Something between them had crossed a line neither of them had meant to cross, and yet neither of them stepped back from it, because stepping back now felt more dangerous than moving forward.
"You should stop this," Zein said, though her voice lacked conviction.
"Why?" Ace asked.
"Because it's getting out of control," she replied.
"It already is," he said.
"That's not a good thing," she said.
"It is if you stop fighting it," he replied.
Zein looked at him, conflicted.
"…you're making this harder," she said.
"No," he said, "you are."
"How?" she asked.
"By pretending this doesn't matter," he replied.
Zein's expression faltered.
"…it does matter," she admitted.
"Then stop acting like it doesn't," he said.
Zein exhaled slowly.
"…I don't know what to do with this," she said.
"Then don't decide yet," he replied.
"That's not how I work," she said.
"Then change," he said.
Zein stared at him.
"…you expect me to change?" she asked.
"For this?" he said. "Yes."