Friday arrived with a softness Maya had not felt in a long time.
Not forced.
Not fragile.
But real.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she woke without the weight pressing immediately against her chest. Her breathing, though still not perfect, came easier. Her thoughts, though still layered with everything she had endured, felt… quieter.
Not gone.
Just… quieter.
She lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling of the penthouse, the early morning light filtering gently through the tall glass windows. The city beyond was already alive, humming with its usual rhythm—but inside, there was peace.
A kind she had almost forgotten existed.
She exhaled slowly.
And allowed herself to feel it.
—
Adela knocked lightly before entering.
"You're awake."
Maya turned her head slightly, a faint smile forming.
"Yes."
Adela studied her for a second.
And something in her expression softened.
"You look better."
Maya didn't respond immediately.
Because she didn't want to say too much.
Didn't want to break the feeling by trying to define it.
But she nodded.
"I feel… lighter."
Adela smiled.
"Good."
—
Getting ready felt different that morning.
Not like preparation for survival.
Not like something she had to endure.
But like… living.
Maya dressed simply but elegantly, her long dirty blonde hair falling softly over her shoulders. There was no makeup, as usual—but there was something else.
Something subtle.
Something that hadn't been there before.
A quiet glow.
—
They left the penthouse together.
Unaware.
Completely unaware.
—
From a distance, he watched.
Careful.
Unseen.
His instructions were clear.
Observe.
Report.
Do not engage.
—
"She's leaving the building now," he said quietly into his phone.
A pause.
"Yes. With another woman."
—
Rege didn't respond immediately.
He stood still in his penthouse, phone in hand, gaze distant.
Then—
"Follow."
—
New York moved around them as Maya and Adela made their way to the car.
Busy.
Unpredictable.
Alive.
Maya leaned back slightly as they drove, watching the streets pass by.
For once—
She wasn't lost in them.
She was present.
—
NYU felt different too.
Familiar.
But lighter.
Maya walked beside Adela across the campus, her steps steady, her breathing controlled.
Students passed by, conversations overlapping, laughter echoing faintly.
Life.
Normal life.
And for the first time in a long time—
She felt like she was part of it again.
—
They handled everything efficiently.
Her gown.
Her confirmation.
Her seating arrangement.
Tatiana's.
Adela's.
Everything was in place.
Everything ready.
—
"She'll arrive tomorrow morning," Adela said as they stepped out of the administrative office.
Maya nodded.
"She wouldn't miss it."
"No," Adela agreed softly. "She wouldn't."
—
There was something comforting in that.
Something grounding.
—
When they left the campus, the day had fully unfolded.
Bright.
Alive.
Unburdened.
—
"Bakery?" Adela suggested casually.
Maya smiled.
"Definitely."
—
The small bakery they chose was warm and inviting, filled with the scent of sugar, butter, and freshly baked pastries.
The moment they stepped inside, something in Maya relaxed even further.
It felt simple.
Normal.
Safe.
—
They ordered a cake for the graduation.
Simple.
Elegant.
Nothing excessive.
—
And then—
They bought more.
Because neither of them had ever been able to resist sweetness.
Pastries.
Cakes.
Small treats wrapped neatly in boxes.
—
"You're going to regret this," Adela teased lightly.
Maya smiled.
"No, I won't."
—
Outside, the man watched again.
From a distance.
Always at a distance.
—
"They stopped at a bakery," he reported.
Another pause.
"Yes. Still together."
—
Rege stood on his balcony now.
Looking down.
Watching the city stretch endlessly before him.
But his mind—
Was not on the city.
—
"Continue," he said quietly.
—
Back at the penthouse, the atmosphere shifted again.
Not into silence.
But into something warmer.
Livelier.
—
They changed into more comfortable clothes.
Set the food aside.
And ordered more.
Because if they were going to indulge—
They would do it properly.
—
Chinese dishes filled the table.
Rich.
Flavorful.
Comforting.
—
And then—
The television came on.
—
"Love Between Fairy And The Devil," Adela announced with satisfaction.
Maya smiled.
"Of course."
—
They settled into the living room.
Food spread before them.
The city glowing behind them through the glass.
—
For a while—
Everything else disappeared.
—
They laughed.
Commented.
Argued over characters.
Shared reactions.
—
It was easy.
Effortless.
Real.
—
Meanwhile—
Above them—
Rege stood on his balcony.
Still.
Silent.
Watching.
—
He knew exactly where she was.
A floor below.
Close.
Too close.
—
His gaze drifted downward.
Not to see her.
He couldn't.
But to feel the proximity.
—
He had spent months searching for something intangible.
Something fleeting.
—
And now—
She was here.
Within reach.
—
A faint smile touched his lips.
Not wide.
Not obvious.
But present.
—
"How?" he murmured quietly to himself.
"How do I meet you… without breaking the moment?"
—
Because he knew—
This wasn't something to rush.
—
Inside—
Maya laughed softly at something on the screen.
—
Adela shook her head dramatically.
"No one can ever be as gorgeous as Dongfang Qincang."
Maya smirked faintly.
"I don't agree."
Adela turned to her immediately.
"Oh?"
Maya shrugged lightly.
"Liam is literally the handsomest man in the world and there's—"
She stopped.
Mid-sentence.
—
Adela noticed instantly.
And smiled.
Slowly.
Knowingly.
—
"There's…?" she prompted.
Maya blinked once.
Twice.
And then—
She looked away slightly.
—
"It's nothing."
Adela leaned closer.
"No."
She bumped her lightly with her arm.
"You've met someone, haven't you?"
Maya hesitated.
Then—
"No, I didn't meet someone…"
A pause.
Then a quiet exhale.
"Okay, I met someone—but it wasn't really a meeting."
Adela's smile widened.
"Oh, this is already interesting."
Maya shook her head faintly.
"I bumped into him when I came for my things at the condo."
"And?"
Maya's lips curved unconsciously.
"He was… very handsome."
Adela raised an eyebrow.
"Very?"
Maya nodded slightly.
"After Liam, of course."
—
Adela laughed.
"Of course."
Then leaned in closer.
"Details. I want everything."
—
And Maya told her.
—
Not everything.
But enough.
—
The brief moment.
The unexpected encounter.
The way it had lingered in her mind longer than it should have.
—
She spoke softly.
Almost absentmindedly.
As if recalling something she hadn't allowed herself to think about too deeply.
—
Adela listened.
Carefully.
Observantly.
—
And when Maya finished—
She smiled again.
Different this time.
—
"That wasn't nothing," she said quietly.
Maya didn't respond.
Because she knew—
It wasn't.
—
Above them—
Rege stood still.
Unaware of the conversation.
But somehow—
Connected to it.
—
Back inside—
The night stretched on.
—
They talked.
About everything.
Nothing.
Everything again.
—
Old memories.
New thoughts.
Random ideas.
—
Time blurred.
—
Eventually—
The energy softened.
The laughter faded into quiet conversation.
Then into silence.
—
They ended up in Maya's room.
On her bed.
Still talking.
—
Until—
They weren't.
—
Sleep came slowly.
Gently.
—
Adela drifted off first.
—
Maya lay there a little longer.
Eyes closed.
Breathing steady.
—
For once—
Her mind was not heavy.
—
There was no sharp pain.
No overwhelming thoughts.
No suffocating weight.
—
Just—
Stillness.
—
And somewhere within that stillness—
A faint smile formed.
—
Soft.
Unconscious.
—
As if something inside her—
Without her knowing—
Had begun to shift.
—
Outside—
The city continued.
—
Above—
A man stood in quiet contemplation.
—
And below—
A girl who had once been on the edge of losing herself—
Slept.
Peacefully.
—
Unaware—
That her story—
Was about to change again.