"So," Liam said, scratching the back of his neck. "I’ve been wanting to ask you sothing."
Her stomach flipped a bit.
"Okay," she replied carefully.
He took a mont, glancing down at the table before looking back up at her. "Are you... mad at ? About that whole library thing?"
Her brows knitted together. "What? No way."
"Really?"
"Really," she said, then sighed. "I felt awkward, sure. But it wasn’t your fault. I just... don’t like being the center of attention."
He nodded slowly. "I totally get that. I just didn’t want you to think I don’t take you seriously."
Her heart raced.
"I know you do," she said quietly.
He kept his gaze on her, studying her face like he was trying to figure out if she really ant it.
"Good," he said softly. "Because I really do care."
The words hung in the air between them, loaded with aning.
Just then, the coffees arrived, breaking the mont. Ayla wrapped her hands around her cup, enjoying the warmth that spread through her palms.
"So," she said, trying to feel more grounded, "how’s life in IT?"
He groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "I swear my code has it out for ."
She cracked a smile. "Have you thought about being nicer to it?"
"I even apologized," he said, looking dead serious. "Still crashed on ."
She laughed and shook her head. "You’re impossible!"
"You love it, though," he shot back, a playful grin on his face.
She paused for a second, then smiled into her coffee cup. "Maybe."
His expression softened, as if that simple word ant more than she realized.
After that, they fell into an easy conversation, talking about their classes, her upcoming presentation (which he insisted on helping her practice later), and the funny differences between Denmark and Turkey.
"At ho," he said, "people don’t really chat with strangers much."
"And here?" she asked, leaning in.
"Here, soone might spill their entire life story while waiting for tea," he replied, chuckling.
She laughed. "That’s so true!"
"And honestly," he added, lowering his voice a bit, "I kind of love that vibe."
She watched him for a mont, taking in the way the light from the lamp played on his features.
"Do you ever miss ho?" she asked, her voice soft.
He shrugged a bit, but it was clear he was thinking about it. "Sotis. Especially when it’s really quiet. Or when I see snow online, those pretty white landscapes that look so peaceful."
"You don’t really get snow around here," she pointed out, glancing out at the city streets, bare and dark.
"Nope," he replied, his tone a bit dreamy. "But I have you."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, the connection between them suddenly feeling more significant.
He seed to realize how heavy his words hung in the air. His eyes widened for a second before softening, sincerity spilling from them.
"I an, not exactly like that. Or... maybe sort of like that," he stamred, looking a bit flustered. "What I was trying to say is..."
She reached out and placed her hand on his wrist, feeling the warmth there.
"It’s cool," she said gently. "I get what you ant."
He relaxed a bit, a shy smile starting to spread on his face, lighting up his expression.
They stayed like that for what felt like ages, neither of them pulling away, completely lost in the mont as everything around them faded into the background.
"Can I walk you ho?" he finally asked, a bit unsure.
She paused for a mont, not because she didn’t want to, but saying yes felt like crossing an invisible line that was there.
Then she nodded, a small grin forming. "Yeah, sure."
The night had cooled off by the ti they stepped outside, and the city felt alive in a calr, softer way. Streetlights flickered on, casting warm glows on the sidewalk.
They walked close now, hands brushing against each other often, both of them no longer pretending it wasn’t on purpose.
"You know," Liam said, glancing over at her, "I was really nervous about tonight."
She looked at him, surprised. "You were?"
"Yeah," he said, looking a bit embarrassed. "I didn’t want to screw it up."
Her smile grew a little more genuine. "You didn’t at all."
They stopped in front of her apartnt building, both slowing down like they really didn’t want the mont to end.
"So," he said quietly. "Sa ti again? Soon?"
She t his eyes, her heart steady yet racing all at once. "I’d like that a lot."
He smiled, not that usual cheeky grin, but sothing softer and genuinely sweet.
" too."
For a mont, it seed like he might lean in. The space between them felt charged, almost like it could explode with potential.
Instead, he reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, doing it gently, almost like it was sothing really special.
"Good night, Ayla," he said softly.
"Good night, Liam," she replied, her heart racing.
She watched him walk away, her heart feeling full and alive, excited about whatever was starting to unfold between them.
And she couldn’t wait to see where it would go from here.
The apartnt was unusually quiet.
Ayla sat curled up on the couch, one leg tucked beneath her, a soft blanket draped loosely over her shoulders. The only sounds filling the space were the faint hum of the city outside and the gentle rustle of pages as she turned another leaf of her book.
She’d been trying to read for nearly an hour.
Trying.
The words blurred together, her eyes scanning lines without really absorbing them. Her mind kept drifting, to a certain smile, a certain voice, the way he’d looked at her earlier that week, like she was sothing precious he was afraid to na.
She sighed and leaned her head back against the couch.
Focus, she told herself.
Her sister was still abroad, and the apartnt felt bigger without her. Too quiet. Too still. Ayla wasn’t scared, just aware of every little sound, every shift of air.
Then, Ding-dong.
Reviews
All reviews (0)