The hospital hallway was quieter now. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the pale tiles. Auren stood just outside the doctor's office, his shoulders rigid, jaw clenched.
Inside, Dr. Selim leaned forward, his voice low, careful. "I'm sorry, Auren. It's getting worse day by day. We're doing everything we can, but..."
Auren didn't flinch, but his silence said enough. He nodded once, thanked the doctor, and walked out, stuffing his hands into his jackets pocket as if holding himself together.
---
The next morning, the sun spilled over the park, gentle and gold. Auren was at the far corner near the lake, doing push-ups in rhythmic bursts, sweat glistening on his forehead. His breath came steady, a practiced focus in every move. Working out cleared his mind—or at least helped numb it.
Just as he started a new set of crunches, a faint jingling sound caught his attention.
A cat.
Or more precisely, a fluffy white cat on a leash, trotting beside a familiar pair of sneakers.
Eira.
She wore a simple hoodie and leggings, her hair in a messy bun, eyes half-lost in her thoughts until she saw him.
"Auren?"
He sat up, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Hey"
"Didn't know you work out here," she said with a soft smile.
"Didn't know you walked cats," he teased.
She chuckled. "She needs fresh air too. This is Luna."
Luna meowed proudly.
Auren reached to pet her, but paused mid-air. "Actually, I love cats, but... I'm mildly allergic."
Eira raised a brow. "You still tried to pet her. Brave."
He grinned, shoulders relaxing. "I take calculated risks."
She glanced at his arms. "Looks like you calculate pretty well. You've got a really nice body. How old are you, anyway?"
"Twenty-one," he said, a little sheepish.
"No way! I'm twenty-four."
"Is that a problem?" he asked, half-smiling.
"Not unless you have a girlfriend."
He shook his head. "Nope. Never had one. I was always too busy studying."
She smiled. "Same. Except I was always busy writing novels. Kind of feels like we missed out on some parts of life."
"Maybe," he said. "But... we did stuff we cared about. That counts, right?"
"Yeah. It does."
They walked side by side now, Luna prancing ahead of them. Conversation came easier this time, like something had already been unlocked between them.
"You study at Silverline University, right?" she asked.
"Yeah. I think I've seen you on campus. Didn't realize you were the Elina White."
She laughed. "Well, now you do."
They exchanged Instagram handles, the moment casual but oddly meaningful.
"So," she asked, nudging his arm, "what's your dream, Mr. Studious?"
"To be a doctor," he replied quietly, eyes fixed on the horizon.
Eira blinked. "That's... amazing. But you sound unsure."
He hesitated, then gave a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's complicated."
Before she could respond, Luna tugged on the leash and darted around a low bench. Eira yelped, stumbled—and tripped over a tree root.
Auren reacted instantly, catching her with strong arms before she hit the ground.
She clutched his hoodie for balance, blinking up at him.
His hands were around her waist, hers resting on his chest.
They were close. Closer than they had ever been.
Neither moved.
Her breath caught.
He looked down, then away, his ears turning faintly pink.
"S-Sorry," she murmured, pulling back quickly.
"Don't be," he said softly.
There was a pause.
Then they both laughed, a little awkward, a little giddy.
Eira adjusted her hair. "You caught me like a rom-com hero. Should I swoon now?"
"Only if it gets me extra credit," he replied, finally meeting her gaze for a second before glancing away again.
Eira smiled, heart fluttering unexpectedly.
She didn't know what this was yet.
But she was curious.
And maybe, just maybe, so was he.
------