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Sienna’s POV
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I stared at the city lights in the distance, glittering like shards of ss scattered in the night air. The wind carried the scent of salt
and a faint trace of fuel from fishing boats docked somewhere far away. My legs wanted to move forward, but my body stayed
rooted in ce, caught between the urge to disappear and the awkwardness that kept me still.
Behind me, I could feel his presence clinging like a shadow. Not because I turned to look, but because the air between us was heavy
with something invisible-a mix of distrust, memories, and vignce neither of us was willing to loosen.
The only constant sound was the waves breaking on the shore. Each crash felt like the ticking of an hourss, forcing time to
move. Strange, how a distance of only a few steps could feel like miles inside my head.
I nced at the watch on my wrist. Five minutes. Just five minutes to walk home. But those five minutes could easily turn into five
hours if I had to wait for him to actually leave. Ironic, how close home was, yet I was still stuck here.
The sand beneath my feet was starting to cool as night crept in. My toes felt slightly stiff, but I remained standing. Maybe this was
my body’s way of protesting the foolishness of a heart that created a small problem just to avoid a bigger one.
A taxi passed on the road near the beach, its headlights glinting off the rippling water. For a moment, I imagined myself raising my hand, climbing in, then getting out near my apartment. But that image shattered instantly, because I knew he’d notice-
counting the distance, maybe even circling back just to make sure I hadn’t lied.
I shifted my weight to my right foot, trying to look rxed. My heartbeat refused to cooperate. Nervousness crawled in, though I couldn’t tell if it was because of the lie or because of the closeness to someone who should have been far away.
The tide came in again, higher this time, almost reaching the edge of my sandals. White foam broke around my feet, leaving the taste of salt in the air. I drew a deep breath, hoping the sea breeze could settle the chaos in my head. It didn’t.
I knew I had to decide-wait until he got bored and left, or swallow my pride and just walk to the apartment. But neither option was appealing.
In the distance, the sound of an engine approached. Whether it was a taxi or just another passing car, I couldn’t tell. But tonight, every engine sounded like both an invitation and a threat.
I stayed where I was, letting time hang between the waves and the streetlights. Maybe, if I stood still long enough, things would resolve themselves without me having to choose.
“Siennnaaa!”
I turned. A middle-aged woman carrying arge basket in one hand and a box of oranges in the other waved at me. Her face was bright, her steps quick despite the heavy load.
“Mrs. Wn…” I bowed my head slightly, smiling awkwardly.
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“What a coincidence to meet you here!” she said enthusiastically. “I just got back from my hometown-brought back lots of oranges. These are for you.” She handed me a small box of fresh oranges.
I took them, even though I wanted to refuse-my hands already full and my heart even heavier. But I couldn’t bring myself to
disappoint Bu Wn, who had always been kind to me since I moved into the apartment.
“Thank you, ma’am. Wow… that’s a lot,” I said with a stiff smile.
“Yes, just sharing the blessings. Oh, are you heading back to your apartment too? Come on, let’s walk together!”
I was just about to reply when I felt Liam’s gaze, sharp and instantly suspicious. His eyes narrowed as if trying to assess who this
woman was and why she had suddenly appeared, carrying a box of oranges like some unexpected guardian angel.
Liam took a step closer, then-acting far too casually, almost exaggeratedly-extended his hand and said, “Let me carry that for
you, Ma’am.”
Before I could protest, he had already taken the box from my hands, holding it effortlessly with one arm as though it were
nothing.
“Oh, wow! Thank you, young man,” Bu Wn said cheerfully. “And who might you be? A friend of yours, Sienna?”
Before I could open my mouth, Liam answered quickly, “Just a fan of hers, Ma’am.”
I shot him a sharp look, a mix of shock and embarrassment, but Bu Wn onlyughed heartily.
“Hahaha! A fan? Oh yes, that’s right-Sienna is a writer!”
All I could do was give an awkward smile and look down, wishing the sand beneath my feet could swallow me whole.
“Well then, let’s go. I happen to be carrying a lot of things too, it’s nice to have someone helping out,” Bu Wn said, already
starting to walk ahead.
I could only follow behind them, head lowered, my heart in a tangled mess.
My steps slowed as we entered the apartment hallway. The sound of Bu Wn chatting about her trip home drifted faintly into my
ears. Liam walked silently behind us, carrying that box of oranges, but his presence clung to my back like a shadow.
I inhaled quietly. All my ns had copsed in an instant. I had wanted to slip away unnoticed, to hide everything-including the
address of where I lived. I had even been willing to stand there waiting for a taxi I would never actually take, just to keep my
distance from him,
Now he was walking down my apartment hallway. Following my steps. Carrying a box of oranges from my neighbor.
He knew. Now he knew where I lived.
Damn it.
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the frustration rising in my chest. Not because of the oranges, not because of Bu Wn—who, unknowingly, had weed Liam so warmly-but because I had tried so hard to keep my distance, and all of it had been undone
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in mere minutes.
Was I too na?ve?
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I should have known-a small lie neversts long, especially against someone like Liam, who’s too stubborn to read the signals that I wanted him to stay away.
We stopped in front of Bu Wn’s unit. I helped open the door, and Liam set the box of oranges on the small dining table, instantly filling the air with the fresh scent of vige-grown fruit. Bu Wn thanked him repeatedly, even inviting him to sit in the living room, but I quickly declined on our behalf.
“Thank you, ma’am. We’ll be going now,” I said quickly.
I stepped out before Liam could say a word. My heart was pounding wildly. I knew he would see which unit I lived in. He might
remember the door number. He might evene backter.
That was what I feared most.
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