Morning came too early for him. Caelum Rhaith stood by the window for a long moment before leaving, the pale light of dawn stretching across the floor like something fragile. He had woken up with her still in his mind. Not unusual. What was unusual… was how vividly she had stayed. Her laughter, Her voice, The way she had looked at him not with expectation, not with calculation… just with openness. It unsettled him, More than it should have.
He picked up his keys. And left. The drive was quiet, Too quiet for someone whose thoughts refused to be. He replayed her message more times than he cared to admit.
I'd like to see you.
I have something for you.
Something about it felt… small and yet, carried weight. By the time he got to her building, the city was barely awake. He parked just across from it. Didn't step out. Didn't call either, Just… waited. Hands resting on the wheel. Eyes occasionally drifting to the entrance. Waiting wasn't something he did, But here he was.
Upstairs, Aeris stared at her phone. Still no reply. She sat on the edge of her bed, legs tucked slightly beneath her, refreshing the screen like it might suddenly change its mind. Nothing. She exhaled softly.
"Okay…"
Maybe he was busy. Maybe he hadn't seen it. She shook her head, cutting the thoughts off before they spiraled. Her eyes shifted to the table. The small bag sat there. Inside it, The unicorn. Still neatly wrapped, Still waiting. She stood, walking over to it slowly, picking it up like it might somehow lose meaning if she hesitated too long.
"This is silly," she murmured.
But she didn't put it down. Instead, she slipped on her slippers and stepped out. The hallway was quiet, the usual Soft morning silence. The kind that made every small sound feel louder than it was. She walked toward the stairs and stopped. Someone was coming up. Her grip tightened slightly around the bag.
A step.
Another.
Then…Caelum.
They both froze. For a second, Neither spoke. Aeris blinked.
"You?"
"You're…"
They both stopped again. Each both took a breath, Then a small, awkward laugh slipped out of her.
"I didn't know you were…"
"I just got here," he said quickly. Too quickly. Like he needed to say something before the silence grew teeth.
"Oh," she nodded. "I… didn't see your message."
"I didn't send one."
Another pause, Awkward. Unsteady. Her fingers fidgeted slightly with the edge of the bag.
"I thought maybe you were busy," she added.
"I wasn't."
That came out lower, Quieter. His eyes had settled on her now. Really looking. And that…That was a mistake. Because now he noticed everything. The softness of her frame wrapped in something simple. The way the morning light caught against her skin. The subtle gloss on her lips, slightly pressed together like she wasn't sure what to say next. And that scent: Faint. Vanilla. It reached him before he could stop it from mattering. Caelum's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. His thoughts flickered, uncontrollably And far too vivid for someone standing this close. He looked away briefly. Regaining something that felt dangerously close to slipping. Aeris shifted under his gaze, misreading it entirely.
"I'm sorry if I—um—if this was weird," she said, holding up the bag slightly. "I just thought…"
"You got me something?"
Her voice faltered. "A small thing," she said quickly. "You don't have to… I just…"
Why was she suddenly nervous?Caelum looked at the bag. Then back at her. Something in his expression changed.
"You didn't have to do that," he said.
"I know," she replied. "I wanted to."
That landed… quietly. Another silence stretched between them. Less awkward now. More… aware.
Caelum exhaled slowly. "I was going to call," he said.
"I know," she replied, even though she didn't. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Barely there, but real. He gestured lightly toward the stairs.
"Are you heading out?"
She nodded.
"Yeah… I thought I'd just get some air."
"Then," he said, stepping slightly aside, "after you."
Aeris hesitated for a second, Then walked past him and he immediately followed after.
The morning air felt cooler outside, Fresh. Still carrying the softness of early hours before the city fully woke. Aeris stepped out first, Caelum just behind her. She turned slightly, about to say something, Then paused.
"Oh"
A car was already parked nearby. And leaning casually against it— Ronald.
He straightened immediately when he saw her, a familiar smile spreading across his face.
"Well," he said, "look at you. Safe again."
Aeris lit up without thinking. "Ronald!" She walked toward him, her tone instantly warmer, lighter. "How are you?" she asked. "How are the girls?"
"Alive. Loud. Still negotiating bedtime like it's a legal contract."
She laughed softly. "And your wife?"
"Still winning," he said.
"Good," she nodded, genuinely pleased.
Then, She remembered.
"Oh— um…" She turned slightly, glancing back. "Caelum, this is Ronald. He's the one I told you about… from the other day."
Ronald extended his hand easily. "Nice to meet you."
Caelum looked at it for a second, Then took it. Firm. Brief.
"Caelum Rhaith."
Something about the way he said it made the air shift, just slightly. Ronald noticed, But didn't react. Instead, he turned back to Aeris, a hint of playful accusation in his tone.
"You didn't call."
Aeris blinked.
"Oh" Her grip tightened slightly on the small bag in her hand. "I was going to," she said. "I just…"
"Got distracted?" he teased lightly.
She exhaled, half laughing. "Something like that."
Caelum's gaze flickered between them. Quiet. Observing.
"Did you at least keep the card?" Ronald added.
"I did," she said quickly. "I still have it."
"Good," he nodded. "I was starting to think I'd imagined the whole thing."
"You didn't," she smiled.
There was ease between them, Unforced, Familiar in a way that didn't need explanation. And that, That was where something unfamiliar stirred in Caelum. He didn't interrupt. But he didn't look away either. Ronald glanced at the bag in Aeris' hand.
"Another shopping trip?" he asked.
Aeris shook her head quickly. "No, this is…" She hesitated, Then glanced at Caelum. "It's his."
Ronald's brows lifted slightly. "Oh?"
Caelum's eyes dropped briefly to the bag. Then back to her. "You went out again?" he asked.
The question was simple. But something underneath it wasn't.
Aeris nodded.
"Yeah… after we dropped Nyra off," Ronald added casually, filling the gap. "We stopped by the mall. I had to get something for my daughters."
Aeris smiled faintly at the memory. "He takes it very seriously," she said.
"It's a system," Ronald corrected.
Caelum's jaw tightened just slightly. Barely noticeable. But there. "They went to the mall? Together? " The thought sat in his chest. Uncomfortable, Unfamiliar. He didn't like it. Didn't understand it either and that made it worse. He looked at the bag again. Then reached out.
"May I?" he asked.
Aeris nodded quickly, handing it to him. His fingers brushed hers briefly. He opened it. Pulled the plush out And paused.
"A unicorn."
Soft, Ridiculously so. Out of place in his hands.
Silence followed.
Aeris immediately grew nervous. "I know it's… I'm… it's a bit—"
"Unnecessary?" he supplied.
Her face fell slightly. "Maybe."
He looked at it again. Then at her. Something in his expression shifted. Not rejection, Not quite understanding either. But… something softer than either. "I'll take it," he said simply. And placed it back in the bag. That alone said more than anything else could have. Ronald watched the exchange quietly. A small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Alright," Caelum said after a moment, his tone returning to something more controlled. "I should be going."
Aeris blinked. "So soon?"
"I have a meeting." The lie came easily. He stepped back slightly. "I'll see you later."
Then, with a brief nod to Ronald.
He turned, Got into his car And drove off. Just like that. The air shifted again. But this time, It lingered. Aeris stood there for a second, staring after him. Then slowly turned to Ronald.
"What was that?" she asked.
Ronald tilted his head slightly. "That," he said carefully, "looked like a man trying to understand something he doesn't have words for yet."
Aeris frowned. "No, you don't get it," she said, a little more urgently than she intended. "I really like him."
Ronald didn't interrupt.
"And now he's going to think—" she gestured vaguely between them, frustration creeping in, "—this."
"This?" Ronald echoed lightly.
"You showing up, the mall, the… everything," she sighed. "It looks wrong."
Ronald studied her for a moment. Then softened. "If he likes you," he said, "he'll ask."
"And if he doesn't?" she shot back.
"Then," he shrugged gently, "you'll know."
Aeris groaned softly, running a hand through her hair. "You're not helping."
"I'm not supposed to fix it," he replied. "Just… not make it worse."
She gave him a look. "You failed that already."
He laughed. "Fair."
A small silence settled between them. Less tense now. But still carrying something unresolved.
Ronald glanced at his car. "I should get going too."
Aeris nodded.
"Yeah…"
He opened the door, then paused. "And for the record," he added, glancing back at her, "I like him."
She blinked. "You do?"
"He didn't laugh at the unicorn," Ronald said. "That counts."
Aeris let out a small, reluctant smile. "Yeah… it does, doesn't it?"
He got into the car, Started the engine. Then rolled the window down slightly. "And call me," he added. "Before I file a complaint."
She shook her head, smiling now. "I will."
"Good." Then he drove off.