The evening felt quieter than before.
The sound of waves was still the same.The breeze moved slowly across the shore.
Nothing had changed.
Except him.
Stephan stood at a distance, hands in his pockets,his eyes on the sea…
but his thoughts weren't there.
They kept going back—
to her.
"You should give her a chance."
He exhaled slowly.
It shouldn't matter.
But it did.
And what bothered him more—
was that he didn't understand why.
"Don't treat her like everyone else."
That line stayed.
And this time—
he decided to try.
His eyes found her again.
Pixel.
Sitting near the shore.
Stevan beside her.
Talking.
Smiling slightly.
Stephan walked towards them.
Not stopping this time.
"Can I sit?"
Pixel looked at him.
Then nodded.
"Yeah."
He sat down beside them.
Stevan smiled.
"Bhai, you came again!"
Stephan gave a small nod.
For a moment—
no one spoke.
Then—
"Do you come here often?"
Pixel looked at him.
"Sometimes."
"Alone?"
She nodded.
"I like quiet places."
"It suits you."
Pixel looked at him again.
Not reacting much—
but noticing.
Stevan suddenly stood up.
"I'll go near the water!"
And ran off.
Now—
they were alone.
The silence returned.
But this time—
it didn't feel uncomfortable.
Stephan looked at her.
"You don't talk much."
"I don't talk without reason."
There was a pause.
"Then I'll try to give you one."
That made her look at him again.
A little longer this time.
Stephan hesitated for a second.
Then—
"Can I have your number?"
The question came out simple.
No pressure.
No attitude.
Just… direct.
Pixel didn't react immediately.
She looked at him.
As if thinking—
not about the question…
but the reason behind it.
"Why?"
One word.
But clear.
Stephan didn't look away this time.
"So I don't have to look for you every time."
There was a small pause.
Pixel held his gaze for a second.
Then—
she said nothing.
She simply took out her phone.
Unlocked it.
And handed it to him.
"Save it."
Stephan paused.
Just for a moment.
Then took the phone.
Saved his number.
And returned it.
No extra words.
But something about that moment—
felt different.
More… real.
More… intentional.
When Stevan came back—
everything looked normal again.
But for Stephan—
it wasn't.
Because this time—
it wasn't just a conversation…
it was the beginningof something that felt real.