Todos os capítulos de After Five Years: Capítulo 51 - Capítulo 60

Aisha's POV We walked home along the narrow path, bordered by dense shrubs and trees on both sides. The sound of the river gradually faded behind us, but my heart was still racing like I had just run a long distance. Maybe it was the warm, humid air or the kiss we had shared. Perhaps it was both.Julien walked beside me. Silent. So was I.We didn’t say anything for the first few minutes. Just the sound of footsteps on the wet ground and the chirping of small birds accompanying our steps.Occasionally, I stole glances at him. He looked calm, but from the expression on his face, the way he slightly lowered his head and smiled to himself, I knew he was just as nervous as I was. Maybe even more.Then our hands brushed against each other. Just the tip of a finger. But it felt like a small spark of electricity coursing from my toes to my head. Reflexively, I pulled my hand back.“Sorry,” I said quickly, feeling foolish for being so re

Aisha's POV The Paris sky greeted us with gray clouds and a cold breeze that tickled our cheeks. So different from the warm air of the village we had just left. I took a deep breath, the familiar airport aroma felt suffocating—a mix of exhaustion, longing, and the reality that we were back to our old routines.The atmosphere in the airport was bustling, announcements and hurried footsteps reminding me of a busy life. Yet, in my heart, I still felt the warmth of the moments we shared in the village. All the dreams and hopes we planted there felt much more real compared to the hustle and bustle here.“Are you starting to miss the village?” Julien asked, looking at me with a gentle smile.“Yes,” I replied, missing the simple and warm atmosphere we left behind. “I hope everything is going well there.”We walked toward the pickup area, and I couldn’t help but recall the laughter and togetherness we had. “We have to go back,” I said, hoping.

Aisha's POV Mornings in Paris always come with the aroma of toast and the sound of chirping birds from behind the window. But this morning felt different. My heart raced faster than usual, and not because I was returning to work at the hospital after a long trip. It was for one reason that filled my stomach with butterflies.Julien would be picking me up this morning.I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my reflection in the vanity mirror. My hair was freshly dried, still a bit frizzy and messy from the cold air. I picked up a comb, trying to tame the unruly strands, but my mind had already drifted far since I opened my eyes this morning.Since the incident by the river… since the kiss that happened amidst laughter and sunlight… something had changed. Not just between us, but also within me. Julien was no longer just a project partner. He occupied my thoughts like a shadow that lingered, slipping into the silence, making me smile unconsciously.

Aisha's POV I looked at Julien, who had come all the way just to bring me dinner. “You... didn’t have to go through the trouble of coming here.” Julien shrugged. “But I wanted to. And I’m hungry too. So, win-win.” I nodded slightly, not having the energy to argue. “Okay,” I finally said.We walked together to my office. In the comfortable silence, there were only the sounds of footsteps and the rustling of the paper bags. Upon entering, I immediately dropped into the chair, removed my medical mask, and rested my head back. Julien opened one of the bags and pulled out two warm food containers. The aroma of creamy soup and toasted bread filled the room, making my stomach rumble softly. “I know your taste isn’t too complicated,” he said as he placed the food on my desk. “So I chose mushroom soup and cheese bread. And cappuccino. I remember you love this.” I looked at him gratefully. “Julien... thank you. Really.” He smiled and sat

Aisha's POV After washing my face and changing into a slightly neater outfit, I returned to the room to find Rika opening a paper bag containing two croissants and a small box of fruit slices. “Did you bring breakfast too?” I asked with a smile, sitting down beside her. “Of course. I knew you probably hadn’t had a chance to eat. Besides, if you faint from exhaustion, who’s going to operate on your patients later?” she teased, handing me one of the croissants. I accepted the bread with a warm smile. “You are the best friend,” I said before taking a bite of the warm, crispy pastry. We ate while chatting lightly about work, some medical dramas Rika was watching, and the antics of elderly patients who often pretended to be sick just to chat longer with the nurses. Suddenly, Rika's eyes turned to the small trash can in the corner of the room. Her brow furrowed. “Hey, is that... flowers?” I followed her gaze and saw the dried petals sligh