Naira looked at the two of them. Her breath trembled. She knew that deciding whether to speak now would open the door to old wounds. But maybe... it was time.
"Come on," she said softly. "But five minutes. No more."
"Okay!" Ken called back.
Naira walked away with Ken from where Shaka was standing. Her steps were calm, even though her mind was beginning to fill with all kinds of possibilities.
Ken walked beside her without saying much.
Eventually, they stopped in a fairly deserted open courtyard.
Naira immediately glanced at the watch on her wrist.
"The clock starts now."
Ken chuckled softly.
"You're still the same."
Naira frowned. "The same how?"
"Always so serious. Even over something as simple as talking to me."
Naira didn't answer.
Instead, her gaze shifted to their surroundings, making the atmosphere even more tense.
"I want to know one thing, Nai."
Naira turned toward him.
"Why have you been avoiding me?"
The question left Naira silent for several seconds.
"Because I don't want to see you."
The answer was brief, firm, and painful.
Ken smiled faintly, but it was clear he didn't accept it.
"That's all?"
"Yes."
"You're lying."
Naira sighed softly. "Ken, I didn't come here to argue."
"I'm not trying to argue either." Ken stared intently at her. "I just want to know what I did wrong for you to suddenly disappear and not even want to look at me anymore."
Naira fell silent.
There were so many answers she could have given. Too many. But not all of them needed to be said.
"I've chosen to leave," Naira finally said. "I think that's enough."
"Maybe it's enough for you." Ken's tone changed. "It isn't for me."
Naira looked at him again.
Ken took a small step closer.
"I still have feelings for you."
Naira slowly shook her head. "Don't."
"Why not?"
"Because I can't return them."
"You haven't even tried, Nai."
"The process is never visible."
Ken fell silent.
Naira lowered her head for a moment before looking at him again.
"I tried to convince myself that everything could go back to the way it was."
"And?"
"I still can't. I'm more afraid of getting close to you."
Ken's jaw tightened.
He wasn't someone who was used to accepting defeat. In his life, he had always gotten nearly everything he wanted through ambition and perseverance.
"I can change."
Naira shook her head. "This isn't about changing, Ken."
"Then what is it about?"
Naira drew a deep breath. "My feelings."
Naira continued in a softer voice. "My feelings have changed."
"Because of who?"
The question made Naira freeze. She didn't know when these feelings had begun.
Ken stared sharply at her.
"Because of Shaka? You have feelings for Shaka?"
Naira didn't answer. Her silence became her answer.
Ken laughed hollowly.
"So it's true."
Naira looked away. She didn't deny it either.
Ken clenched his fists at his sides.
"Give me one more chance, Nai. I'll change. I won't do that again."
"Ken..."
"Just once."
"I can't, Ken."
Naira's answer came so quickly. She didn't want anything more to do with Ken.
Unlike Ken, his expression suggested he couldn't believe Naira had rejected him.
"You don't even want to consider it?"
"No."
"Why?"
Naira remained silent for quite a while.
Then, for the first time since they had met again, she said something she had only recently come to understand.
"Because my heart has fallen for someone else."
Ken stood frozen in silence. He hadn't expected her to be this clear.
"Who, Naira?"
Naira looked at him with complete conviction.
"I have feelings for... Shaka. Arshaka Denandra."