KAIZA'S POV :-
Again in the car.
She sat beside me, quiet, looking out the window. Sunlight kept slipping through the glass, falling over her face in soft flashes- golden, warm- like it was choosing her on purpose.
And me?
I was stuck on one thing.
Love.
The way she said it earlier.
I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling under my breath, staring ahead- but I wasn't really seeing the road. That word just kept looping in my head like it had somewhere to be and refused to leave.
I didn't even realize I was smiling.
Stupidly.
"Why are you smiling?" she asked, turning to me, her voice soft, curious.
Shit.
I cleared my throat, one hand moving to the back of my neck, rubbing it lightly.
"Nothing," I said, glancing at her for a second.
She smiled back anyway.
And then looked out the window again.
Like she didn't just mess up my entire head with one word.
We passed a park.
Kids everywhere- Running, laughing, chasing each other like the world was that simple.
She turned to me again- this time I didn't even need words. I already knew.
"Let's go?" she said, a small pout forming on her lips.
I huffed out a quiet breath, shaking my head slightly.
Hopeless.
"Sure… love."
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
And yeah...there it was.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, that soft red spreading slowly across her face. She looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear like she suddenly didn't know what to do with herself.
God!
I like that.
Way too much.
I parked the car, and before I could even step out properly, she was already out- excited, alive, like she forgot for a second who she was supposed to be.
I leaned against the car door for a moment, watching her.
Shaking my head slightly.
"My girl…" I muttered under my breath, pushing myself up and walking after her.
The park felt… different up close.
Warm sunlight filtered through the trees, breaking into pieces as it touched the ground. Leaves fell slowly, carried by a soft breeze that moved just enough to make everything feel alive.
Peaceful.
Exactly the kind of place I never stay in.
But today, I didn't mind.
I handed her a mask.
"They'll notice you," I said quietly.
Her face dropped immediately.
Disappointed.
Almost like a child being told no.
And for a second, I almost gave in.
She shook her head.
And I just stared at her for a second before sighing.
"Fine."
My hands slid into my pockets.
I stayed close anyway.
Because if she won't protect herself-
I will.
We stepped in.
And yeah.
Exactly what I expected.
People noticed.
Too quickly.
They came in waves- asking, smiling, taking pictures, calling her name like they owned a part of her.
I stood slightly behind, jaw tightening, fingers curling in my pockets.
I hate this.
But she smiled through it.
And I let it happen.
Because this?
This is her world.
Even if I don't like it.
By the time the crowd cleared, she looked a little tired- but still smiling.
We sat on a bench.
Finally!
She leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on her knees, watching the kids again.
And this time-
I watched her.
A little boy stumbled while running, and she instinctively leaned forward, like she was about to get up.
But Didn't.
The reaction was there- pure and unforced.
I exhaled slowly, resting back against the bench, one arm draped over it.
She'd be a good mother.
The thought came so naturally it almost caught me off guard.
I glanced at her again.
The sunlight caught in her hair.
The soft wind pushing a few strands across her face before she tucked them back again, absentmindedly.
And suddenly-
I could see it.
Not this.
Not the park.
Something else.
A smaller version of her.
Running.
Laughing.
Maybe holding my hand.
Or hers.
A tiny voice calling out-
"Dadda."
My jaw tightened slightly, and I looked away, dragging a hand over my face.
What the hell was that?
I wasn't supposed to think like that.
But it stayed.
That image- it was too real.
And without realizing it, I smiled again. Clueless.
Until something else caught my attention.
A couple.
At first, I barely looked.
But then-
Something felt off.
Familiar.
I leaned forward slightly, squinting just a bit.
Wait.
No!
That's..
Jaff?
My brows furrowed, posture straightening.
And the woman with him-
I couldn't see her face clearly yet.
Since when?
Since when does he-?
My grip tightened slightly against my knee.
They were holding hands.
Not casually. Not friendly.
Like a couple.
"What the hell…" I muttered under my breath.
He didn't tell me? Not a word?
I watched them for a second longer.
Then leaned back again, jaw set.
Not today. I'm not ruining this.
Just today. It's just us.
ASTHERIEN'S POV :-
I liked this place.
It felt… real.
The laughter wasn't forced.
The chaos wasn't controlled.
Kids ran past me, chasing things they couldn't catch- bubbles, each other, nothing, and still laughing like they'd already won.
I found myself smiling, Without thinking.
A little girl ran too close, almost bumping into me before running off again. I watched her go, my lips curving just a little more.
For a moment, I forgot everything.
Forgot who I was supposed to be.
Just stood there.
Breathing. Feeling something light for once.
And then-
"Kai?" I heard.
The voice wasn't loud.
But it cut through everything.
Clean. Sharp.
I felt it before I turned.
I looked at Kaiza.
And there it was.
That subtle change.
But unmistakable.
His posture straightened slightly. His expression- different.
"…Sam."
Sam?
Who she really is?
The name settled in my chest wrong.
Walking toward us like she belonged.
Not just here. With him.
Like there was no hesitation in her steps. No second thoughts. No questions about where she stood.
And the worst part?
She didn't even try. She didn't need to.
They started talking.
Like nothing had changed.
Like everything had stayed exactly where it was.
"You still disappear," she said, crossing her arms lightly.
Like she's known him forever.
"I don't disappear."
"You do."
A small back-and-forth.
Too familiar.
My fingers curled slightly at my sides.
I stayed quiet.
Because where exactly was I supposed to fit in this?
Her eyes finally landed on me.
Polite. Calm.
"And you- you're astherien right?"
"Yea."
"Ooh! I met a celebrity today."
Ofcourse.
"She's with me." He suddenly said.
I glanced at him.
That line. With him.
It should've felt like something.
It didn't.
"With you, huh…"
She didn't question it.
Like it didn't matter enough to challenge.
And that-
that hit harder than if she did.
"I'm Sam."
Of course.
She looked back at him.
I was already done being relevant.
"You still hate noisy places?"
"I'm getting used to it."
A soft laugh left her lips.
"You used to last five minutes."
Used to.
My jaw tightened.
I hate that word.
It means there was a version of him-
that existed without me.
And she was part of it.
I glanced at him again.
And there it was.
He wasn't distant.
He was… comfortable.
And I hated it.
Hated how natural he looked with her.
Hated how she didn't hesitate.
Didn't think. Like I do.
Every. Single.Time.
A slight hollow scoff escaped, without even realising.
"You like them?" she asked suddenly.
I blinked, realizing she was talking to me.
I nodded.
"Yeah."
"I figured."
A pause.
"You always did."
My chest tightened instantly.
Too fast.
Always?
My fingers curled again, nails pressing lightly into my palm.
"What?" Kai asked.
I didn't look at him.
Couldn't.
"Nothing. Just a feeling."
A lie.
"I mean… most people do."
It sounded normal. It wasn't.
I could feel his gaze.
Like he was trying to pull something out of me.
Don't look at him.
Don't react. Don't-
"He's not as cold as he looks."
Her voice softened. Directed at me.
"He just takes time."
Something in me snapped slightly.
I nodded.
Because what else was I supposed to do?
I already knew that.
Didn't I?
"You talk too much." he muttered.
She laughed.
Like she liked hearing it.
And that-
that made something ugly twist inside me.
I hate this- more than I can ever admit.
"If he lets you stay…" she continued, her tone quieter now,
"…it means more than he'll ever say."
I looked at her.
"I know," I said, forcing an awkward smile.
But it didn't sound convincing, Even to me.
Her eyes lingered on me for a second.
"Good."
And then she left.
It just felt- wrong. Not to him, but to me.
The park was still the same.
Kids still laughing.
But it didn't reach me anymore.
Because something cracked, inside me.
A few minutes ago-
I saw a future.
A life that maybe…
could be mine.
And now?
It felt like I was standing outside of it.
Watching.
Not part of it.
"Ash." His voice, Closer.
"Is there something you're not telling me?"
My throat tightened.
"No."
The lie came instantly.
He didn't believe me.
I knew it.
And for the first time-
I wasn't sure if I wanted him to.
Because if he kept looking, if he pushed just a little more,
Ash would slip.
And Ashlin-
wouldn't be able to hide.
I ran my hand through my hair, setting them a bit and looked back at the children.
But this time-
I didn't see laughter.
I saw distance.
And something else. colder.
Something I wasn't ready to face.
And I hated-
how small that made me feel.
Standing right beside him.