJBRW3R
"There you are."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBBewgFTvk
She turned to see Elias walking toward her with his usual calm confidence. His eyes briefly swept over the crowd before settling on her.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1CWhAgMVB
"I leave you alone for five minutes," he said with a faint smile, "and suddenly everyone wants your attention."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI2P16zTy0
He stepped beside her, close enough to offer comfort without invading her space.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo094PuPdML
"You look like you've been thinking too much," he murmured. "Which is dangerous in a room full of people pretending to be someone they're aren't."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPUjd1EC3J
He glanced toward the open French doors leading outside.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXXenaUjD0
"The balcony is quieter."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7dTmY4ibn
Rei let out a quiet breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUjyJngE2b
"Thank you," she said softly. "I needed that."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TcMCiOIGj
Without another word, Elias guided her through the crowd. His hand rested gently against the small of her back, steady and reassuring.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqfvMCrJjI
The cool night air welcomed them as they stepped onto the balcony. The music faded behind the glass, replaced by silence and the distant glow of city lights.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBGSnigwJs
For a while, neither of them spoke.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Oyy5Dgoih
Elias leaned against the stone railing, watching the city below.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2sYjAjf6p
"I used to hate parties like this," he admitted after a long silence. "I thought it was the room that exhausted me."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZrIfFt3vk
He smiled faintly.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhqZTbNWZV
"But then I realized... it wasn't the room."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyDpvPH4Mb
His gaze drifted toward her.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfFaSB6Gkv
"It was the effort of constantly being on display."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5S0Ru9VQI
A quiet pause settled between them.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNybuhXJEg
"Tonight feels different," he said.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgm4C4SjpC
"Because you're here."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPMSxKgLae
Rei tilted her head, genuinely confused.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyPV2s49eT
"Do you... know me?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT4Z3jZevm
Elias looked at her for a long moment before answering.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswQeAtur6D
"I know you."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5CuQPJe4d
His voice remained calm.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAsMbuTayE
"I know how you look when you're deciding whether to stay or leave a conversation. I know how tightly you hold your glass when you're nervous."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3m43xcgFv
A small smile touched his lips.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubY7piozTC
"I know you've spent the last hour wishing you could be anywhere but inside that ballroom."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTncKKZfbIN
He chuckled softly.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYkV9bAFCa
"I don't know your favorite color."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAtHnYJkdZ
"I don't know your childhood stories."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtDQlBmMQG
"But I've been paying attention."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOOWLUyC7V
Rei rested her chin on her hand, studying him carefully.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZTqFaYUQv
"But... why?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyMdSQhhRF
"Why do you want to know me?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCQVyzVmWI
Elias's expression softened.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiOf6JILxM
"Because seeing someone isn't the same as knowing them."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEPqZtrejq
"Anyone can see."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfL6DU8X3f
"But knowing someone..." he said quietly, "...takes time."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE5D6BlyjC
"It takes attention."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKczyukuAE7
"And I've found myself paying very close attention to you."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3EyFfGGD9
She looked away toward the city lights.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiFyV3MYcQ
"What's the point of knowing someone..."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcca4iWescs
"...when you already know you'll probably never see them again?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJWCKTIbJC
Her voice was calm, almost matter-of-fact.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NfLq5TegE
"Isn't it just a waste of time?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDGBriXUeq
Elias didn't argue.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Pt93Drzam
Instead, he looked at her with quiet understanding.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmixxk5RyWg
"That's a very practical way of looking at the world."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR3YMp9CVJ
"But life isn't always practical."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnrLw1IptW
He stepped a little closer.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxNMyLjVjn
"I don't know if we'll ever meet again after tonight."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeduD0TAVS
"I don't know where life will take either of us."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7HFLD87sB
"But right now..."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCjVwRXMRA
He held her gaze.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinaD1ITyZo
"You're here."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvgMVC29Sy
"And I'm here."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwpj9swg5H
Silence returned.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JqYmMq7Ri
After a long pause, Rei finally admitted the truth she'd been hiding.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRCZjZryCR
"I don't avoid people because I dislike them."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoP6aMr51t
She smiled sadly.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaQ7EfQbPV
"I avoid getting close because..."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqTCHpzju2
"It hurts when people leave."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C6P5aI3yw
"When they stop talking."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5pau9PmnF
"When they forget you."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1THssJH4T
"I'd rather not become attached than lose someone again."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY86VILkL29
Elias nodded slowly.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwqh7EFwwv
"It does hurt."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPOWulmn0x
"People leave."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLzkoCcyTR
"They change."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvUm5pa210
"They disappear."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSNEksXc8k
He looked at her with quiet certainty.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbOtGieSGM
"But if you only allow yourself to know the people you're guaranteed to keep..."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVWlM3u9zS
"...you're not really living."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHUiwspwqU
"You're only protecting yourself."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsqr76yFKt
He offered a gentle smile.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXlztRBVuG
"We don't have to promise forever."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTs8DWlGmf
"We don't even have to promise tomorrow."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdQAkU8fwW
He extended his hand toward her.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAEDqoPOFB
"Just tonight."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6IklDQDSp
"Just this conversation."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuitOpGiXbK
Rei looked at his hand for a long moment.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEgFyDwcnu
Then, almost shyly...
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsTxrUDzEe
She smiled.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBavQ3AkWiy
"Okay."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8QZmfi1Ly
"I'll try."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCP8A4f1Ix
Elias smiled back, warmer this time.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzIasOmUU4
"That's all anyone can ask."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFRxf9KJLr
The city lights stretched endlessly before them, while inside, the ballroom continued pretending.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUmklxqqy9
Out here, for the first time that night, neither of them had to.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjeeaPelPE
and then Add to home screen.