Ganin said it with an expression that was difficult to read. He stared intently at Dinan—something he had never dared to do seven years ago.
Ganin saw the shock in Dinan’s eyes. Of course he did. But as usual, the woman acted completely unfazed. She was always calm and composed.
Ever since he had run into Dinan again nearly two months ago, Ganin had been deeply bothered by her behavior. By the way Dinan called him Mr. Ganin as if they were truly meeting for the first time. By how the woman could stand so close to him without showing the slightest sign that they had known each other in the past.
Dinan let out a harsh laugh, as if Ganin’s words were the best joke she had heard all night. Honestly, she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to react. “We don’t know each other that well.”
Her words weren’t sharp, and there was no sarcasm in them. Dinan was simply stating the facts as they were.
“Dinan—”
Dinan didn’t let Ganin finish. Instead, she pointed at the still-closed elevator doors. “If you don’t mind, I’ll get off first.”
Ganin released the button.
“Excuse me, Mr. Ganin.”
Dinan simply walked out, and Ganin didn’t stop her. He just stood inside the elevator, watching Dinan’s back as she moved farther and farther away.
Ganin chuckled softly and shook his head.
Damn. “So this is what it feels like.”
Seven years ago, Ganin had been the one to make everything that simple.
Keep your distance.
Act normal.
So why couldn’t he accept it when Dinan did the same? For the first time, Ganin understood just how irritating he had been in the past.
His phone vibrated. A message came in. [Hey, I have an appointment with a designer tomorrow. Come with me~]
Dinan worked much faster after that. As soon as she finished one document, she moved on to the next. There was no time to daydream.
There was no time to think about the conversation in the elevator. Even the coffee she had bought earlier had gone cold before she could finish it.
It was past ten when she finally shut down her computer. Dinan stood and stretched her stiff shoulders.
Done.
Only after she got home and closed her bedroom door did the defenses she had built up slowly begin to crumble. Dinan sat on the edge of her bed. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled harshly, then covered her face with both hands.
“Idiot.”
She didn’t know who the insult was meant for. Ganin, for bringing up the past in the elevator, or herself, for letting one sentence from that man disturb her peace of mind.
The next morning, Dinan woke to a soft knock on her bedroom door. A moment later, it opened to reveal her mother’s face. Halimah leaned against the doorframe, studying her daughter’s disheveled expression.
“You look exhausted, Nan.”
“I am.”
Halimah wanted to ask more about the difficulties her daughter was facing. But she knew her daughter well enough to realize that Dinan wasn’t ready to talk about anything yet. Instead, she sat down at the foot of the bed.
“I miss Aidan.”
“Huh?”
“You talk more when you’re with Aidan.”
Dinan snorted. “You mean I’m talkative?”
“That’s not what I mean.” Halimah laughed. “But when you’re with him, you seem more like yourself.”
Dinan didn’t answer.
Halimah gently patted her leg before standing. “Bring him here once he’s back in Indonesia.”
“You don’t have to invite him. He’ll come on his own.”
As soon as the door closed, Dinan suddenly remembered something.
Aidan.
Oh, God.
She reached for her phone. She had been ignoring the man’s calls for almost three weeks. She hadn’t even read all his messages. She opened her conversation with Aidan and typed a brief reply.
[Sorry, I’ve been swamped with work lately.]
Before she could put her phone down, the screen lit up again. Aidan was calling.
Dinan sighed before answering.
“Hello?”
“So you’re still alive!”
Dinan flinched at how sarcastic Aidan sounded.
“Did you actually hope I’d die?”
Aidan let out a soft snort. “Idiot! I was worried.”
Their conversation didn’t last very long, partly because Dinan had to get ready for work.
“I’m coming home next month. Don’t forget to pick me up at the airport.”
“I won’t.”