Ethan hadn't planned to see her.
Not today.
Not like this.
---
He was just leaving the studio.
Head down. Hands in his pockets.
Trying to ignore the constant pull in his chest that refused to go away.
Trying not to think about her.
Trying not to turn down the street that led to the café he had once overheard her mention.
Trying not to care.
---
But then—
He heard her laugh.
---
Soft. Light.
Familiar.
---
Ethan froze.
His head lifted slowly.
And there she was.
---
Lia.
---
Sitting by the window of a small café.
Across from Daniel.
---
His chest tightened instantly.
Hard.
---
She looked…different.
Not in a bad way.
Just…lighter.
Like she was trying.
Like she was forcing herself to move on.
---
And Daniel?
He was smiling at her.
Leaning forward.
Talking like he had every right to be there.
---
Ethan's jaw clenched.
"What is this…" he muttered under his breath.
---
Daniel said something.
Lia laughed again.
And that was it.
---
Something inside Ethan snapped.
---
Before he could think—
Before he could stop himself—
He was already moving.
Crossing the street.
Walking straight toward them.
---
The café door opened with a soft chime.
Lia didn't notice at first.
But Daniel did.
---
His expression shifted slightly as Ethan approached.
Curious.
Then cautious.
---
Ethan stopped at their table.
Close enough to feel the tension.
Close enough to see her clearly.
---
"Lia."
---
Her head snapped up.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Ethan?"
---
For a second—
Just a second—
Something soft flickered in her expression.
Something familiar.
---
Then it faded.
Replaced with something calmer.
More distant.
---
"What are you doing here?" she asked quietly.
---
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
His gaze shifted to Daniel.
Then back to her.
---
"You're busy," he said instead.
His tone was calm.
But there was something sharp underneath it.
---
Lia frowned slightly. "We're just talking."
---
"Looks like more than that."
---
Daniel leaned back in his chair, arms crossing casually.
"And what exactly does it look like to you?"
---
Ethan's eyes snapped to him instantly.
Cold.
Dangerous.
---
"Like you're getting comfortable," he replied.
---
The tension at the table thickened instantly.
---
"Ethan," Lia said softly, warning in her tone.
---
But he didn't look at her.
His focus stayed on Daniel.
---
"And?" Daniel said, unfazed. "Is that a problem?"
---
"Yes."
The answer came too quickly.
Too honestly.
---
Lia's breath caught slightly.
---
"Why?" Daniel asked, raising an eyebrow.
---
Silence.
---
Because again—
Ethan didn't have an answer he could say out loud.
---
"…because it is," he muttered.
---
Daniel let out a small laugh. "That's not how that works."
---
Ethan stepped closer.
Not aggressive.
But not backing down either.
---
"Maybe you should leave," he said flatly.
---
Lia stood up immediately.
"No."
---
Both of them looked at her.
---
Her expression was calm.
But firm.
---
"You don't get to do that," she said quietly.
---
Ethan frowned. "Do what?"
---
"Show up out of nowhere and tell people what to do," she replied.
---
"I'm not telling you what to do—"
---
"You are," she interrupted.
---
Silence.
---
Because she was right.
Again.
---
"I'm just saying—"
---
"No," she shook her head. "You're doing the same thing you did before."
---
Ethan's chest tightened.
"…what does that mean?"
---
"You're acting like you care," she said softly.
"And then when it matters… you don't."
---
The words hit harder than anything else.
---
"That's not true," he said immediately.
---
"Then what is true?"
---
There it was again.
The same question.
The same place.
The same moment—
Just in a different setting.
---
Ethan opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
---
Because nothing had changed.
He still didn't have the answer.
---
Lia let out a small breath.
"Exactly."
---
Daniel watched quietly, his expression no longer amused.
Just…observing.
Understanding.
---
"I'm not doing this again," Lia said softly.
---
Ethan's chest tightened. "Doing what?"
---
"This," she gestured between them.
"The confusion. The mixed signals. The…"
She hesitated.
"…almost."
---
The word lingered.
Heavy.
Painful.
---
"If you don't know what this is," she continued, her voice steady now, "then you don't get to be upset about who I spend time with."
---
Silence.
---
Ethan felt it.
Every word.
Every truth.
Every piece of reality he had been avoiding.
---
And for the first time—
He realized something.
---
He was losing her.
For real this time.
---
Not slowly.
Not quietly.
---
Right in front of him.
---
"…don't laugh like that with him."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
---
Lia blinked.
"What?"
---
Ethan looked at her.
His voice lower now.
Raw.
---
"That laugh," he said.
"I don't like it when it's not because of me."
---
The confession wasn't complete.
But it was close.
Too close.
---
Silence fell again.
---
Lia stared at him.
Her heart racing.
Her emotions tangled.
---
But this time…
She didn't move closer.
---
"…that's not enough, Ethan."
---
The words were soft.
But final.
---
And just like that—
The distance between them felt impossible to cross. 💔