Morning in Singapore arrived differently.
Not with the distant honking and familiar neighborhood sounds Anaya had grown used to, but with a soft, almost disciplined quiet that made the apartment feel larger than it actually was, the sunlight filtering through the wide glass window in clean, golden lines.
For a few seconds after waking, she forgot where she was.
Then the unfamiliar ceiling came into focus.
And everything came rushing back.
New country.
New home.
New life.
Beside the bed, Aarav was already dressed for work, his movements efficient but quieter than usual, as if he was deliberately trying not to disturb her even though she was clearly awake.
"You're leaving already?" she asked, her voice still soft with sleep.
He turned slightly, his expression easing the moment their eyes met.
"First day," he said. "I want to get there early."
Anaya pushed herself up slowly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
There was a brief pause before she spoke again.
"This feels very… real today."
Something in her tone made his gaze soften.
"It is real," he said gently.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Aarav stepped closer to the bed, his hand reaching out almost instinctively to brush lightly against her shoulder — a small, grounding touch that had become so natural between them that it no longer carried hesitation.
"You'll be okay here alone?" he asked quietly.
Anaya gave a small nod.
"I'm not made of glass, Aarav."
His lips curved faintly.
"I know."
A small pause.
Then, softer —
"I still asked."
She noticed.
Of course she did.
And something warm settled quietly in her chest.
As he turned to leave, Anaya spoke again without fully thinking.
"Wait."
Aarav stopped near the door and looked back at her.
For half a second, she seemed to hesitate — as if surprised by her own impulse — before she slid off the bed and walked toward him.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Until she stood just in front of him.
"This is your first day," she said softly.
"Yes."
"You should go with confidence."
"I plan to."
She studied his face for a moment.
Then, before she could overthink it, she reached up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
It was gentle.
Quick.
But intentional.
For the first time that morning, Aarav looked slightly caught off guard.
Not dramatically.
But enough that Anaya noticed.
"That," she said quietly, stepping back with a small, composed smile, "is for luck."
His gaze lingered on her longer than usual.
Something deeper moving there now.
"Careful," he murmured.
Her brows lifted slightly. "Why?"
"You're starting dangerous habits again."
Her smile softened.
"Maybe I stopped being scared of them."
For a brief second, the air between them warmed.
Then Aarav reached out, his fingers lightly catching her wrist — not to stop her, just to hold the moment in place.
"Lock the door after me," he said quietly.
"I will."
A pause.
Then, more softly —
"And Anaya?"
"Yes?"
His thumb brushed once, gently, over her wrist before he let go.
"Don't wander too far on your first day."
Her eyes sparkled faintly.
"No promises."
The door closed behind him a moment later.
And just like that…
The apartment felt very, very quiet.
For the first time since arriving, Anaya stood alone in the unfamiliar living room, the soft hum of the city far below reminding her that this place was still new, still unwritten territory waiting to be explored.
She walked slowly toward the large window, wrapping her arms loosely around herself as she looked out at the skyline.
Yesterday, this had felt overwhelming.
Today…
It felt like possibility.
Still, she couldn't ignore the small, unexpected thing she noticed as the morning stretched on.
The way the apartment felt just a little too quiet.
The way her eyes kept drifting toward the door.
The way…
She was already waiting for evening.
Across the city, Aarav sat in his new office, reviewing documents with his usual sharp focus — but twice, without realizing it, his phone screen lit up in his hand.
Unlocked.
No message typed.
Just… checked.
As if some part of him was already measuring the hours until he went back.
Because this city might not know them yet.
But slowly…
Very quietly…
It was becoming the place where everything between them would either deepen—
Or change forever.