“Alax… actually…” I started, unsure of what I even wanted to say.

But before I could finish, he gave me a soft smile and said,   

“Aria, these are my feelings, they have nothing to do with you. So… don’t feel burdened. I didn’t tell you to make you feel guilty. I told you because I just wanted you to know.”

I didn’t say much more, just nodded quietly, my thoughts still tangled in everything he’d said.

  Alax cleared his throat softly. I saw him shift slightly in his seat, fiddling with the edge of his coffee cup. His eyes weren’t on me anymore. They were fixed somewhere to the side, like he was trying not to make things harder than they already were.

  “Okay… now I’m feeling awkward,” he said with a nervous chuckle, forcing a crooked smile. “Stop staring at me like that or I swear I’ll start overthinking everything I just said.”

  I hadn’t realized I was still looking at him. Not in judgment, not in confusion, just… processing.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Maybe we should go somewhere else. The vibes in here are getting too serious.”

  Then, almost like he’d planned it as an escape hatch for moments just like this, he added,

“Let’s go to the BookPark. I know you love romance novels. Maybe we’ll find something dramatic and heart-wrenching enough to distract us.”

  There was hesitation in his voice, not in the way someone lies, but the way someone tries to protect something fragile. His words were light, even teasing, but I could tell he was treading carefully.

  I didn’t say anything, just gave a small nod again, and that was enough.

  We finished the last bites of our sandwiches in silence. Not uncomfortable silence, not exactly… but something quieter. Something in between acceptance and uncertainty.

  And then, without needing to explain ourselves further, we got up and left, like nothing had changed, even though maybe something had.

  Soon, we were on our way to the BookPark, the biggest bookstore in the city, filled with books and surrounded by lush green plants. Alax was driving, and I sat beside him, staring out the window. We were both silent.

  When we reached the BookPark, I stepped in with a smile. I usually came here with Nora and David, David and I were both big fans of romance novels.

  As I looked around happily, Alax quietly followed. It was obvious he hadn’t been here before.

  “When you suggested coming here, I thought this was your usual spot,” I said, turning toward him.

  He looked a little confused. “Actually, I just heard about this place… and I knew you liked books. So I thought maybe you’d love it.”

  We walked upstairs to the new arrivals section. I began browsing a shelf of romance novels I hadn’t read yet. Alax wandered nearby, looking a little unsure.

  “It’s okay, if you’re not comfortable here, we can go somewhere else,” I said, glancing at him.

  “No… I’ve always wanted to read novels,” he admitted. “I just never knew where to start.”

  I smiled and walked over to him, pulling two books off the shelf.

  “Start with these,” I said, handing them to him. “You’ll love them.”

  “You’ve read them?” he asked, curious.

  “Of course. They’re two of my absolute favorites.”

  “I’ll definitely read them, then,” he said, holding the books with a small smile.

  I grabbed two novels for myself, and we headed to the counter. As the cashier began ringing up the books, Alax pulled out his card.

  But I gently stopped him.

  “It’s my gift to you,” I said, offering my card instead.

  He looked at me, smiling, not just with his lips, but with his whole expression. There was warmth in that smile, and maybe even a quiet thank you he didn’t say aloud.