Stevan didn't let go immediately.
Like he was afraid—
she might disappear again.
Pixel smiled softly.
"Stevan…"
He pulled back slowly.
But his hands—
still on her shoulders.
Looking at her properly now.
"You actually came back," he said.
Not joking.
Not teasing.
Real.
Pixel's eyes softened.
"…For work."
A small pause.
"Not for us."
💔
That line—
quiet.
But it landed.
Stevan — Not Letting It Stay Light
He tilted his head.
Studying her.
"You didn't even try to lie properly."
A faint smirk.
"You were always bad at that."
Pixel looked away slightly.
"…I didn't come back for anything else."
But her voice—
wasn't convincing.
Stevan noticed.
Of course he did.
Because he wasn't 13 anymore.
He understood things now.
More than before.
"You didn't even say goodbye," he said.
That one line—
soft.
But sharp.
Pixel's fingers tightened slightly.
Because that—
was the one thing she avoided thinking about.
"I couldn't," she said quietly.
"Or you didn't want to?"
💥
She looked at him.
This time—
properly.
"…If I did…"
A pause.
"…I wouldn't have left."
💔
Silence.
Because that answer—
was too honest.
Stephan — Listening Without Moving
He didn't interrupt.
Didn't step in.
Didn't say anything.
But he heard everything.
Every word.
Every pause.
Every truth—
she never told him.
And something inside him—
tightened.
Because now—
he understood.
Stevan — The Naughty Comes Back
He suddenly smirked again.
Breaking the tension.
"So…"
He crossed his arms.
"…you still like him?"
💥
Pixel froze.
"…Stevan."
"What?" he shrugged.
"I'm just asking."
A pause.
"Because he clearly didn't stop."
Stephan gave him a look.
"Enough."
But Stevan ignored him.
"No seriously," he continued.
Looking at Pixel.
"You should've seen him."
A pause.
"He was worse than a sad movie."
Pixel couldn't help it.
A small smile escaped.
"…You're still annoying."
"Yeah," he grinned.
"But I'm right."
The Truth Slips Again
"He didn't date anyone."
"He didn't go out."
"He didn't even smile properly."
💔
Pixel's expression changed slightly.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Stephan's jaw tightened.
"Stevan."
"Okay fine," he raised his hands.
"But you should know."
Pixel looked at Stephan.
Just for a second.
And in that one second—
everything came back.
Three years.
Silence.
Distance.
And still—
something remained.
Natasha — Silent Observation
From a distance—
Natasha watched.
Calm.
Unbothered on the surface.
But her eyes—
sharp.
Focused.
She didn't need words.
Didn't need explanations.
Because now—
she saw it clearly.
This wasn't over.
It never was.
Back to Stevan
"So what now?" he asked casually.
Looking between them.
"You both just going to stand like strangers?"
Silence.
Because that—
was exactly what they were doing.
Pixel stepped back slightly.
Creating distance again.
"…We're not—"
She stopped.
Because she didn't know what they were.
Stephan looked at her.
"…We're not strangers."
💥
That line—
low.
But firm.
Pixel's heartbeat reacted instantly.
But she didn't show it.
Didn't move closer.
Didn't respond.
The Wall Goes Back Up
"This is work," she said.
Professional again.
Controlled again.
"And outside this…"
A pause.
"…there's nothing."
💔
Stephan's expression changed.
Not anger.
Not shock.
Just—
something deeper.
Because this time—
she didn't walk away.
She stayed.
And still—
kept the distance.
Stevan — The Only One Who Sees Everything
He looked at both of them.
Then sighed dramatically.
"This is painful to watch."
Pixel rolled her eyes slightly.
"You haven't changed."
"Wrong," he grinned.
"I got smarter."
A pause.
"And hotter."
She laughed softly.
The first real one.
After everything.
Stephan noticed.
Of course he did.
And that—
did something to him.
The Final Moment Before Leaving
"I have to go," Pixel said.
Stepping back again.
Creating space.
Stevan frowned.
"You're leaving again?"
"…It's just work."
But this time—
no one believed that.
She looked at Stephan.
Just once.
"…Take care."
Simple.
Normal.
But it carried—
everything unsaid.
And then—
she turned.
And walked away.
Stephan Doesn't Stop Her
This time—
he didn't call her.
Didn't chase.
Didn't stop her.
Because now—
he understood something.
Running after her—
won't bring her back.
Ending Hook
Because sometimes—
the hardest part isn't losing someone.
It's standing right in front of them—
and still not being able to reach them.