4. EVENING

Alina hurried down the streets, the cool evening air brushing against her skin as she clutched a small stack of papers to her chest. The city was alive with the sound of distant chatter, the hum of passing cars, and the occasional bark of a dog. Yet, for all the noise, Alina felt utterly alone. Jace had to rush back to his company for an urgent project, leaving her to fend for herself in the sprawling maze of the city.

Her footsteps echoed on the pavement as she made her way to her new condo, a place that still felt unfamiliar and cold despite its modern design. As she reached the building, she hesitated before entering, casting a glance at the street behind her. The night felt heavy, and she couldn’t shake the lingering sense of loneliness that had settled in since her brother left.

Once inside her condo, Alina was greeted by the dim light of her small living room. She tossed her papers onto the coffee table and sank into the plush couch, her eyes drifting over to the bookshelf that stood against the far wall. It was filled with a variety of books, each one a potential escape from the overwhelming reality that she found herself in. But tonight, nothing seemed to catch her interest. She ran her fingers along the spines of the books, her mind racing as she tried to decide which one to read. Fantasy? Romance? Thriller? Each option felt like a decision too difficult to make.

Feeling more confused than ever, she sighed and let her hand fall to her side. It was then that she noticed a familiar figure outside her window, standing in the soft glow of a streetlamp. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized him—Caelan. He was leaning casually against the lamp post, his eyes focused on something in the distance.

Alina's curiosity got the best of her. She quickly grabbed her coat and slipped out of the condo, making her way down the steps and out onto the street. The air was colder than she had anticipated, and she pulled her coat tighter around herself as she approached him.

"Hey?" she called out softly.

He turned at the sound of her voice, his expression unreadable as he looked at her. For a moment, there was silence between them, the city around them seeming to pause as well.

"I was just wondering," Alina began, her voice a little shaky. "What kind of books do you read?"

Caelan's gaze softened, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that Alina couldn't quite place. "Fantasy," he replied simply. His voice was calm, almost distant, as if he were speaking from another world.

Alina's heart raced at his words. "Really? Me too," she said, trying to sound casual, though her nerves were evident. But as she looked up at him, she noticed that his gaze had shifted away from her, his attention seemingly elsewhere.

There was something strange about the way he was looking at her, something that made her feel both exposed and invisible at the same time. She couldn't understand why, but his eyes held a depth of emotion that was both captivating and unsettling. And then, just as quickly as it appeared, that emotion was gone, replaced by a gentle smile.

It was a smile that took Alina by surprise—a smile that seemed to change everything. There was a warmth to it, a softness that made him look even more striking than before. The intensity of his gaze, combined with that smile, made her heart skip a beat.

"Why are you smiling?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Caelan's smile faded slightly, though his expression remained kind. "Nothing," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just... remembering something."

Alina wanted to ask more, to delve into whatever thoughts had brought that smile to his face, but she could sense that he was holding something back. There was a sadness in his eyes now, one that spoke of pain and loss—a sadness that made her chest tighten with empathy.

"By the way, I am Alina and you?" She forwarded her hand with the question.

"Caelan." He shortly answered and gently shook her hand making her eyes widened. It was first time a man has shook her hand. Hastily, she curled fingers around her palm to let his warmth stay, when he leaves her hand making cold air make it way into her palm.

Before she could say anything else, Caelan straightened up, his demeanor becoming more composed. "I should go," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "It was nice talking to you, Alina."

She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. All she could do was watch as he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night.

Alina stood there for a moment, her mind reeling from the brief encounter. There was something about him that intrigued her, something that made her want to know more. But as she turned back toward her condo, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever truly understand the mystery that was Caelan.

As she re-entered her condo and settled back onto the couch, she picked up a book from the shelf. It was a fantasy novel, one she had read a hundred times before, but tonight, it felt different. The characters, the worlds—they all seemed to hold a new significance.

And as she began to read, she found herself thinking of Caelan, of his smile, and of the sadness that lingered behind his eyes.

In her trance of reading, she didn't notice her brother entering her condo with the takeout until he flicks her head.

"Ouch," she hissed making Jace tut at her.

"Weak," he commented and walked into the kitchen as he poured out the chicken noodles into huge bowls. One for him and one for her.

Walking back to her, with both the bowls he settles beside her and takes the chopsticks from his pocket.

"Go get soft drinks from the polybag." He says making her rush to the kitchen and run back to him like a chicken.

"It looks and smells delicious." She mutters with a wide smile before digging in and slurps noodles making Jace glare at her.

"Eat like a woman." He comments flicking her head again.

"Stop it," she whines and ignores him while devouring her noodles.
A sudden loud gasps escapes from her mouth making Jace go into fits of coughs as he chokes on his noodles.

"You know what? I shook hands with that man with white hairs, his name is Caelan." She lets out the information making him nod as she rubs his back.

"Ahan, then why did you gasped aloud! It was such a small information." He grumbles feeling spice in his nostrils.

"It is not small. The man you fear talked to me."

Jace couldn't help but give Alina unbelievable look and shook his head.