Gavian didn't let go of Raveena's hand until they finished their fries.
Not because he was deliberately trying to make the moment romantic.
More because they both seemed to be waiting for the other to move first.
In the end, Raveena pulled her hand away.
"Drink."
Gavian raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm thirsty."
"You have another hand."
Raveena gave him a flat look.
"You're getting cheeky."
Gavian laughed.
"One time holding your hand and you're already like this."
"That's why you shouldn't have asked permission."
Raveena took a sip of her iced tea.
Gavian was still smiling.
He looked far too happy.
That should have made Raveena nervous.
Strangely, it didn't.
Instead, something about it felt calm.
Maybe because this time she didn't have to wonder who would get hurt if they sat too close.
There was no one waiting for Gavian to come home.
No messages that had to be hidden.
No explanations that needed to be prepared.
They were just two people on a date.
It was that simple.
And apparently, simplicity could feel incredibly unfamiliar after living with something complicated for too long.
Gavian leaned back.
"So…"
Raveena immediately raised a hand.
"Don't."
"I haven't said anything."
"Your face."
Gavian sighed.
"Does everyone in your life comment on your face?"
"When your expression is that obvious, yes."
"I just wanted to ask something."
"What?"
"Third date?"
Raveena stared at him.
"The second date isn't over yet."
"Planning ahead."
"Ambitious."
"Efficient."
Raveena smiled faintly.
"Later."
"When's later?"
"Gavian."
"Okay."
He raised both hands.
Raveena laughed.
For a while, they simply sat there, watching people pass through the arcade.
A little kid cried after losing at a claw machine.
A teenage couple argued in front of another claw machine.
A father helped his child shoot at a target.
The place was noisy.
Not romantic.
But Raveena liked it.
Maybe because there was no pressure to make the night mean more than it actually did.
Sometimes a date was just a date.
Sometimes a touch was just a touch.
Not everything had to immediately become a promise.
Gavian drove Raveena home just before ten.
A light rain was still falling.
The car stopped in front of her apartment building.
Raveena unbuckled her seat belt.
"Thank you."
Gavian turned off the engine.
"Rating?"
Raveena turned to him.
"What?"
"The date."
"You're still on the rating thing?"
"It's important."
Raveena thought about it.
"Seven and a half."
"Out of?"
"Ten."
Gavian's expression changed.
Raveena immediately burst out laughing.
"I'm kidding. Out of eight."
"Why does your rating system keep changing?"
"So you can't compare them."
"Manipulator."
"I learned from you."
Gavian shook his head, smiling.
Raveena opened the door.
"Rave."
She turned around.
Gavian looked hesitant.
"What?"
"Can I ask you something a little serious?"
Raveena sat back down.
"Go ahead."
Gavian stared at the steering wheel for a few seconds.
"I don't want to move too fast."
"Good."
"But I also don't want us to pretend this is just friendship."
Raveena fell silent.
Gavian continued.
"I know we're not dating yet."
"Right."
"But I want to know if you're actually open to the possibility of us going in that direction."
It was a reasonable question.
And this time, Raveena didn't feel trapped.
She looked at Gavian.
"What if my answer is no?"
"Then I'll stop hoping."
"Seriously?"
"As much as I can."
Raveena smiled faintly.
"Realistic answer."
"Therapy."
"Your therapist deserves a bonus."
Gavian chuckled.
Then Raveena grew serious.
"Yes."
Gavian's smile faded.
Raveena continued.
"I'm open to the possibility."
Gavian's smile returned.
"Don't get excited yet."
"That's hard."
"I'm not finished."
"Okay."
Raveena sighed.
"I want to take it slow."
"Yeah."
"I don't want us to act like, because we used to be close, we can just pick up where we left off."
"Agreed."
"I want us to really get to know each other again."
Gavian nodded.
"And if it turns out somewhere along the way that we're not right for each other…"
"Tell me."
Raveena looked at him.
"Good."
Gavian smiled faintly.
"I've learned."
They were quiet for a moment.
Then Raveena asked, "What about you?"
Gavian frowned.
"What about me?"
"Are you sure this isn't just because I'm finally available?"
The question changed Gavian's expression.
He wasn't offended.
If anything, he was thinking.
Raveena appreciated that.
After a few seconds, he said, "I can't prove that right now."
Raveena stayed silent.
"But I want to see whether I still feel the same when our relationship isn't full of restrictions anymore."
The answer caught her attention.
Raveena nodded slowly.
"Fair."
Gavian smiled.
"So?"
"So I'm going home."
Raveena opened the door.
Gavian laughed.
Before getting out, Raveena stopped.
She turned toward him.
Then, without thinking too much, she touched Gavian's cheek for a moment.
Very quickly.
Gavian froze.
Raveena got out immediately.
"Good night."
"Rave—"
The door closed.
Raveena walked toward the lobby with a smile she couldn't quite hide.
Behind her, Gavian was still sitting in the car, looking like someone who had just forgotten how to breathe.
The next morning, Raveena woke up to one message.
I finally understand why people can have trouble sleeping over one second.
She laughed.
She replied:
You're exaggerating.
Gavian:
Objectively speaking.
Raveena:
Go to work.
It was Saturday.
Raveena stared at the screen.
True.
She sighed.
Still, find something to do.
His reply:
I am. Chatting with you.
Raveena shook her head, smiling.
Then her phone vibrated again.
This time, it wasn't Gavian.
It was Talitha.
Raveena's smile disappeared immediately.
Not because she was afraid.
Only because every time that name appeared, a small part of her still tensed automatically.
The message was brief.
Raveena, are you free this afternoon? I want to give you something before I move.
Raveena read it twice.
Move.
She remembered Talitha once saying she was going to start a new project.
She hadn't known that meant she was actually moving away.
Raveena replied:
I can. What time?
Talitha:
Two? Is Three Chairs okay?
Raveena stared at the café's name.
It used to feel like territory that belonged to her and Gavian.
Now Talitha was the one choosing it.
For some reason, it felt symbolic.
Sure.
At five minutes before two, Talitha was already sitting at a table near the window.
Not table five.
Raveena felt a little relieved.
She walked over.
Talitha stood.
"Hi."
"Hi."
They sat down.
Talitha looked different.
Not only because her hair was shorter.
There was something lighter about her.
She wore a simple white shirt and dark pants.
Beside her chair sat a paper bag.
"You're really moving?" Raveena asked.
Talitha nodded.
"Next week."
"Where?"
"Surabaya."
"For work?"
"Yeah. I got a new position."
Raveena smiled.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Talitha looked genuinely happy.
And for the first time, Raveena could be happy for her without feeling there was another layer underneath it.
They ordered drinks.
Then Talitha picked up the paper bag.
"This is for you."
Raveena immediately frowned.
"What is it?"
"Not a bomb."
"I know."
"Open it."
Raveena took it.
Inside was an interior design book and a notebook with a dark brown cover.
She looked at Talitha.
"Why?"
"I originally bought the book for Gavi."
Raveena froze.
Talitha let out a small laugh at her expression.
"Not for romantic reasons. He said he wanted to understand my work better."
Raveena looked at the book.
"And?"
"He never read it."
"Ouch."
Talitha smiled.
"I found it while cleaning up. I thought it might suit you better. You like books."
Raveena still didn't know how to react.
"If this is weird, I don't have to take it."
"Just take it."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
Raveena nodded.
"Thank you."
Talitha pointed at the notebook.
"That one's new."
"Why a notebook?"
Talitha shrugged.
"You're an editor. You people like writing everywhere."
"That makes sense."
Raveena set the gifts beside her.
Then the mood grew a little quieter.
Talitha played with the end of her straw.
"I heard you two are getting close again."
Raveena didn't answer right away.
There was no point pretending.
"Yeah."
Talitha nodded.
Raveena studied her.
"How did you hear?"
"Gavian."
Raveena was surprised.
"He told you?"
"He messaged me a few days ago."
Raveena's chest tightened slightly.
Talitha quickly said, "Relax. It wasn't a long conversation."
Raveena felt stupid that her expression had been so obvious.
"He just said he'd heard I was moving and congratulated me."
"Oh."
"Then I asked how he was doing."
Talitha smiled faintly.
"He said he was fine. That he was trying to get to know someone from the beginning."
Raveena closed her eyes for a moment.
"Why does he talk like he's in a job interview?"
Talitha laughed.
"That's just how he is."
It was so strange.
They were both laughing about Gavian.
Once, that would have seemed impossible.
Talitha then said, "I know you're the someone he meant."
Raveena nodded.
"And?"
Talitha looked at her.
"And it's okay."
Raveena fell silent.
Talitha continued, "That doesn't mean I've suddenly forgotten everything."
"I know."
"Sometimes it still hurts when I think about it."
Raveena lowered her gaze.
"But I also realize that if I keep using your relationship as a measure of whether I've healed or not, I'll stay tied to both of you."
Raveena looked up.
Talitha smiled.
"I don't want that."
Her voice was calm.
Not bitter.
"So if you two really want to try, then try."
Raveena hadn't expected to hear that.
"Talitha…"
"But one thing."
Raveena waited.
"Don't make everything that happened before feel pointless."
Raveena frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"If you end up together but still use the same patterns—lying, avoiding things, being too afraid to talk—then everyone got hurt without learning anything."
The words were heavy.
Raveena nodded.
"We're trying."
"Good."
Raveena chuckled.
"Everyone likes that word."
Talitha smiled.
They were quiet for a moment.
Then Talitha said, "I also want to ask you for something."
"What?"
"Stop feeling like you have to apologize to me every time you're happy."
Raveena froze.
Talitha looked straight at her.
"I can see it."
Raveena didn't know what to say.
Talitha continued, "You always look like you're checking to make sure I'm okay before you're allowed to smile."
Raveena was almost embarrassed.
"Is it really that obvious?"
"A little."
They both laughed.
Talitha looked out the window.
"I used to be a big part of Gavian's life."
"Yeah."
"But that doesn't mean I have to be a shadow in your relationship too."
Raveena touched her glass.
"Thank you."
Talitha turned to her.
"For what?"
"For a lot of things."
Talitha shook her head.
"Don't make it dramatic."
"I thought you said I wasn't romantic."
"That's different."
They laughed again.
And for the first time, Raveena felt that maybe a relationship could truly end without turning all its memories into something bad.
Talitha left half an hour later.
Before heading out, she stopped beside Raveena's table.
"If you ever come to Surabaya, let me know."
Raveena raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously?"
"Why not?"
Raveena smiled.
"Seriously."
Talitha nodded.
"Take care."
"You too."
Talitha left.
Raveena stayed where she was.
Staring at the paper bag.
Their journey was so strange.
From two women bound together by the same man, they could now part without hostility.
That didn't mean they had to become friends.
They didn't need to.
It was enough to be two people who had once been hurt by the same circumstances and chose not to carry that pain for the rest of their lives.
Raveena's phone vibrated.
Gavian.
Where are you?
Raveena replied:
Three Chairs.
Alone?
Raveena:
Just finished meeting Talitha.
Long meeting.
Then:
Oh.
Raveena smiled.
Worried?
Gavian:
A little.
Good.
What did you talk about?
Raveena stared at the message.
Then typed:
Women's secrets.
Terrifying.
Raveena:
Very.
Gavian:
Can I know if I'm still alive?
Raveena laughed.
For now.
On Monday morning, The Typing Room received big news.
The Senvora project had officially been approved.
Reyhan entered the editorial room with a smile that rarely appeared.
"Deal."
Nadena immediately applauded.
Mirel raised both hands.
"Bonus?"
Reyhan looked at her.
"Money's the first thing you think of?"
"Work motivation."
"Bonus if the project gets finished."
Mirel nodded.
"Then let's keep the client alive until the end."
Everyone laughed.
Raveena smiled too.
But then Reyhan added, "There's one change."
Everyone immediately fell silent.
"On Karsa's side, Gavian will remain the primary coordinator. But Senvora wants one of our editors to work from their office several days a week during the interview phase."
Raveena immediately had a bad feeling.
Reyhan looked at his tablet.
"Raveena."
Mirel turned to her quickly.
Raveena sighed.
"Of course."
"Why 'of course'?"
"It's fine."
Reyhan continued, "Starting next week. Three days a week at Senvora."
Nadena whispered, "Fun."
Mirel held back a smile.
Raveena shot her a sharp look.
Don't.
The meeting ended fifteen minutes later.
Mirel immediately came over.
"The universe is getting creative again."
"This is work."
"Yeah."
"Don't make it weird."
"I'm not."
"Your face is."
Mirel laughed.
Raveena opened her laptop.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Gavian.
Did you hear about the Senvora assignment?
Raveena:
I did.
Are you okay?
Raveena smiled faintly.
His favorite question.
Why wouldn't I be?
Gavian:
Because it means we'll be seeing each other a lot.
Raveena:
Problem?
Long pause.
Then:
For productivity, maybe.
Raveena held back a laugh.
Professional, Mr. Gavian.
I am always professional, Ms. Raveena.
Raveena:
Liar.
Gavian:
I can report slander during work hours.
Raveena smiled to herself.
From across the desk, Mirel pointed at her.
"Gavian."
Raveena closed the screen.
"Work."
The following week, Raveena began working at the Senvora office.
It wasn't in the same building as Karsa, but Gavian and his team were often there.
The first day went well.
The second did too.
On the third day, a problem came up.
Not because of romance.
Because of work.
Raveena was in a conference room with Gavian, Deyra, and two Senvora managers.
They were discussing the structure of the main book.
Raveena explained that some sections needed to be moved because the narrative was too repetitive.
One of the managers disagreed.
Gavian sided with the client instead.
"If we move the history section to the back, we could lose the business context," he said.
Raveena looked at him.
"Not if we condense the opening."
"The risk is that readers won't understand the progression."
"We can work it in through a timeline."
"A timeline isn't enough."
Raveena was starting to get annoyed.
"If everything gets explained twice, the book will feel heavy."
Gavian remained calm.
"Better heavy than losing the context."
Deyra looked back and forth between them.
The Senvora managers looked slightly uncomfortable.
Raveena knew she had to remain professional.
She took a breath.
"Okay. We'll create two structural alternatives. The client can choose after reviewing the samples."
Gavian nodded.
"That's the safest option."
The meeting ended.
Everyone left.
Raveena packed up her laptop.
Gavian was still standing there.
"Are you mad?"
Raveena looked at him.
"It's work."
"Your face."
Raveena shut her laptop a little harder than necessary.
"Did you really disagree, or were you just defending the client?"
Gavian understood immediately.
"I really disagreed."
Raveena raised an eyebrow.
"Okay."
"Are you mad because I had a different opinion?"
"No."
"Rave."
"I just didn't like the way you talked as if the timeline were a stupid idea."
"I didn't say it was stupid."
"Your tone did."
Gavian fell silent.
Then he nodded.
"Okay. Maybe my tone was too harsh."
Raveena was slightly surprised.
There was no long defense.
"Yeah."
"But I still disagree."
Raveena looked at him.
"Good."
Gavian almost laughed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Raveena put her laptop in her bag.
Gavian said, "We don't always have to agree."
"I know."
"And I won't agree just because we're…"
He stopped.
"Because we're what?" Raveena asked.
Gavian smiled faintly.
"Getting to know each other from the beginning."
Raveena almost laughed.
"Good."
They left the conference room.
And strangely, that little argument made Raveena happy.
Because for the first time, she saw how they handled disagreements when there was no third person involved.
No days of silence.
No avoiding each other.
No fake smiles.
Just two people who disagreed.
Maybe a healthy relationship didn't always feel romantic.
Sometimes it was revealed by how someone stayed at the table after both of you were upset.
That night, they ate near the Senvora office.
It wasn't an official date.
Just dinner after work.
Raveena was still a little annoyed about the meeting.
Gavian knew it.
"You still think the timeline is better?"
"Yes."
"I still don't."
"Good."
"Why are you smiling?"
Raveena shrugged.
"Because you're not trying to please me."
Gavian looked confused.
"Should I?"
"No."
Raveena stirred her food.
"You used to avoid conflict all the time."
Gavian nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
"Now you're disagreeing with me all the time."
"Don't regret it."
Raveena laughed.
"Not yet."
They were quiet for a moment.
Then Gavian said, "Rave."
"Hmm?"
"If we get serious someday, I might still make a lot of mistakes."
Raveena looked at him.
"Obviously."
Gavian laughed.
"Thanks for the support."
"Realistic."
"But I don't want to be wrong because I stayed silent anymore."
Raveena fell silent.
Gavian continued.
"If there's a problem, I want to talk about it."
"Even if it makes me angry?"
"Yes."
"Even if you're afraid I'll leave?"
Gavian looked at her for a long moment.
"Yes."
Raveena felt something warm in her chest.
Not a promise that she would never get hurt.
Quite the opposite.
A promise not to hide from the possibility.
Maybe that meant much more.
Two weeks later, Talitha moved.
Raveena found out through a photo Talitha sent directly to her.
An empty room with three boxes on the floor.
Caption:
Starting over.
Raveena replied:
Hope you settle in.
Talitha:
If I don't, I'll move again. I'm not afraid anymore.
Raveena smiled.
She put her phone away.
Gavian was standing at the register at Three Chairs.
They had just finished their third date.
This time, there was no arcade.
Just dinner and a walk.
Gavian returned to the table.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Talitha."
He paused.
"She moved?"
"Yeah."
Gavian nodded.
"Good."
Raveena smiled.
"You should stop using that word."
"Why?"
"You've used it too many times."
"What if things really are good?"
Raveena shook her head.
Gavian sat down.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Gavian said, "I want to ask you something."
Raveena immediately grew suspicious.
"Why does that sentence always come before you cause trouble?"
"It's not trouble."
"What is it?"
Gavian took a breath.
"I want us to stop calling this just dating."
Raveena froze.
She'd known that question would come someday.
She hadn't expected it tonight.
Gavian didn't rush to continue.
He gave her space.
Raveena looked at him.
"Then what do you want to call it?"
"A relationship."
"That's broad."
"Being boyfriend and girlfriend."
Straightforward.
No circling around it.
Raveena lowered her gaze.
Her heart was pounding.
Gavian said quietly, "I don't want to pressure you."
"But you're asking."
"I am."
"Why now?"
"Because it's been almost two months."
Raveena nodded.
"And?"
"And I still want to be here."
Simple.
Raveena looked at him.
"Why?"
Gavian smiled faintly.
"Because I like you."
"Just like me?"
"I care about you too."
Raveena raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you said you didn't want to say it too often."
"The context is different now."
Raveena almost laughed.
Gavian grew serious again.
"I also know that my life doesn't depend on your answer anymore."
That left her silent.
"If you're not ready, I'll be sad. But I won't fall apart."
Raveena looked at him.
That was probably the biggest change.
Gavian used to come to her because he felt like he'd lost something.
Now he came as someone who had a life of his own.
His work.
Therapy.
A family he was slowly facing.
Friends.
Mistakes.
And choices.
Raveena took a breath.
"If we start dating…"
Gavian immediately tensed.
Raveena almost smiled.
"…I have conditions."
"What are they?"
"No pretending we're fine when we're not."
Gavian nodded.
"Agreed."
"If you start having doubts, tell me."
"I will."
"If I make you angry, tell me."
"I will."
"And never use 'I just didn't want to hurt you' as an excuse to lie."
Gavian looked straight at her.
"Agreed."
Raveena fell silent.
Gavian waited.
He didn't interrupt.
He didn't pressure her.
Finally, Raveena smiled faintly.
"Okay."
Gavian was still silent.
As if he wasn't sure he'd heard her correctly.
Raveena raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Okay, what?"
Raveena laughed.
"Okay, we'll date."
For several seconds, Gavian didn't react at all.
Then his smile appeared.
Wide.
Not the small smile he usually wore.
Raveena had never seen him look like that.
"Don't be so dramatic."
"I didn't say anything."
"Your face."
Gavian laughed.
Then his hand moved slowly across the table.
It stopped.
Waiting.
Raveena looked at it.
Then placed her hand on top of his.
Gavian clasped it.
Not too tightly.
Just enough.
And that night, after so many conversations, distances, mistakes, and people they had to let go of, their relationship finally had a name.
Not a secret.
Not a possibility.
Not a closeness that had to be hidden.
Dating.
A simple word.
But to Raveena, it felt like something new.
Not because Gavian had finally become hers.
She never wanted to think of love as ownership again.
What made it different was how they got there.
They weren't running away.
They weren't filling an empty space.
They weren't proving that all the pain they'd endured before had been worth it.
They were simply choosing each other.
With clear eyes.
And maybe love was never truly wrong just because it came to complicated people.
What made it wrong was when someone forced that feeling to grow in a place that wasn't empty yet.
Now that place was different.
They were different too.
Raveena squeezed Gavian's hand a little tighter.
For the first time, she wasn't afraid to enjoy the happiness in front of her.
Because maybe love in the wrong place didn't need to be thrown away.
Sometimes it only needed to be moved—
after everyone involved found the courage to put their own place in order.