Laughter.Noise.Life 

And right in the middle of it-

''Tua, I swear who told you to drink this much?''

Mark's voice carried a mix of annoyance and concern as he steadied Tua by the arm.

But Tua only laughed.

Not his usual quiet, controlled smile.

This one was loose. Careless 

''I don't usually drink this much...'' he muttered, leaning more of his weight onto mark.

''It's fine.... tomorrow's weekend. Clinic is closed.''

''I can walk,'' Tua protested weakly.

''....Yeah. Clearly,'' Mark muttered under his breath. 

The night air outside was cooler, brushing against thier faces as they stepped out of the bar.

The streets were quieter now. Dim lights . Distant traffic.

By the time they reached the apartment building, Tua was already half hanging onto mark - still smiling like nothing in the world could touch him.

Across the street 

A black car waited at the red light.

Inside, Arnold tapped his fingers lightly against the steering wheel, eyes lazily scanning the road.

Another long day. Another slience to drive through

The signal stayed red.

His gazed drifted.

And then 

it stopped.

Someone was laughing.

Unfamiliar. 

Yet strangely... it pulled at him.

Arnold's eyes narrowed slightly.

Across the street, under the glow of the building lights-

a man leaned heavily against another, clearly drunk, still smiling like the world had never been difficult.

Messy.

Careless. 

And for a split second 

Arnold forget to breathe properly.

Tua. 

Not a memory. 

Not a thought. 

But real.

Right there. 

A sharp honk behind broke the moment.

The signal had turned green.

Arnold didn't move immediately.

His gaze lingered one last second-

then he drove forward.

By the time he parked and entered the building, his exprssion was already back in place.

Calm. Controlled. Untouchable.

The elevator doors were just closing-

''Wait!''

A hand slipped in.

The doors reopened.

Mark stepped in first, slightly out of breath, still holding Tua upright.

''Careful,'' he muttered.

''I'm fine...'' Tua said again, smiling faintly.

'' You said that five minutes ago,'' Mark replied 

Arnold stepped in last.

Quiet. 

At least, he thought he was.

The elevator felt smaller than it should have been.

Too close. 

Tua didn't notice him.

Didn't even glance at him.

He was too busy leaning into Mark like it was instinct-like this was familiar, normal, safe.

And for some reason

Arnold didn't like that.

Mark adjusted his hold again.

''Stand properly, Tua''

''I am standing,'' Tua mumbled.

But he wasn't 

Arnold noticed everything without meaning to.

The way Tua's shoulder kept brushing Mark's 

The ease in Mark's hands when he steadied him.

The comfort between them.

Familiar.

Too familiar.

Something in Arnold's chest tightened- quiet, unreadable.

The elevator climbed.

Silence filled the space, broken only by Tua's uneven breathing.

Arnold looked away.

Then back again.

And before he could stop himself-

his eyes settled fully on Tua.

Different.

Older now.

But still-

the same person he once decided wasn't worth remembering.

The elevator chimed. 

Floor 40 

Mark stepped out first, guiding Tua carefully.

''Come on''

Tua followed without resistance, still smiling faintly

still not looking back even once

The doors began to close slowly. 

And for the first time in years-

something unsettled Arnold .

Not because he saw Tua again. 

But because-

Tua didn't see him at all.