Breakfast ended…
But something didn't.
Stephan stayed quiet.
Even after everything felt normal again.
Ketty was talking.Stevan was laughing.
But his attention—
was somewhere else.
On her.
Pixel stood up slowly.
"I have some work," she said calmly.
Stevan looked up immediately.
"So soon?"
"I'll come later," Pixel said softly.
"Promise?"
Pixel nodded.
"Promise."
That small moment—
felt real.
Stephan noticed it.
Later—
they were at the beach again.
Stevan saw Pixel first.
"Pixel!"
He ran towards her.
"You came!"
"I said I would," she replied.
He started talking non-stop.
Pixel listened.
Smiled.
Answered.
Like she actually cared.
Stephan watched them.
Something about that—
didn't feel normal.
Meanwhile—
Ketty was beside him.
Trying.
"So… you didn't sleep much, right?" she said, trying to keep the conversation going.
Stephan looked at her briefly.
"Hmm."
Short answer.
Ketty didn't give up.
She smiled slightly.
"You think a lot."
No reply.
Instead—
"Since when do you know Pixel?" Stephan asked.
Ketty paused.
"Since college started."
"She's always like that?"
Ketty nodded.
"Yeah… she doesn't get involved much."
There was no jealousy in her voice.
Just honesty.
Stephan's eyes went back to Pixel.
"That's just how she is," Ketty added softly.
A little later—
Pixel walked towards them with Stevan.
Ketty looked at her and said lightly—
"Why did you come here? We were talking."
Her tone wasn't rude.
Just a little playful.
Then she added—
"Take Stevan with you… I want to talk to Stephan for a while."
Pixel didn't react much.
She simply nodded.
"Come," she said to Stevan.
And walked away with him.
Now—
only Stephan and Ketty were left.
Ketty tried again.
Talking.Smiling.Trying to keep the moment going.
But Stephan…
wasn't there.
His answers were short.
His attention somewhere else.
And finally—
he stood up.
"I'll come in a bit."
Ketty looked at him.
A little confused.
But she didn't stop him.
Stephan walked away.
Towards his friends—
Johan and Hill.
They noticed him immediately.
"Well, well…" Johan smirked.
"Left someone mid-conversation?"
Hill chuckled.
"That doesn't look like you."
Stephan didn't respond.
He just stood there.
Johan leaned slightly closer.
"Let me guess…"
His eyes shifted towards Pixel—
standing at a distance with Stevan.
"It's about her, isn't it?"
Stephan frowned.
"No."
Hill laughed softly.
"Then why are you here?"
There was a small pause.
Stephan didn't answer.
And that was enough.
Johan smiled.
"Interesting."
"For the first time…" Hill added,
"you're the one getting distracted."
Stephan looked away.
Back towards Pixel.
And this time—
he didn't even try to deny it.
Because for the first time—
he wasn't just noticing her…
he was starting to lose focus on everything else.