Ben: "Hello… Luisa?"
Luisa closed her eyes for a brief second.
Luisa: "Okay… bye, Ben. I'll talk to you later."
Before he could say anything more—
She ended the call.
Ben looked at his phone, confused.
Ben (murmuring):
"…Okay… bye."
He stared at the screen for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed.
Ben (thinking):
Noah…? Who is he…?
Meanwhile—
Luisa slowly turned around.
And there he was.
Noah.
Standing a few steps away, hands casually in his pockets, as if he had been there the whole time… watching.
Luisa:
"You're here still here…?"
Noah's eyes briefly moved—
Not to her face.
But to the jacket wrapped around her shoulders.
He noticed it.
But said nothing.
Noah (calmly):
"Yeah… just here with some friends."
Luisa nodded slightly.
Luisa:
"Oh… that's nice. Enjoy."
She didn't wait.
Didn't want to stay.
She turned and quickly walked back inside the café.
As she stepped in—
A cheerful voice called out—
"Luisa!"
She turned.
It was Milly.
Luisa:
"Oh… hi, Milly. You're here?"
Milly smiled brightly.
Milly:
"Yeah! I came with my boyfriend and his friends—"
She pointed behind her.
Milly:
"There's Noah—"
Luisa froze slightly.
She hadn't even noticed he was with them.
Milly's boyfriend stepped forward politely.
"Hello."
Luisa gave a small, polite smile.
Luisa:
"Hello."
And then—
From behind—
Noah's voice came again.
Noah:
"Luisa… why don't you join us?"
Milly immediately grabbed Luisa's arm playfully.
Milly:
"Are you alone? If you are, come sit with us!"
Luisa felt uncomfortable.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Luisa (hesitating):
"No… actually, I'm here with a friend—"
"Luisa."
That voice—
Soft, familiar—
Reached her at the exact moment.
She turned.
And so did everyone else.
David stood there.
Calm.
Composed.
Yet his eyes were fixed only on her.
David:
"What are you doing here?"
Luisa felt a little relieved seeing him.
Luisa:
"Oh… nothing. I just met them—"
Milly leaned closer to Luisa and whispered excitedly—
Milly (whispering):
"Who is he? He's so handsome… and tall… is he your boyfriend?"
Luisa's eyes widened.
Luisa (quickly, softly):
"No—no… not at all. He's just my friend."
Noah, standing a little behind, quietly observed everything.
His gaze shifted once again—
To the jacket.
Then to David.
His expression didn't change.
But his thoughts did.
Noah (thinking):
So… that jacket belongs to him.
David's eyes also moved—
And landed on Noah.
Recognition flickered.
That same guy…
The one he had seen before.
Something about him—
Didn't feel right.
Luisa stepped in quickly—
Luisa:
"David, these are my friends. This is Milly… her boyfriend Jacob… and his friend Noah."
David gave a polite nod.
David:
"Nice to meet you."
Milly and Jacob smiled.
"Nice to meet you too."
Noah looked at David—
His eyes sharp.
Interested.
Noah:
"Nice to meet you."
David:
"I'm David."
A brief pause.
Then Noah spoke again—
Directly.
Noah:
"So… are you Luisa's boyfriend?"
Luisa froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Luisa:
"No—"
David spoke calmly.
David:
"No. I'm just her friend."
His voice was steady.
But his gaze held something deeper.
Luisa quickly stepped in—
Luisa:
"I think we should leave now."
Milly smiled.
Milly:
"Bye, Luisa. Take care!"
Luisa smiled softly.
Luisa:
"Bye…"
But before she turned—
She noticed.
Noah was still looking at her.
Not casually.
Not normally.
But with interest.
The kind that made her uncomfortable.
At their table
David:
"Let's go."
They walked back to their table.
Luisa sat quietly, holding her cup.
She didn't say much.
David noticed.
David:
"You didn't tell me you made new friends."
Luisa avoided his gaze.
Luisa:
"Oh… I just forgot to mention."
David nodded slowly.
But his mind wasn't calm.
David (thinking):
That guy… Noah…
There's something off about him.
After a while—
They stepped out of the café.
The night had grown deeper.
The streets were quieter now.
Luisa:
"I think I should go. It's getting late."
David immediately said—
David:
"Let me drop you."
Luisa shook her head gently.
Luisa:
"No… I can go by myself."
David didn't argue much.
David:
"At least let me walk you to the bus stop."
Luisa nodded.
At the Bus Stop
They walked side by side.
The wind was soft.
The silence between them—
Not awkward.
But thoughtful.
Then David spoke—
David:
"Luisa… if something is bothering you…"
He looked at her gently.
David:
"You can tell me."
Luisa looked at him.
For a moment—
It felt like she could.
But she didn't.
She just stayed quiet.
The bus arrived.
Luisa stepped in.
Luisa:
"Bye… take care."
David gave a small smile.
David:
"You too."
He stood outside—
Watching her.
As the bus slowly moved away.
He raised his hand slightly—
A silent goodbye.
At Luisa's House
Luisa entered her apartment.
Closed the door behind her.
The silence wrapped around her again.
She slowly took off the jacket—
And then paused.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Luisa:
"Oh no…"
She held it in her hands.
Luisa:
"I forgot to give it back…"
She looked at it quietly.
And for a moment—
She didn't put it down.
At David's Apartment
David entered his apartment.
A beautiful, luxurious space—
But tonight…
It felt empty.
He walked inside slowly.
Loosened his shirt.
And sat down on the couch.
Leaning back—
He closed his eyes.
And then—
She appeared.
In his thoughts.
Luisa.
The way she stood by the river…
The way her hair moved softly with the wind…
The way her eyes held pain—
Yet still looked so gentle.
So pure.
Her slightly flushed cheeks…
Her quiet voice…
Her soft presence—
Everything about her felt…
Delicate.
Like something that needed to be protected.
David's chest tightened.
David (thinking):
Why do you look so fragile… yet so strong at the same time…?
He let out a slow breath.
In his mind—
He saw himself reaching for her.
Holding her gently.
Pulling her into his arms—
Not tightly.
But carefully.
As if she might break.
David (thinking):
I just want to keep you safe…
From everything…
Even from the things you won't tell me…
He opened his eyes slowly.
Staring at the ceiling.
A faint smile appeared on his lips—
Soft.
But filled with longing.
David (whispering):
"Luisa…"
A pause.
Then quietly—
David:
"How do I tell you… that I love you?"
His eyes softened.
David:
"Every day… you make me fall for you more…"
"And I don't even know when it started…"
He turned his head slightly.
Looking into the empty space beside him.
David (thinking):
And the hardest part is…
I can't even tell you…
His fingers curled slightly.
As if holding onto something invisible.
David:
"I don't want to rush you…"
"I don't want to scare you…"
"I just…"
A soft breath escaped him.
David:
"…want to be there for you."
Silence filled the room again.
But this time—
It wasn't empty.
It was filled with unspoken love.
Quiet.
Deep.
Endless.