Talia didn't move for a long time after Maya left.
The café felt different now. Quieter. Heavier.
Slowly, she reached for the folded note on the table.
Her fingers hesitated for a second—
Then she picked it up.
The walk back to her dorm felt longer than usual.
The city buzzed around her — people laughing, cars honking, music spilling from open doors — but none of it reached her.
Her mind was somewhere else.
On the note.
On her mom.
On everything that didn't make sense.
When she finally reached her dorm, she pushed the door open quietly.
And froze.
Stella was on the bed.
Laughing softly—Her hands tangled in someone else's hair.
A guy.
Tall, leaning over her, their faces close, lips brushing in slow, soft kisses like they were completely lost in their own little world.
Stella's fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer as he smiled against her lips, whispering something that made her laugh again.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't messy.
It was… intimate.
Comfortable.
Like they belonged there.
Talia stepped back instinctively.
"Oh—sorry," she murmured, already turning away.
Stella barely looked up, too caught in the moment to notice anything beyond a quick wave.
The door clicked shut behind Talia.
She didn't go back in.
Instead, she kept walking.
The air outside was cooler now, brushing gently against her skin as she moved without direction.
Her thoughts were louder than her footsteps.
After a while, she stopped under a dim streetlight and pulled out her phone.
Her thumb hovered over the contact for a moment—
Then she pressed call.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then—"Talia?"
Her dad's voice.
Warm.
Familiar.
Safe.
"Hey…" she said softly.
"Hey, kid. Everything okay?"
She swallowed.
"Yeah. I just… wanted to ask you something."
A pause.
"Go ahead."
She hesitated.
Careful.
Measured.
"What was mom like?"
The line went quiet for a second.
Not tense.
Just… thoughtful.
"She was…"
he exhaled softly, like he was reaching for something far away. "Brilliant. Stubborn. Always working on something."
Talia listened, silent.
"She loved deeply, though," he continued. "Even if she didn't always show it the way people expected."
Talia's grip tightened slightly on her phone.
"Did she ever… seem scared? Like she was hiding something?"
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"Sometimes," he admitted quietly. "Near the end. But I thought it was just stress. Work. I didn't push."
Talia nodded to herself.
Even though he couldn't see it.
She wanted to ask more.
About the note.
About the possibility—That maybe her mom didn't just leave or die.
But she didn't.
"Thanks, Dad," she said softly.
"Anytime. You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," she lied gently. "Just thinking."
They said goodbye.
The call ended.
Talia stood there for a moment, staring at her phone.
Her chest felt tight.
Not from sadness.
From something else.
Something unresolved.
A gentle tap touched her shoulder.
She flinched slightly, turning quickly.
"Whoa—"
Marco stood there, hands raised slightly, amused.
"Signora[1], you are still jumpy," he said with a small smile.
Talia let out a breath.
"Oh—sorry, Marco. I didn't know you were there."
"Si[2], I know," he chuckled.
"I was calling your name for five minutes. I did not know you were on a call."
She shook her head slightly.
"Yeah… my bad."
He tilted his head, studying her.
"So… what are you doing out here on your free day?"
Talia shrugged lightly.
"I don't know. Just… walking, I guess."
Marco smiled, a little playful.
"Hmm. So you wanna go out? Have fun?"
She blinked.
"Fun?"
"Si[3]," he nodded. "Fun. You look like you need it."
Talia hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—A small smile appeared.
"Hmm… okay. I'd like that."
Marco's grin widened.
"Bene[4]. Then let's go."
Talia laughed softly, turning slightly.
"Wait—lemme grab my coat."
And just like that—For the first time that day—The weight on her chest felt a little lighter.
But the note in her pocket—Still burned quietly against her thoughts.
[1] it means lady
[2] it's means yes
[3] it means yes
[4] it's means well or good