The distance between them had always been small.
But now—
It felt different.
Not forced.
Not accidental.
Something unspoken had begun to settle between them, something neither of them acknowledged but both of them felt.
Later that night, in the quiet of his office, Zein stood by the window, looking out at the dark campus below, her thoughts unreadable, her posture still as ever.
Behind her, Ace watched—not intrusively, not obviously—but enough.
"You could have handled it," he said.
"I know," she replied.
"Then why didn't you?"
Zein didn't turn.
"Because you were already there."
A pause.
A small one.
But enough.
Ace stepped closer, stopping just behind her.
Not touching.
Not too close.
But close enough.
"That doesn't mean you should rely on me," he said.
Zein finally turned, her eyes meeting his directly.
"I don't rely on anyone."
Their gazes locked.
Steady.
Unwavering.
"And yet," he said quietly,
"you stayed."
Her breath slowed slightly.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Something else.
Something unfamiliar.
"Maybe," she said softly,
"I'm waiting to see if you're worth staying for."
For the first time—
Ace didn't respond immediately.
Because that—
Was not a challenge.
That was something deeper.