Sleep didn't feel like rest.
It came-
quietly-
but not gently.
And when it ended-
it didn't leave peace behind.
My eyes opened slowly.
The room was dim now.
Evening.
The light had changed-softer, fading through the window, stretching long shadows across the floor.
For a second-
I didn't move.
Just lay there.
Listening.
Nothing.
No voice.
No presence.
Just the faint ticking of time and the distant sounds of the outside world settling.
"…Tch."
I pushed myself up slightly, a dull heaviness still sitting in my body.
Zen shifted beside me, stretching lazily before jumping off the bed like nothing had ever been wrong.
Lucky.
I dragged a hand through my hair and exhaled.
"…Felt too real."
A pause.
My fingers brushed my wrist again.
Empty.
That same feeling-
still there.
Before I could think further-
voices.
Downstairs.
Kevin.
And-
someone else.
A voice I didn't recognize.
Light.
Easy.
Carrying a kind of careless warmth.
"…So this is how you treat guests now?" the voice laughed.
Kevin scoffed. "You showed up uninvited."
"Still let me in, didn't you?"
I froze for a second.
That voice-
My chest tightened slightly.
Not memory.
But something close to it.
"…Xey's upstairs," Kevin added. "Don't annoy him. He's not feeling well."
A soft hum came from the other person.
"Mm. I'll decide that myself."
Footsteps.
Closer.
Coming up.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Like he already knew where he was going.
My gaze shifted to the door.
That same feeling from before-
returned.
But different.
Not heavy.
Not suffocating.
But—
intentional.
I didn't move.
Didn't get up.
Just waited.
The footsteps stopped right outside.
A pause.
Then-
a knock.
Light.
Casual.
Like this wasn't the first time.
"Xey," that voice called.
Playful.
Familiar in a way it shouldn't be.
"Gonna make me stand out here all evening?"
My fingers curled slightly against the sheets.
For a second-
I didn't answer.
Because something about this-
felt wrong.
Or maybe-
too right.
"…Door's open," I said finally.
Steady.
The handle turned.
Slow.
And as the door began to open-
that same feeling from before-
brushed past me again.
Faint.
But there.
Like something unseen had just moved-
before him.
The door opened-
and the room changed.
Not suddenly.
But enough.
The quiet shifted.
Pushed back-
replaced by something lighter.
Louder.
He stepped in like he always did.
Like nothing here had ever changed.
"Wow," he glanced around, a faint grin forming, "still the same room."
I didn't answer.
My gaze stayed on him.
Trying to understand something that didn't need understanding.
He had always been around.
Coming and going like this-
like it was normal.
Because it was.
And yet—
something felt… different.
He was taller now.
Slightly.
Enough to notice.
Pale skin.
Dark hair falling loosely—
and those eyes—
sharp.
Narrow.
Half-lidded.
Phoenix eyes.
Black pupils—
steady.
Watching.
"…You're staring again," he said lightly.
I exhaled.
"…You appearance changed."
A small pause.
Then a quiet chuckle.
"Took you long enough."
He moved further inside-but not too close.
Never too close.
Like he remembered the distance.
Or maybe-
he had always known it.
"You used to be shorter," I added.
"Wow," he raised a brow, "that's what you start with?"
"You're not offended."
"…not even a little."
He dropped into the chair near the window, settling in easily.
Comfortable.
Like he belonged here.
Because he did.
Kevin shouted from downstairs-
"Don't make noise!"
"Can't promise that!" he called back immediately.
Then quieter-
"…I'll try."
Silence returned-
but not fully.
Not like before.
Because he filled it.
Without trying.
"…you're quiet today," he said after a moment.
I didn't respond.
"…more than usual," he added.
My fingers shifted slightly against the sheets.
"…just tired."
He hummed.
Like he didn't fully believe it-
but didn't push either.
That-
was familiar.
Zen jumped onto the bed, brushing against my arm.
The moment broke.
"Oh," his attention shifted instantly, "there you are."
"Zen."
"Zen," he repeated softly.
He didn't reach out immediately.
Waited.
Watched.
Then slowly touched him.
Careful.
Measured.
"You're still like this," he murmured.
Not to the cat.
To me.
I looked at him.
"…like what."
A small pause.
Then a faint smile.
"Hard to read."
I didn't answer.
My gaze shifted-
to his wrist.
Nothing.
No gold.
No beads.
No crescent.
My chest loosened slightly-
before tightening again.
Because that didn't explain anything.
"…so," he leaned back again, that playful tone returning, "you gonna keep analyzing me, or are we actually gonna talk?"
"…you talk too much."
"And you don't talk at all. Balance."
Silence.
Then-
"…you've been coming here a lot," I said.
Not a question.
A statement.
He didn't look surprised.
"Yeah," he said simply.
"Kevin would be offended if I didn't."
A pause.
"…and you?" I asked.
His gaze shifted back to me.
For a second-
something changed.
Subtle.
But there.
"…I come because I want to."
The room went quieter.
Not empty.
Just-
heavier for a moment.
Then he smiled again-
like it never happened.
"And also because your cat clearly likes me more."
Zen let out a soft sound-
as if agreeing.
I didn't react.
But something in my chest shifted.
Slightly.
Because even now-
with everything normal-
with nothing out of place-
something still didn't sit right.
Not wrong.
Just…
unfinished.
Zen shifted beside me, brushing against my arm.
He noticed-
of course he did.
"There you are," he said from the couch near the window.
Familiar.
Like always.
He didn't get up.
Didn't come closer.
Just leaned forward slightly-
resting his arm against his knee.
"Come here," he murmured.
Zen flicked his ear-
then, after a second-
jumped down from the bed.
A soft thud.
He crossed the small space easily-
tail swaying-
and stopped right in front of him.
"Still listens," he added under his breath.
His fingers moved under Zen's chin-
exactly where he liked it.
A low, quiet sound came from the cat.
Relaxed.
Trusting.
Silence settled again.
Light.
But not empty.
He kept playing with Zen-
slow, absent-minded movements-
like his attention wasn't fully there.
Then-
without looking at me-
"So…"
A pause.
"Did you ever find him?"
My fingers stilled against the sheets.
"…who."
He didn't look up.
Didn't stop.
"The one you were looking for."
A faint pause.
"For eight years."
Zen shifted slightly-
unbothered.
I wasn't.
"…no."
The answer came out steady.
He hummed softly.
"Thought so."
His fingers continued moving-
slow-
rhythmic-
like nothing had changed.
"…why."
This time-
I didn't stop it.
"Why what?"
"…why do you know that."
A pause.
Then-
a faint smile.
"You talked about it."
A small pause.
"…to me too."
My fingers curled slightly.
"You used to look different when you mentioned him," he added.
Still casual.
"More… alive."
That didn't sit right.
"…he crossed the line."
"Mm."
Another pause.
Then-
his fingers stilled for just a second.
"Back then…"
A slight pause.
"…you wouldn't just sit there and let someone get this close."
Silence.
My chest tightened.
I didn't move.
Didn't step away.
"…that was different."
"Was it?"
He finally looked up-
from the couch-
eyes meeting mine.
For a second-
something shifted.
Not playful.
Not light.
Familiar.
Then it was gone.
"Maybe," he said, leaning back again.
Easy.
Like nothing had happened.
Zen stretched slightly near him-
completely at ease.
But the room-
wasn't.
Because now-
the question didn't just sit between us-
it stayed.
Quiet.
Persistent.
…why does he talk like he was there?
He didn't look at me again.
Just kept scratching under Zen's chin.
Slow.
Careful.
"You know," he murmured, voice softer now, almost amused,
"he used to look at me like he was about to kill me."
Zen flicked his ear.
Unbothered.
A small pause.
"…still does," he added quietly.
My fingers tightened slightly.
He let out a faint breath-something close to a laugh.
"But now…" his fingers slowed just a little,
"…it's different."
Another pause.
"Quieter."
His gaze stayed on the cat.
"Like he's already decided everything-"
a slight tilt of his head-
"just doesn't say it out loud anymore."
Silence.
"…cold," he added softly.
"Too calm."
My eyes stayed on him.
He finally glanced up-
just for a second.
"And that's worse."
Then he looked back at Zen again-
like nothing had happened.
"OI-!"
Kevin's voice echoed from downstairs-
loud-
sharp-
cutting through everything.
"THE WEATHER'S SO GOOD-LET'S GO FOR A WALK!"
A pause—
then louder—
"HEY—CHINESE CAT!"
Zen's ear flicked.
"AND YOU TOO—XEY!"
My brows furrowed.
"STOP SHOUTING—I HEARD YOU!"
My voice came out sharper than I meant.
But I didn't take it back.
Silence—
for a second—
Then Kevin again—
completely unfazed—
"THEN MOVE FASTER!"
"…unbelievable," I muttered under my breath.
On the couch—
his hand stilled on Zen's fur.
Then—
he pulled it back.
Just like that.
No more movement.
"…guess that's our cue," he said lightly.
He stood up from the couch near the window—
stretching once—
like nothing had been interrupted.
I pushed myself up from the bed, still a bit slower than usual.
Kevin's voice came again—
impatient—
"I'M COUNTING!"
"…he won't make it past three," he murmured casually.
A small pause.
"You coming?"
"…yeah."
Zen jumped down first—
already heading toward the door.
He stepped aside slightly—
giving space—
not too close.
"After you."
I walked past him.
For a second—
that feeling—
brushed past again.
Faint.
Then gone.
"THREE—!"
Kevin shouted from downstairs.
"…see?" he added under his breath.
I didn't respond.
We headed out.
But even as the moment shifted—
something stayed.
Not in the room.
In me.
The door opened—
and the outside hit differently.
Cooler.
Lighter.
The kind of air that made staying inside feel like a mistake.
Kevin was already at the gate—
impatient—
arms crossed—
pretending he hadn't been yelling a second ago.
"Took you long enough," he said.
"You were counting wrong," I replied flatly.
"Excuses."
He turned—
already walking—
not even checking if we were following.
"…he would've left," the guy beside me muttered.
"No, he wouldn't."
"Yeah," Kevin called from ahead, overhearing anyway, "I would've."
A pause.
"…maybe."
We stepped out onto the pathway.
The evening had settled in.
The breeze moved through the mango trees lining the side—
leaves rustling softly—
mixing with distant traffic and the occasional horn.
Birds were still chirping—
not as loud—
but enough to fill the quiet spaces.
Zen walked ahead like he owned the place.
Tail high.
Unbothered.
Kevin suddenly slowed down—
then turned—
walking backwards in front of us.
"So," he grinned, "what's the plan?"
"You dragged us out," I said. "You decide."
"Wrong. I provide vibes. You provide ideas."
"…that's not how that works."
"Too late. It is now."
A pause.
Then—
without warning—
Kevin reached out and flicked my forehead.
"Stop overthinking."
I caught his wrist before he could pull back.
"…don't."
He grinned.
Unbothered.
"See? Alive."
From beside me—
a quiet laugh.
"Yeah," he added casually, hands in his pockets, "he's better like this."
I let go of Kevin's wrist.
"…you two are annoying."
"And yet," Kevin said dramatically, throwing an arm over my shoulder, "you came with us."
"…remove your hand."
"No."
A pause.
Then—
I shoved him slightly.
He stumbled back a step—
then laughed.
"ASSAULT!"
"Deserved," the other one added.
"Traitor."
Zen suddenly darted ahead—
chasing something invisible.
Kevin immediately followed.
"ZEN—WAIT—IF YOU GET LOST I'M NOT TELLING YOUR OWNER!"
"You just did," I said.
"Shut up!"
They moved ahead—
arguing—
laughing—
completely uncoordinated.
I walked behind them for a second.
Watching.
Then—
without realizing—
I matched their pace.
The noise.
The movement.
The chaos.
It felt…
normal.
But—
not completely.
Because even with all of this—
the breeze—
the voices—
the fading light—
something still lingered.
Quiet.
Watching.