Clair looked at Leo and gave a soft smile.
"I see…" she said gently. "It really has been so many years since I last saw you."
Leo smiled back at her.
But inside—
Everything felt different.
It's strange… he thought. After all this time, I still can't tell you what I've been through…
His eyes stayed on her, but his mind drifted.
I can't tell you how my world fell apart after I left…
I can't tell you about the pain… about everything I lost…
He clenched his fingers slightly.
And now… even this feeling in my chest… I don't know how to explain it.
Seeing her again should have made things easier.
But somehow—
It made everything more complicated.
Because after so many years…
He didn't know how to put his feelings into words.
Clair tilted her head slightly, noticing the change in his expression.
"Hey… what happened?" she asked softly. "Is something wrong?"
Leo blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.
"…No," he said quickly. "It's nothing."
He gave a small smile.
"Let's go somewhere and talk properly."
Clair studied him for a second, as if she knew he was hiding something.
But she didn't push.
"Okay," she said.
A little while later—
They were sitting in a quiet café.
The atmosphere was warm and calm, a complete contrast to the storm inside Leo.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Leo leaned forward slightly.
"So… how's your university life going?" he asked.
Clair smiled.
"It's going well," she replied. "Classes are a bit tough sometimes, but I'm managing."
Then she looked at him.
"What about you?"
Leo leaned back in his chair.
"I'm working in my father's company now," he said.
Clair's eyes widened a little.
"Really? That's great," she said, sounding genuinely impressed.
Leo gave a faint nod.
As they continued talking, the conversation slowly became more natural.
Years of distance began to fade.
But then—
Clair noticed something.
People around them were glancing at their table.
Some were whispering.
Some were staring.
Clair's smile faded slightly.
She looked back at Leo.
"I have to say…" she said carefully, "you're still very popular. Everyone seems to be staring at you."
Leo glanced around briefly, then shrugged.
"Oh, them?" he said casually. "Let them stare. I don't care."
Clair crossed her arms, a small annoyed expression forming on her face.
"Yes… I know," she said. "You never cared."
Leo chuckled lightly.
"Oh, I see…"
Clair raised an eyebrow.
"See what?" she asked.
Leo smirked a little, his eyes softening as he looked at her.
"Nothing," he replied.
Clair narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Why are you smirking?"
Leo shook his head.
"Really… it's nothing."
For a while, they just talked.
About small things.
About the past.
About the present.
And for those moments—
It felt normal.
Peaceful.
Like nothing had changed.
But then—
Leo's phone rang.
The sound cut through the calm atmosphere.
Leo glanced at the screen.
His expression shifted slightly.
"…It's Werren," he said.
Then he looked at Clair.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Clair nodded.
"Yeah, sure."
Leo stepped outside the café to take the call.
Clair watched him through the glass window.
From the outside, he looked calm.
But something about him felt distant.
She couldn't hear what he was saying.
But she could see it in his face—
Something wasn't right.
After a few minutes—
Leo ended the call.
He stood there for a moment, staring at his phone.
His expression had changed.
The calmness from before…
Was gone.
In its place—
Was tension.
Worry.
And something heavier.
Leo took a deep breath and went back inside.
Clair looked up at him immediately.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
Leo forced a small smile as he sat down.
"…Yeah," he said.
But this time—
Even he knew—
It didn't sound convincing.
Clair looked at him quietly.
She didn't say anything.
But she could feel it.
Something had changed.
And whatever it was—
It was pulling Leo back into the storm he had been trying to escape.