Pixel sat beside Ketty, absentmindedly playing with the edge of her cup.
For a moment, she didn't say anything.
Then—
"You're not trying anymore?"
Ketty looked at her.
"Trying what?"
Pixel met her gaze.
"With Stephan."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
Just a simple question.
Ketty leaned back slightly, as if she had expected this.
A small smile appeared on her face—
but it wasn't teasing this time.
"I don't like him anymore."
The answer was calm.
Too calm.
Pixel watched her carefully.
"You did."
Ketty nodded.
"I did."
A small pause followed.
Then she added—
"But not everything stays the same."
Pixel didn't respond immediately.
Because something about that answer—
felt different.
Not fake.
Not forced.
Just… decided.
"Since when?" Pixel asked.
Ketty smiled faintly.
"Since I realized something."
Pixel raised an eyebrow slightly.
"What?"
Ketty looked at her—
this time, a little more directly.
"That liking someone doesn't mean they're meant for you."
The words were simple.
But they carried weight.
Pixel held her gaze for a second longer than usual.
Then looked away.
"Hm."
That was all she said.
But for some reason—
it didn't feel like a normal conversation anymore.
👀 Stephan Decides
On the other side, Stephan stood with Johan and Hill.
His eyes moved once—
towards her.
Then he looked away.
Not because he wanted to—
but because he was thinking.
Johan noticed.
"So?"
Stephan exhaled slowly.
"I'm done waiting."
Hill smirked.
"Finally."
Johan leaned forward slightly.
"What are you going to do?"
Stephan paused.
Then said—
"Something simple."
And that was enough.
⚡ The Move
Stephan walked straight towards Pixel.
Not slowly.
Not casually.
Direct.
Ketty noticed first.
Then quietly stood up.
"I'll be back," she said—
already leaving.
Pixel looked up.
"Where are you—"
But before she could finish—
Stephan was already there.
"Come with me."
No explanation.
No hesitation.
Pixel looked at him.
A small pause.
"You're not going to tell me where?"
Stephan: "Does it matter?"
A slight challenge.
Not rude.
But not soft either.
Pixel held his gaze for a second.
Then—
she stood up.
"Okay."
🚶♀️ Away from the Crowd
They walked towards a quieter garden area near the resort.
Less noise.
Less people.
The kind of place Pixel preferred.
She noticed that.
But didn't say it.
🧊 The Conversation
They stopped near a bench.
For a moment—
neither of them spoke.
Then Stephan said—
"You don't like crowded places."
Pixel looked at him.
"Since when do you notice that?"
Stephan didn't hesitate.
"Since I started paying attention."
A small silence followed.
Pixel sat down slowly.
"You've been doing that a lot."
Stephan sat beside her.
"Not enough."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"You think too much."
Stephan looked at her.
"Not anymore."
⚡ The Push
The silence returned—
but this time, it wasn't empty.
Pixel looked ahead, then said—
"Ketty likes you."
The words came out simply.
Stephan didn't react immediately.
"She really does," Pixel added.
A small pause.
"You should give her a chance."
Stephan leaned back slightly.
"You're trying to set me up with her."
Pixel looked at him.
"I'm telling you something you already know."
"That's not the same thing."
A brief silence followed.
Then Stephan said—
"What if I don't want to?"
That question—
was calm.
But heavier than it sounded.
Pixel held his gaze.
"You should think about it."
Still composed.
Still guarded.
Stephan looked at her steadily.
"And what do you want?"
That question stayed.
Pixel didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"I don't think like that."
Same answer.
Same shield.
But this time—
it didn't feel as distant.
Stephan shook his head slightly.
"I'm not asking you to."
A pause.
"Just don't decide for me."
That line changed something.
Not visibly.
But enough.
Pixel looked away first this time.
Not because she wanted to—
but because she needed to.
🌿 The Moment That Stayed
They didn't speak after that.
But neither of them left.
And sometimes—
that silence said more than anything else.