Anabel.

The moment I stepped out of Vanessa’s room, a slow smile crept onto my lips.

It wasn’t rushed.

It unfolded gradually, like something carefully held back finally finding its way to the surface. There was a quiet satisfaction in it, something subtle yet unmistakable, as though I could already see the outcome of everything I had set in motion.

Everything was falling into place.

Or at least...

It will be soon.

That thought lingered in my mind, steady and reassuring, as I reached up to smooth out my dress, straightening the fabric with deliberate care. Every movement felt intentional, controlled, like I was already preparing for what came next.

My next move.

Noah.

The name alone settled firmly in my thoughts, anchoring everything else into clarity. If there was anyone I needed on my side—completely, without doubt or hesitation—it was him.

And I wasn’t going to waste time.

Without pausing, I started down the hallway, my steps quick and purposeful, carrying a quiet urgency that matched the focus in my mind. There was no hesitation in the way I moved, no second-guessing.

Only certainty.

When I reached his door, I didn’t bother knocking.

I never did.

My hand pressed against the handle, pushing it open gently as I stepped inside like I already belonged there.

Like I had every right to be.

Empty.

My brows furrowed slightly as my gaze swept across the room, searching, taking in the untouched space, the stillness that greeted me.

"Noah?" I called softly, my voice carrying just enough to fill the room without breaking the quiet too harshly.

No response.

The silence answered for him.

I exhaled quietly, the sound barely audible as I walked further in, letting the door close behind me with a soft click. The absence didn’t bother me, not really. If anything, it gave me a moment to settle, to think.

Since he wasn’t there, I made myself comfortable.

Slowly, deliberately, I moved toward the bed and sat on the edge, my posture relaxed, composed, as though I had done this a hundred times before.

Like I belonged there.

Because I did.

Or at least...

I should.

The thought lingered, faint but persistent, as I let my fingers rest lightly against the fabric of the bed, grounding myself in the space that felt so familiar yet slightly distant at the same time.

A few moments passed.

It was quiet and still.

Not until I heard footsteps approaching.

My heart lifted instantly, the subtle shift in my chest impossible to ignore. I straightened slightly, anticipation flickering through me, quick and alive.

Before the door even opened, I was already on my feet.

Ready.

Waiting.

The door pushed open.

Noah stepped in.

"There you are..." I began, the words leaving my lips almost automatically, relief threading through them.

But I didn’t finish.

I didn’t give myself time to think.

I moved toward him quickly, closing the distance in a few swift steps before wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug, holding on as if that alone could bridge whatever distance had grown between us.

But he didn’t return it...Instead...He pushed me away.

The movement wasn’t rough nor aggressive but it was firm enough to create distance, enough to make my chest tighten sharply, the rejection settling in deeper than I wanted to admit.

"What are you doing here, Anabel?" he asked.

His tone was distant and guarded, careful in a way that felt unfamiliar.

And it hurt.

It hit harder than the push itself.

But I didn’t let it show.

Not even for a second.

I swallowed, forcing down the knot tightening in my throat, and carefully arranged my expression into something softer, something apologetic. It didn’t come naturally, not at this moment, but I made it convincing enough, letting my features relax, my gaze lowered just slightly.

"Noah... I’m sorry," I said softly, my voice gentler than before, carrying just the right hint of regret.

His brows drew together almost immediately, confusion flickering across his face. "Sorry?"

"Yes," I nodded quickly, stepping into the moment before doubt could creep in. "Why are you still acting so weird around me?" I asked, my tone light but laced with something that almost sounded like hurt. "If this is about Maria... if you want me to apologize to her, then I will."

The words hung in the air between us.

He stared at me.

For a moment, he didn’t speak at all, his expression shifting into something more guarded, more cautious—like he hadn’t expected that response from me. Like he was trying to figure out if I meant it or if there was something else beneath it.

"Really?" he asked slowly, his voice careful, almost probing. "You’re going to apologize to Maria?"

I nodded again, this time more firmly, as if there was no hesitation left in me. "Yes," I said, holding his gaze, making sure he could see the certainty I wanted him to believe. "In fact... I’ve been thinking about it." I let the words settle for a brief second before continuing. "I want to get close to her. I want us to make peace."

I paused deliberately, watching him, studying every shift in his expression, every small reaction he couldn’t quite hide.

Then I added, just a little softer, just a little more personal. "Maybe if I do that... you’ll stop avoiding me."

Silence followed briefly but heavy enough to stretch.

Noah didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he studied me, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he was trying to look past what I was saying, trying to read something deeper, something hidden beneath the surface.

For a second, doubt crept in.

A flicker of uncertainty, I thought he wouldn’t believe me.

But then, his words said otherwise.

"Okay," he said finally.

Just one word, simple but enough.

My heart skipped instantly, the reaction immediate and impossible to control.

"I’ll be very happy if you can get along well with Maria."

A bright smile spread across my face without restraint this time, quick and almost radiant. "Really?!" I asked, the excitement slipping through before I could temper it.

Before he could respond, before the moment could settle into something calmer, I stepped forward again, closing the distance between us and wrapping my arms around him in another tight hug.

Instinct.

Impulse.

Hope.

But just like before...

He didn’t hug me back.

His body remained stiff, unmoving, his arms staying exactly where they were, not lifting, not responding, not returning the gesture in any way.

The absence was obvious.

Noticeable.

The excitement on my face faltered for just a split second, the edges of my smile tightening ever so slightly.

But I caught it.

Recovered quickly.

Pulling away as if it didn’t matter.

As if I hadn’t noticed at all.

"Come on," I said lightly, my tone easy, almost coaxing as I moved to sit down, patting the space beside me. "At least talk to me."

For a moment, he didn’t move, then, slowly, he gave in and joined me.

We started talking, nothing serious, nothing heavy. Just random things—small, harmless conversations that didn’t require too much thought. Old memories surfaced, moments we used to laugh about, things that once came naturally between us. I leaned into it, playing my part perfectly. I laughed when I was supposed to laugh, soft and easy, like nothing had changed. I smiled when I needed to, keeping my expression warm, familiar.

And for a while...

It almost felt normal again.

Almost.

But beneath it all, I could still feel it.

That distance.

That invisible gap sitting between us no matter how close we were physically. It lingered in the pauses, in the way his responses came just a second too late, in the way his body never quite relaxed around me.

Maria.

She had created that space.

And no matter how much I tried to fill it, it was still there. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

After some time, I stood up, stretching slightly as if I had grown restless from sitting too long. "I need to go get something," I said casually, brushing it off like it was nothing important.

Noah nodded without hesitation. "Alright. I’ll be here."

"Don’t go anywhere," I added, letting a playful tone slip into my voice, glancing back at him with a small smile.

"I won’t," he replied simply.

I held that smile for a second longer, making sure it looked natural, easy, before turning toward the door.

The moment I stepped outside...The moment the door clicked shut behind me...My smile vanished.

Completely.

Like it had never been there at all.

My expression darkened instantly as I stood still for a brief second, the shift so sharp it felt almost physical.

Then I let out a quiet scoff.

"Apologize to Maria?" I muttered under my breath, the words dripping with disbelief.

A soft, mocking laugh slipped past my lips, humorless and cold. "My foot."

My eyes hardened as I started walking away slowly, my fingers curling slightly at my sides, tension building in the small, controlled movements.

"Just you wait, Maria..." I whispered, my voice low, almost chilling in its quiet certainty. "You’re about to go down."