LOGINClara I had just returned home after a long and tiring day. The heat outside was unbearable, and all I could think about was getting something cold to drink. I walked straight into the kitchen and opened the fridge. A cool rush of air escaped as the light inside flickered on, revealing neatly arranged food containers, fruits, and several bottles lined up on the lower shelf. Without hesitation, I reached for a bottle of water covered in tiny droplets of condensation. It felt cold and refreshing in my hand.I twisted the cap open slowly, hearing the soft crack as the seal broke. At that moment, the sound alone felt satisfying. I lifted the bottle to my lips and drank deeply. The cold water flowed down my throat, instantly refreshing me and easing my exhaustion. For a few seconds, everything around me seemed calm and peaceful. I leaned slightly against the kitchen counter, enjoying the relief the water brought after such a stressful day.Just as I was about to take another sip, a su
Clara I smiled softly as the thought slipped into my mind, unexpected yet impossible to ignore. It was one of those quiet moments where a simple idea suddenly feels important for no clear reason. I sat there wondering why Jason’s brother, Mike, would ever call me on the phone just to say he wanted to see me. The idea seemed strange, almost unreal, and that was exactly why it stayed in my head. The more I thought about it, the more curious I became, and my smile slowly widened without me even noticing. Mike and I had never been particularly close. We knew each other through Jason, shared a few conversations here and there, but nothing that would normally lead to a personal phone call. That was what made the thought so mysterious. I imagined my phone ringing unexpectedly, Mike’s name appearing on the screen, and his voice sounding calm but serious as he told me he wanted to see me. I wondered how I would respond at that moment. Would I act surprised? Would I laugh nervou
Jason The bar was dimly lit, filled with the soft hum of conversations and the slow rhythm of jazz playing from hidden speakers. Rain tapped gently against the windows, matching the heaviness I carried inside me after the kind of day that seemed determined to go wrong from the very beginning. I sat across from Mike in our usual corner booth, staring blankly at the half-filled glass of red wine in front of me. My shoulders were tense, my mind exhausted, and every attempt Mike made to lighten the mood only drifted past me unnoticed.Mike, however, seemed distracted. His phone buzzed for what felt like the fifth time that evening, and when he glanced at the screen, his expression changed instantly. “It’s Clara,” Mike muttered before answering the call. He leaned slightly away from the table, lowering his voice, but not enough to stop my curiosity from growing.At first, I tried not to listen. I swirled the wine in my glass and focused on the rain outside, but fragments of the conver
Clara I walked into the kitchen quietly, almost like I was stepping into a different version of myself. The house was calm, and the soft sound of plates shifting and water running filled the silence. It had been a while since I made the effort to do something simple and warm for someone else, and honestly, it had been a while since I allowed myself to feel open. Lately, I had stayed inside my own thoughts too much, distant without meaning to be. But tonight felt different. I wanted to come out of my shell and act right again.I opened the fridge and stood there for a moment, thinking about what to prepare. Nothing complicated just something comforting. Something that could create a small moment between Mirabella and me without pressure or awkwardness. I started gathering ingredients slowly, moving with intention. The kitchen lights reflected softly against the counter while I prepared everything, and with each step, I felt myself relaxing. It wasn’t really about the food. It was
Jason “Do you want me to call Clara myself and speak to her?” Mike asked, leaning forward in his chair with a serious expression on his face. His voice carried a mixture of concern and determination, as though he was already prepared for whatever answer I might give him.I looked away for a moment and stared through the window beside us. The evening sky was slowly turning orange as the sun disappeared behind the buildings. My thoughts were crowded with worry. Clara had not replied to my messages for days, and every attempt I made to reach her had ended in silence. I could not tell whether she was angry, hurt, or simply avoiding me. The uncertainty was exhausting.“I don’t know if that will be a good idea,” I finally replied quietly. “But let’s see how it will go.”Mike nodded slowly, though I could tell he was not fully convinced by my hesitation. He had always been the type of person who believed problems should be faced directly. Unlike me, he never allowed fear or doubt to
Jason I had fallen asleep on the couch sometime after midnight, though sleep was probably too generous a word for it. My body had shut down, but my mind still felt restless, tangled up in half-finished thoughts and the dull weight of exhaustion. The living room was dark except for the faint glow from the television I’d forgotten to turn off. A blanket hung halfway off me, twisted around my legs, and my neck ached from the awkward angle I’d been lying in for hours. Everything about me felt heavy my eyes, my arms, even breathing seemed like work.I remember waking up slightly when I heard the front door click open. At first, I ignored it, too tired to move, but then I heard footsteps crossing the room. Mike stopped near the couch, and for a second there was just silence before he spoke.“Yo… are you okay?”His voice sounded cautious, almost concerned. I opened my eyes slowly and looked up at him, but I could tell immediately from his expression that I must’ve looked terrible. My
Clara I was so emotional and all but I told myself that I won’t cry out for anyone to see, really it was not worth the time and energy for it. I learned early that tears invite questions, and questions demand answers I do not have the energy to give. So it swallows everything that people can see
Jason But before I leave, I pause not abruptly, not enough to feel like a reversal, just a slight delay in motion, as though one more variable has surfaced and deserves acknowledgment. I turned back toward Clara, my expression unchanged, my presence still controlled. What he’s about to say is no
Jason It doesn't soften the blow. I looked around me, I simply reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and held it out to her, screen already lit. The gesture is steady, almost formal, as if this is something he has decided, carefully, to deliver exactly as it is.“Look,” I said. Clara hes
Jason I got home, freshened up, took out a pair of trousers and a shirt, quickly brushed out my hair, and I just feel everything is fine with Clara. I didn’t remember grabbing my keys or shutting the door behind me; I only remembered the blur of streetlights streaking past my hands gripping the s







