Gavian took Raveena somewhere she never expected.
Not an expensive restaurant.
Not a café with dim lighting.
Not a place deliberately designed to be overly romantic.
They stopped at an old music store connected to a small café in the back.
Raveena stared at the sign.
“Seriously?”
Gavian turned off the engine.
“What?”
“Your idea of a first date is taking me to a music store?”
“You don’t like it?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then what?”
Raveena turned to him.
“It’s just… I didn’t expect it.”
Gavian smiled faintly.
“Good.”
“Now you like using that word too?”
“It rubbed off on me.”
They got out.
The place was fairly busy, but not crowded. The wooden shelves were packed with vinyl records, old CDs, concert posters, and a few cassette tapes Raveena wasn’t even sure anyone still played.
At the back was a small café with seven tables.
“Why this place?” Raveena asked.
Gavian picked a CD off the shelf.
“Because you once said you liked places that had something to look at when the conversation sucked.”
Raveena stopped.
“When did I say that?”
“When we first met outside the office.”
“That was almost a year ago.”
“Yeah.”
“You remember?”
Gavian put the CD back.
“Pretty well.”
Raveena sighed.
“Don’t make me regret saying yes.”
“Not even five minutes in and you’re already threatening me.”
They walked slowly between the shelves.
For a while, Raveena felt completely at ease.
There was no conversation about Talitha.
No discussion of their relationship.
They simply showed each other albums with terrible covers, argued about songs that got played too often on the radio, and laughed when Gavian found a compilation CD Raveena had owned in high school.
“I still have this,” Raveena said.
“Seriously?”
“At Mom’s house.”
“You listen to it?”
“I used to.”
“And now?”
“If someone played it, I might die of embarrassment.”
Gavian laughed.
Raveena picked up the CD.
“Don’t laugh. You definitely had an embarrassing music phase.”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“I’ve always been consistent.”
“People who call themselves consistent usually have secrets.”
Gavian looked at her.
“If I tell you, don’t laugh.”
“I’m definitely going to laugh.”
He leaned in slightly and whispered the name of an old boy band.
Raveena burst out laughing.
Loudly.
One of the customers turned to look.
Gavian sighed.
“That’s why.”
“Sorry.”
“You don’t look sorry at all.”
“Because I’m not.”
Gavian shook his head.
And strangely, in the middle of that ridiculous conversation, Raveena felt much closer to him than she had back when they used to sit for hours talking about their problems.
Maybe because now there was nothing they needed to steal from anyone.
Their time belonged entirely to them.
They sat in the café about an hour later.
Raveena ordered iced tea.
Gavian ordered coffee.
Of course.
“Don’t you get tired of coffee?” Raveena asked.
“Nope.”
“Every day?”
“Almost.”
“Your stomach is tough.”
“It hasn’t complained.”
“Not yet doesn’t mean it never will.”
Gavian smiled.
“Is this a date or a health consultation?”
“Preventive care.”
They were quiet for a moment.
Not an awkward silence.
Just a pause.
Gavian looked at her.
“Can I ask you something?”
“If it’s not too heavy.”
“Don’t know yet.”
Raveena immediately grew suspicious.
“Go ahead.”
Gavian folded his hands together.
“Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”
Raveena stopped.
She hadn’t expected that question.
“Why?”
“I want to know.”
“Now?”
“Isn’t the point of dating to get to know each other?”
Raveena stirred the ice in her glass.
“I have.”
“How long?”
“Almost two years.”
Gavian nodded.
“When?”
“In college.”
“Why did it end?”
Raveena didn’t answer right away.
Darian’s face suddenly appeared in her memory.
Not the one who had stood outside her apartment earlier.
A much younger version.
His hair always too long.
A black backpack.
His habit of waiting outside her classroom without telling her.
Raveena felt something small shift in her chest.
“He left.”
Gavian looked at her.
“Left how?”
“He moved away.”
“And then?”
“And that was it.”
Gavian seemed to know there was more to the story.
But he didn’t push.
“Okay.”
Raveena found that strangely unsettling.
“That’s all you have to say?”
“You look like you don’t want to talk about it.”
“You’re usually curious.”
“I still am.”
“But?”
“I’m learning that not every question needs an immediate answer.”
Raveena smiled faintly.
“Therapy is really working.”
“A little.”
They laughed.
Raveena didn’t know that, at the same time, the person they had just been talking about was still waiting at her apartment.
Darian hadn’t left.
He had been sitting in the lobby waiting area for almost an hour.
The security guard had asked twice whether he wanted to leave a message.
Darian refused.
He held a thin brown envelope.
Not a love letter.
Not an old photograph.
Inside were documents he had kept for years and never managed to send.
His phone vibrated.
Savia.
Is Darian still there?
Darian replied:
Still here.
A few seconds later:
Rave doesn’t know you came, right?
Darian stared at the screen.
Not yet.
Savia: I’m starting to regret giving you her address.
Darian smiled faintly.
Too late.
Savia: Seriously. Don’t make her mad at me.
I’ll take the blame.
Savia’s reply came quickly.
She can be mad at both of us at once.
Darian nearly laughed.
He still remembered.
Raveena really did have a talent for hiding anger inside an incredibly calm voice.
That was what made it most frightening.
Darian looked at the entrance.
Empty.
He opened an old conversation he almost never looked at.
The contact name was still saved.
Raveena.
No photo.
The last message was from seven years ago.
Don’t look for me again.
Darian read it again.
A sentence he had memorized.
But it still hurt.
He locked the screen.
Seven years ago, he had obeyed.
Maybe that had been his biggest mistake.
The date had gone better than Raveena would admit.
After the music store, they walked to the food court across the street.
Gavian hadn’t planned a second destination.
Raveena liked that.
It didn’t feel scripted.
They chose their food spontaneously.
They shared french fries because Raveena didn’t feel like ordering a whole serving for herself.
They argued about movies.
Talked about work.
Until Gavian finally said, “I thought today would be more awkward.”
Raveena looked at him.
“Me too.”
“So we pulled it off?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions.”
“It’s been three hours.”
“We’re still in the evaluation period.”
Gavian laughed.
“Such an editor.”
Raveena took a fry.
“If you’re expecting me to be romantic, you’ve got the wrong person.”
“I know.”
“Seriously?”
Gavian nodded.
“That’s exactly what I like about you.”
Raveena stopped chewing.
Gavian seemed to realize what he’d said too.
He didn’t take it back.
There was no more Talitha.
Objectively, there was nothing wrong with what he’d said.
And yet Raveena’s body still had its old habits.
Tensing slightly.
Looking for a reason to retreat.
Gavian saw it.
“Did I make you uncomfortable?”
Raveena shook her head.
“I’m just not used to it yet.”
“Not used to what?”
“Hearing you say things like that without feeling like I have to be angry.”
Gavian smiled faintly.
“That means progress.”
“Maybe.”
He was quiet for a moment.
Then Gavian asked, “Can I tell you you look beautiful today, or is that too much?”
Raveena looked straight at him.
“Why ask?”
“Because I wanted to say it the first time we met, but I was afraid.”
Raveena laughed.
“Afraid?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
Gavian shook his head.
“Apparently dealing with clients is easier than dealing with you.”
“Clients pay you.”
“Good point.”
Raveena lowered her gaze so Gavian wouldn’t see her smile too clearly.
They returned to the apartment shortly before six in the evening.
The car stopped in front of the lobby.
Gavian turned off the engine.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Raveena unbuckled her seat belt.
“Thank you.”
Gavian turned to her.
“For what?”
“For today.”
“So the date passed its evaluation?”
“Provisional score.”
“What is it?”
“Six.”
Gavian looked offended.
“Six?”
“Out of seven.”
Gavian let out a relieved breath.
“Manipulative.”
“Learned from you.”
They laughed.
Then silence fell again.
Gavian looked at her for a long moment.
Raveena noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t.”
“I just…”
He stopped.
Raveena waited.
“I’m happy.”
It was so simple.
That was exactly what made it difficult for Raveena to answer.
She nodded.
“Me too.”
Gavian smiled.
He didn’t try to kiss her.
Didn’t touch her hand.
Didn’t ask her on a second date.
Raveena liked that more than she should have.
She opened the door.
“See you.”
“Rave.”
Raveena turned.
“When’s the final evaluation?”
“Don’t know yet.”
“So I’m allowed to hope there’ll be a second date?”
Raveena held back a smile.
“You’re allowed to hope.”
“Good.”
She closed the door.
Gavian’s car drove away.
Raveena walked toward the lobby, realizing she was still smiling.
Then she saw someone stand up from the sofa near the entrance.
Her smile disappeared.
Her steps stopped.
Darian.
The world seemed to stop for a few seconds.
Raveena wasn’t even sure she was still breathing.
The man didn’t move either.
He was taller than she remembered.
His hair was much shorter.
His features were sharper.
There were tired lines around his eyes.
But he was still Darian.
Still the person who had once been the center of her world before suddenly disappearing from her life.
“Rave.”
That voice.
The same as before.
Raveena felt her entire body turn cold.
“What are you doing here?”
Darian stood a few steps away.
“I wanted to see you.”
“How did you find out my address?”
He didn’t answer right away.
That was answer enough.
Raveena pulled out her phone.
Opened her conversation with Savia.
Darian said quickly, “Don’t be mad at Savia.”
Raveena shot him a sharp look.
“So it was Savia.”
“I asked her to.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“I know.”
Raveena immediately called her sister.
Darian sighed.
“Rave—”
“Be quiet.”
The call connected.
Savia answered.
“Hello?”
“You gave Darian my apartment address?”
Silence.
“Rave…”
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
Raveena closed her eyes briefly.
“Why?”
“He said he just wanted to talk.”
“And you gave someone my home address without asking me?”
“I’m sorry.”
Raveena clenched her jaw.
She wanted to be angry.
Very angry.
But the lobby wasn’t the place for it.
“We’ll talk later.”
“Rave—”
Raveena ended the call.
Darian stood silently.
“Don’t blame her.”
Raveena let out a short laugh.
“You think you’re in a position to tell me who I’m allowed to blame?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She walked toward the elevator.
Darian followed for a few steps.
“Rave, wait.”
Raveena pressed the button.
“I don’t want to talk.”
“Five minutes.”
The words made Raveena freeze.
For some reason, her thoughts immediately went to Gavian.
Five minutes.
Gavian always asked for five minutes too.
But it felt different.
Raveena turned.
“Don’t use the five-minute thing.”
Darian frowned.
“What?”
“Never mind.”
The elevator doors opened.
Raveena stepped inside.
Darian held the door with his hand.
“If you still want me to leave after you hear me out, I will.”
Raveena stared at his hand against the door.
“Let go.”
“Rave.”
“Darian. Let go.”
Darian finally released it.
The doors were almost closed.
Then Raveena saw the brown envelope in his hand.
She didn’t know why, but she pressed the open-door button.
The doors opened again.
Darian looked surprised.
“What is that?”
He looked at the envelope.
“The reason I came.”
Raveena stared at him.
“Answers seven years late?”
“Yes.”
“Impressive.”
Darian accepted the sarcasm without defending himself.
Raveena sighed.
“Come up.”
She turned before she could change her mind.
Darian stood in the middle of Raveena’s living room like someone afraid to touch anything.
Raveena pointed to the sofa.
“Sit.”
She chose the chair across from him.
She didn’t offer him anything to drink.
She didn’t feel the need to.
Darian placed the envelope on the table.
Raveena stared at it.
“Should I open it?”
“Later.”
“You came here carrying it.”
“I know.”
“So talk.”
Darian drew a breath.
Raveena watched him.
That man had rarely looked nervous back then.
Now his fingers kept moving.
“I moved away from Jantara because of my parents.”
Raveena immediately sighed.
“If you came here just to say your family didn’t approve—”
“That’s not it.”
Darian cut her off.
Raveena fell silent.
“My father got into legal trouble back then.”
Raveena frowned.
“What?”
“The company he worked for was involved in an embezzlement case. His name got dragged into it.”
Raveena had no idea.
None at all.
Darian continued.
“We had to move quickly. A lot of assets were frozen. Mom panicked. I put college on hold.”
Raveena stared at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Darian smiled bitterly.
“Because I was stupid.”
“Good answer.”
“And because my father asked me to.”
“Why?”
“He was afraid the case would drag in the people close to us too.”
Raveena frowned.
“Me included?”
“Yes.”
“Darian, we were twenty.”
“I know.”
“We weren’t business partners.”
“I know it sounds absurd now.”
“It sounded absurd back then too.”
Darian nodded.
Raveena felt her old anger beginning to rise.
“So you disappeared?”
“I sent a message.”
“You said we had to end things.”
“Yes.”
“Without an explanation.”
“Yes.”
“And then you moved.”
“Yes.”
Raveena laughed without humor.
“Great. Wonderful.”
Darian didn’t defend himself.
That only made her angrier.
“Why did you listen to him?”
“Because at the time I thought my family was falling apart because of one bad decision my father had made. I was afraid everyone close to us would get hurt too.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make for me.”
“I know.”
“You know now.”
“Yes.”
Raveena stood.
She couldn’t sit anymore.
She walked to the window.
Her heart pounded.
“Why now?”
Darian answered after a few seconds.
“My father died last year.”
Raveena stopped.
She turned around.
Darian stared at the table.
“The case had been resolved long before that. He was proven not to have been directly involved, but his career was ruined.”
Raveena didn’t know what to say.
Darian continued.
“After he died, I found some old documents.”
He pointed to the envelope.
“There was a letter for me.”
Raveena looked at the envelope again.
“What did it say?”
Darian swallowed.
“He apologized for forcing me to leave my own life behind.”
Silence.
Raveena felt something uncomfortable in her chest.
Darian gave a small, humorless laugh.
“Pretty late.”
Raveena didn’t laugh with him.
“So you came here because of your father’s letter?”
“Not only because of that.”
“Then why?”
Darian lifted his face.
“I came because all this time, you thought I left because I didn’t want you anymore.”
Raveena stared at him.
“Wasn’t that what you wanted me to think?”
“Yes.”
“Mission accomplished.”
The words changed Darian’s expression.
Raveena continued in a lower voice.
“Completely.”
Darian lowered his head.
“I know.”
“No.”
Raveena walked back to the chair.
“You don’t know.”
She sat down.
“After you left, I waited for almost six months.”
Darian froze.
Raveena smiled faintly.
“I was so stupid.”
“Rave…”
“Every time a new number called, I thought it was you. Every time someone came to campus waiting for someone, I looked.”
Her eyes began to burn.
She hated that.
“I even asked your friends. They all said they didn’t know.”
Darian closed his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Raveena shook her head immediately.
“Don’t.”
“I—”
“Don’t say sorry if you think it can cover up seven years.”
“I don’t think that.”
“Good.”
Darian fell silent.
Raveena took a breath.
“Then after six months, I finally stopped waiting.”
Darian looked at her.
“And at that point, I made myself one promise.”
“What?”
“I would never again make someone who left feel like they still had a place if they ever came back.”
Silence descended.
Darian didn’t move.
Neither did Raveena.
The words had just left her mouth, and they felt too close to her life now.
Her father had come back.
Darian had come back.
Gavian had left Talitha and then come to her.
People kept coming back.
As if the past had a habit of knocking on the door whenever life started to feel a little more peaceful.
Darian finally said, “I didn’t come asking for a place.”
Raveena looked at him.
“Then what?”
“I came to give you the truth.”
“After seven years.”
“Yes.”
“Why should I need it?”
“You might not.”
That answer made Raveena fall silent.
Darian continued.
“But you deserve to know that I didn’t leave because I stopped loving you.”
Raveena immediately stiffened.
“Don’t.”
Darian stopped.
“Don’t say that.”
“Why?”
“Because it doesn’t help.”
Darian looked at her.
Raveena felt her own voice tremble.
“If you had stopped loving me, everything would be easier.”
She almost laughed.
The same thought.
Exactly like what she thought about her father.
Exactly.
“If you say you still loved me but chose to leave, what am I supposed to do with that?”
Darian didn’t answer.
Raveena quickly wiped the corner of her eye.
“I hate that concept.”
“What?”
“People saying they love you but still leaving. People saying they love you but still lying. People saying they love you as if that feeling is enough to justify everything.”
Darian looked at her for a long time.
“Feelings aren’t enough.”
Raveena was silent.
“That’s why I didn’t come asking you to forgive me.”
Darian slid the envelope toward her.
“I just want you to have this.”
Raveena didn’t take it.
“What is it?”
“Proof about my father’s case. A copy of his letter. And…”
He stopped.
“And what?”
“A letter I wrote to you when I moved away.”
Raveena froze.
“You never sent it.”
“No.”
“Why keep it?”
“Because I was a coward.”
At least he was honest.
Raveena looked at the envelope.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to open it.
“Go home.”
Darian nodded.
He didn’t beg.
He stood.
Walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned around.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
Raveena stood several feet away.
“What?”
“The man who drove you home…”
Raveena’s body tensed.
Darian quickly added, “I have no right to interfere.”
“That’s right.”
“I just wanted to know that you’re okay.”
Raveena looked at him coldly.
“After seven years, that’s not your responsibility.”
Darian accepted it.
“Yes.”
His hand touched the doorknob.
“Rave.”
“What now?”
“I’m glad you looked happy when you got out of the car.”
Raveena froze.
Darian opened the door.
“I used to think protecting someone meant leaving their life.”
He smiled bitterly.
“Turns out that’s just another way of taking away their choice.”
Then he left.
The door closed.
Raveena stood alone.
The brown envelope was still on the table.
And the smile she’d brought home from her date was completely gone.
Raveena didn’t open the envelope until almost nine that night.
She sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa.
The envelope rested in her lap.
Her phone lay beside her.
There were two messages.
One from Savia.
Rave, I’m sorry.
One from Gavian.
Did you get home?
Raveena hadn’t replied to either of them.
She opened the envelope.
The first documents were indeed related to the company case.
Darian’s father’s name was there.
Several sections had been marked.
The second document was a copy of Darian’s father’s letter.
Raveena didn’t read the whole thing.
Only a few paragraphs.
Enough to understand that Darian hadn’t made it up.
Then there was a separate sheet of paper.
Older.
The folds had already begun to discolor.
Darian’s handwriting.
Raveena recognized it.
She opened it.
She didn’t read the whole thing.
Her eyes stopped at one section.
I didn’t leave because I stopped choosing you. I left because at the time I thought loving you meant making sure your life didn’t fall apart along with mine. If you ever hate me, maybe that’s better than having you trapped in this too.
Raveena closed the letter.
She couldn’t keep reading.
Her breathing felt shallow.
She set everything on the floor.
Her phone vibrated.
Gavian again.
Rave?
Raveena picked up the phone.
Stared at the name.
She wanted to call him.
Tell him everything.
Hear Gavian’s voice.
Ask him to help her sort through the mess that had just arrived.
But she stopped.
Yudara’s words surfaced.
Don’t use someone new to heal an old wound.
Raveena closed her eyes.
Damn it.
She opened Gavian’s message.
Typed:
I’m home. Sorry for the late reply.
His reply came immediately.
Are you okay?
The same question.
Always.
Raveena stared at it.
Then replied:
Someone from my past showed up. I need some time to process it.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Your ex?
Raveena was startled.
Then she remembered their conversation that afternoon.
Yes.
Gavian’s reply didn’t come quickly.
Almost three minutes passed.
Then:
Okay.
Raveena waited.
The next message:
Do you want me to call, or would you rather have some space?
Her chest felt a little warm.
Not because Gavian offered to come over.
Because he gave her a choice.
Raveena typed:
Space for now.
Okay.
Then:
If you need anything, let me know. It doesn’t have to be tonight.
Raveena stared at the screen.
Her fingers moved.
You don’t want to ask why he came?
Gavian replied:
I do.
Raveena almost smiled.
The second message:
But that doesn’t mean I have to ask right now.
Raveena closed her eyes.
She didn’t know why that simple sentence nearly made her cry.
Maybe because throughout her life, too many people had made decisions for her in the name of love.
Her father had left because he thought it was better.
Darian had left because he thought he was protecting her.
Gavian had once lied to Talitha because he was afraid honesty would ruin everything.
They all thought they knew what was best.
Now, for the first time, someone had simply asked:
A call or space?
Raveena replied:
Thank you.
Gavian:
You’re welcome.
There were no more messages.
Savia called fifteen minutes later.
Raveena stared at her sister’s name.
She almost didn’t answer.
But in the end, she picked up.
“Hello.”
“Rave.”
Savia’s voice immediately sounded guilty.
Raveena sighed.
“I’m still mad.”
“I know.”
“You can’t give my home address to anyone ever again.”
“Okay.”
“I’m serious, Savia.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
Raveena pressed her fingers to her temple.
“Why did you help him?”
Savia was silent.
“You knew something?”
“A little.”
Raveena froze.
“Since when?”
“Darian found me last week.”
Raveena immediately stood.
“What?”
“He looked for Mom first, but Mom wouldn’t give him your address.”
Good.
At least her mother had boundaries.
“Then how did he find you?”
“Through social media.”
Raveena closed her eyes.
“Of course.”
Savia continued, “He told me a little. I thought you needed to know.”
“You don’t get to decide what I need to know.”
“I know that now.”
Raveena stopped.
Savia sounded close to tears.
“I just…”
“What?”
“After meeting Dad, I started thinking maybe people can leave without it meaning they don’t love you.”
That made Raveena go quiet.
Savia continued.
“And I was afraid you’d find out on your own and get mad because I hadn’t told you.”
Raveena sat down again.
The anger was still there.
But it could no longer stand alone.
“Ask me next time.”
“Okay.”
“Even if you think I’ll say no.”
“Okay.”
“Because saying no is my right too.”
Savia was quiet for a moment.
“How are you now?”
Raveena looked at Darian’s letter.
“Confused.”
“Do you still love him?”
The question came too quickly.
Raveena almost immediately said no.
But she stopped.
Not because the answer was yes.
Because she didn’t know what was left after seven years.
Maybe it wasn’t love.
Maybe it was just a wound that had suddenly been reopened.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling.”
Savia didn’t push.
“Okay.”
Raveena smiled faintly.
“Why is everyone saying okay now?”
“Better than saying the wrong thing.”
“Good.”
Savia laughed softly.
For the first time since Darian had arrived, Raveena felt like she could breathe.
Three days later, Darian still hadn’t contacted her.
Gavian hadn’t asked anything either.
Raveena worked as usual.
But her thoughts were divided.
Every time she opened the manuscript, she remembered one line from Darian’s letter.
Every time she looked at her phone, she remembered Gavian deliberately giving her space.
Mirel finally couldn’t take it anymore on Tuesday.
“You’ve been reading that paragraph for ten minutes.”
Raveena looked up.
“Hm?”
“Exactly.”
Mirel stood and came over.
“What’s wrong?”
Raveena looked around.
Then said quietly, “My ex showed up.”
Mirel immediately sat down.
“The one from college?”
“Yeah.”
“The one who left?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
Raveena told her the short version.
The family problems.
The letter.
The real reason.
Mirel listened without interrupting.
Finally, she said, “Wow.”
Raveena pointed at her immediately.
“Don’t.”
“Sorry.”
Mirel sighed.
“So how do you feel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does Gavian know?”
“Yeah.”
“How did he react?”
“Gave me space.”
Mirel nodded.
Raveena looked at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You have a face.”
“I think that’s a good thing.”
Raveena closed her eyes.
“That word again.”
Mirel smiled.
Then she grew serious.
“Rave.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t rush to choose anyone.”
Raveena frowned.
“I never said I had to choose.”
“Good.”
Mirel leaned forward.
“Because this isn’t an audition.”
Raveena almost laughed.
“Gavian isn’t option A and Darian isn’t option B.”
“Right.”
“The question isn’t who loves you more.”
Raveena looked at her.
“Then what is it?”
“Who are you when you’re with them?”
The words made Raveena fall silent.
Mirel returned to her desk.
Raveena stayed where she was.
Gavian made her feel like she wanted to try again.
Darian turned her back into a twenty-year-old girl waiting for someone to come.
And maybe that was the first truly important answer.
That afternoon, a message came from Darian.
It was brief.
I’m going back out of town on Thursday. Before then, I want to apologize in person one more time. If you don’t want to meet, I’ll respect that.
Raveena read the message.
She didn’t answer right away.
Then the screen lit up again.
Gavian.
Friday’s meeting was moved to two. Deyra already sent the revisions.
Normal.
Work.
Raveena looked back and forth between the two conversations.
Two men.
Two eras.
Two kinds of feelings.
But Mirel was right.
This wasn’t about choosing a man.
Raveena had to choose how she wanted to live her own life.
She opened Darian’s message.
Typed:
Tomorrow at six. Sela.
Darian replied:
Okay.
Then Raveena opened Gavian’s message.
Seen it. Thanks.
Gavian:
You’re welcome.
Nothing dramatic happened.
But Raveena knew.
Tomorrow’s meeting would determine not whether Darian got a second chance.
It would determine whether Raveena could finally close the door she had never truly locked for seven years.
And if she walked toward Gavian again afterward, she wanted to do it without carrying someone from the past between them.