ion, there had been no contact whatsoever. The connection had fad

still re

ersation hadn't

e he would come over to check on her or

irst rea

istaken her fo

er thought cro

d no longer cared about what had happened in the past. Perhaps he was

ughts, handed her coat to him, e

swept past her hand. Then, in a calm voi

mid-air, her react

nt, she wa

troducing

flaunting how well he was doing now-al

found herself distracted,

bar is basically th

on his face for a

as pure black as ink, appearing e

thing striking and well-defined. Tall and lean, dressed entirely in black, yet still ex

ar i

em like an e

n, slowly pulling

ame is

..

ing her his

ized her. He was jus

r expression neutral, she said,

his voice steady. "If there's anything you need, feel free to let me know. Additio

"you", but Andy didn't hea

indifferent, with a laziness that made

politely responding,

Maybe because she was being easygoing, his tone softene

racted his gaze a

is coat, and she called

e turn

hat instant, she realize

k in her throat, neither

been mulling over earlier slipped out instead. Stari

of the

..

locke

fell silen

nt, Andy could almost see

..

u

d she j

star of t

star... o

h

rli

sh

oh my God

..

check. She didn't dare look at Charlie's face. Pressing

r co

nothing had happened, just like she always di

asn't about t

, he slowly repeated, "Ch

ed ignoran

nt of

d just understood something. He let out a drawn-out "

this is a

..

ication

on't offer that kind of serv

, but there was no way

altogether. Since they wouldn't see each o

with his words, "

..

Charlie's expressi

e was imagi

ace remained as unreada

just smiled politely a

l made no mo

ew seconds, Andy noti

he curve of her lips,

suddenl

aused, then smiled. "You see

..

dy

seems like I'm more

ice laced with amusement, as if

as a so

..

before bursting into laughter. "Damn, w

ly, "That's exact

"Don't take it too seriously. Maybe this happens so often

rget why we

uh

Andy said. "Just 'seeing' him do

..

ted laugh

eep it down. Laugh after he le

the high stools at t

pping from a clear glass, his expression leisure

a finally held b

ng drinks on their table. He looked quite young

s your

ey under the check h

e waiter hurriedly explaine

was my mistake. The boss has alre

bered Char

eaction was to refuse. "It's fin

"Besides this, if you need an

dn't insist. Instead, she

on my way to the restroom.

ickly took it

a blinked at her.

iefly e

And you still

sipped her drink. "No need to take a

h kid struggling with his startup? This y

"But he really di

ed, "I don'

looked incredulous. "Do you e

..

e way you said that, it

y was truly

trasted her calm personality. Those fox-like eyes seemed as if they were meant to stea

y lit bar, she seeme

Andy could easily make a fort

at she would end up as a

u just have shorter hair now-" Sara glanced toward Charlie

..

of women these past few years. Maybe he's

her chin on her hand and gl

was a woman sit

fair legs. Leaning against the bar, she tilted her head slightly as she toasted him, her sm

ook at her, his expression c

d them, there was an unde

ng. Soon, Sara moved

ndy retracted her gaze and

r a

last song. Seeing the time, Andy asked

odded.

them got

ucas just texted me. He's coming back next month. Next time, let's bri

n agreement.

she glanced back a

ide him seemed to have changed. His face remained express

d to be as he had acted-just a chanc

momentari

ast time they had seen each

l town. A fine drizzle fell softly. In a narrow alley, the only streetlamp

rops. His pale skin contrasted with the light in

felt

er how she had fe

ly rem

arse as he called her

nd

nd mocked himself. "I'

so rem

eing himself as nothing more than

d laughed. "I won't

ntire night on edge, careful with every move, terrified of making

hat table left, he step

out the check folder, and a few crisp r

ands

acelet that had fall

ack to the bar. Pushing his tray inside, he told the blonde bart

eah, that coat you brought over earlier-I

ring the money, he scratched his head. "Bro, Brother Charlie told me to comp their

deways look. "Go

.

Bro, it's not like I wanted to pocket the money. She

bag, Bob chuckled. "Brother Ch

.

sounded a

to defend himself as he made h

wasn't sure when he had moved to the second floor. Now,

er he had even heard

d, idly toying with t

felt suf

gs over. "Maybe she didn't pay for the drink

nd hesitated. "But, uh, it was noisy, and I couldn't h

off as he met Ch

heard her friend ask if she came to the ba

elashes twit

. "Then she said sh

at him impatien

lurted out, "She said sh

lie,

lie,

ght be your, u

.