LOGINI woke up to warmth. Not from blanket nor sunlight. It was her. Aria’s body was pressed against my back, her breath steady against the curve of my neck—too steady, too calm, considering she practically devoured me last night. For a second, I froze. Reality caught up slowly: her arm draped around my waist, her hand resting just under the hem of my nightdress, her legs tangled with mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. God. I didn’t even remember falling asleep. I just remembered her mouth on my skin… her hands… her voice… I swallowed hard. This was a mistake. A terrible one. Or maybe a good one. I didn’t know anymore. I shifted slightly, trying to create distance, but her grip tightened instantly—like her body refused to let go even if her mind was still asleep. “Don’t,” she murmured, her voice low, gravelly, half-dreaming. “I’m not ready to wake up without you yet.” My entire body flushed. “Aria…” I whispered. “Hmm?” she breathed, nuzzling the
Silence.The kind that presses on your chest and makes breathing feel like a mistake.Her face was still close… too close and for a heartbeat I thought I’d lean in, or she would, or we both would, and whatever thin line we’d been pretending existed between us would disappear completely.But my body reacted before my mind could.I stepped back.Fast.Almost stumbling.Her hand froze mid-air, her fingers curling slowly as she lowered it. The look on her face wasn’t anger… it was something worse. Something like she already knew this would happen.“Ena,” she said softly.I shook my head. “I—I need a minute.”My voice cracked. I hated that.I turned away, trying to put distance between us, between me and everything I didn’t want to admit. My heartbeat was too loud, my breaths too shallow, my skin too warm everywhere she’d touched.“Don’t,” I whispered, not even sure who I was talking to her or myself.But she didn’t listen.Of course she didn’t.I felt her before I heard her. That quiet, d
“Let me talk to you,” she said.I didn’t answer until we reached the elevator. The doors opened, and I stepped inside.She stepped in after me.“You’re unbelievable,” I whispered under my breath.“I know,” she murmured.The elevator ride was quiet. Too quiet. The kind where every breath felt loud.By the time I unlocked my door, I already knew she’d follow me in. And I hated that I didn’t stop her.I sighed as I stepped inside. “Just… don’t touch anything.”She smiled faintly, closing the door behind her. “I won’t. Unless you ask.”I glared at her, but the way she leaned against the wall composed, patient, annoyingly beautiful that made it impossible to stay angry.“Sit,” I said, pointing at the couch.She raised a brow. “Ordering me now?”“Just sit, Aria.”She did.I put my things down and crossed my arms. “You waited outside my building just to talk?”“No,” she said. “I waited because I didn’t know how to walk away from you tonight.”My breath hitched annoyingly.“You need to stop s
Morning came too early. The kind of light that burns, not bright enough to wake you, but harsh enough to remind you that sleep didn’t help. I lay still, my arm draped over my eyes, the silence too heavy to be comforting. My phone sat on the bedside table — screen dark, but I didn’t need to look to know she’d tried to reach me. When I finally reached for it, the screen lit up. Three missed calls. Two messages. Both from her. I sighed, suddenly remembering what happened last night. After Sean called again, I pushed her to leave. Dr. Aria: Please don’t let Sean ruin this. I’ll explain everything when you’re ready. I stared at the screen for a full minute before turning it face down. Ready? I didn’t even know what this was anymore. The space she left behind last night still clung to the air… her perfume faint on my couch, her presence somewhere between memory and ghost. I pushed myself up, exhaling slowly. “You should’ve just left,” I muttered under my breath, not sure if I mean
“I should get that,” I said quietly, but Aria didn’t move.Her hand was still at my side, fingers brushing faintly against my wrist. “Do you want me to go before you open it?” she asked, voice low, unreadable.I hesitated, my fingers curling slightly against her touch. “You should,” I whispered, though the way I said it didn’t sound like I meant it.Her lips curved; a faint, knowing smile. “Then tell me to.”I exhaled sharply and stepped back. “Aria, please—”The knock came again, firmer this time. “Miss Garden? I brought the package you asked for!” the woman called.I turned my head, grateful for the excuse to pull away. When I looked back, Aria was already standing a few steps farther, her composure back in place. That same unbothered calm she always wore when she wanted to hide something.I opened the door just enough to see the cleaning lady, her hands clutching a small paper bag.“Sorry for the timing, Miss Garden,” she said apologetically. “The delivery guy dropped this at the
I should’ve known she wouldn’t leave.The knock came five minutes after I locked the door. Soft at first. Then firmer. Three short taps — the kind only she made.I didn’t move. My phone was still on the counter, her last message glowing faintly on the screen.You believe me, don’t you?I took a deep breath, ignored the knock, and turned away. But she knocked again.“Ena,” her voice came through, calm but lower than usual. “Open the door.”I closed my eyes. “Go home, Aria.”Another pause. Then, “Not until you talk to me.”Of course. That was so her, always deciding when things start and when they end.But not this time.I walked to the door and pressed my palm against it, just to feel the faint vibration of her knock.“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said, my voice sharp. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”“I know,” she said. “But I still want to give you one.”Her voice was close now, barely separated from me by a few inches of wood. I could almost picture her… coat still on, hair s







