chapter three : Dinner

The restaurant is quiet in that carefully polished way—soft lighting, low music, plates that arrive like they belong to a different world than conversation.

Chloe sits across from them, smiling as she eats. She keeps glancing between Nancy and Elvan, as if still adjusting to how naturally they sit in the same space.

Then, casually—almost too casually—she says,

"Do you remember our last week before graduation?"

For Chloe, it's just nostalgia. A harmless thread from the past.

But for Nancy—

everything pauses.

Not visibly at first.

Just internally.

Her hand stills mid-movement.

Her expression doesn't change, but something behind her eyes does.

Chloe continues lightly, unaware.

"I suddenly remembered something from that time…"

She tilts her head slightly, thinking.

"You were wearing that top… isn't this the same one you wore on that trip too?"

A simple sentence.

No weight in her voice.

Just recognition.

But for Nancy, the air shifts.

Her fingers tighten around her glass, just slightly.

Not enough for anyone to notice.

But enough for her to feel it.

She doesn't respond.

Across from her, Elvan hears it too.

His gaze drops to his plate almost immediately, like he's choosing not to follow where that memory leads.

His jaw tightens for a moment—small, controlled—then relaxes again.

Chloe smiles, still unaware she has brushed something invisible.

"I always liked that one on you. It suited you."

Gawin, sensing the faint change in atmosphere but unable to understand it, glances between them.

"Oh… you guys went on trips together?"

Nancy gives a small, polite smile.

Too quick.

Too practiced.

But inside—

something pulls tight.

Not a memory she can place cleanly.

Just a feeling of being somewhere she doesn't fully recognize anymore.

Across the table, Elvan stays quiet.

But his grip on the spoon shifts slightly before settling again.

Chloe continues eating, humming softly to herself, still comfortable in the past she remembers.

And that's what makes it worse.

Because no one else seems to feel what just moved through the table.

Nancy slowly places her napkin down.

The sound feels sharper than it should.

She stands.

"I… I should go."

Chloe looks up immediately, confused.

"Wait—did I say something wrong?"

Nancy shakes her head quickly.

"No… it's not you."

Her voice is steady, but careful—like she's holding it together by habit.

She avoids looking at Elvan.

Because even a glance feels dangerous now.

Gawin half-stands.

"I can drop you—"

"No. I'm fine."

It comes out faster than intended.

A boundary drawn before anyone can question it.

She picks up her bag.

For a moment, no one moves.

Not because they agree.

But because they don't understand what just changed.

Nancy looks briefly at Chloe.

Soft expression.

No anger.

Just distance she can't explain.

Then she turns and leaves.

The door closes behind her quietly.

And the table stays full—

of people who suddenly feel like they're remembering something differently.

Nancy leaves the restaurant quietly.

No one stops her this time.

The door closes behind her, soft—but final in a way that doesn't need sound to feel heavy.

Outside, the air is colder.

Not enough to matter at first.

But enough to make everything inside her suddenly too loud.

She walks a little away from the entrance.

Not far.

Just enough that she won't be seen if someone casually looks out.

A dark corner near the side of the restaurant, where the glow from inside barely reaches.

She sits down.

At first, nothing happens.

Just silence.

Then her breathing breaks slightly.

And then she can't hold it anymore.

Tears come fast—unexpected, unorganized, like something she had been postponing for too long.

Her hand covers her mouth immediately, trying to silence it.

But there is no audience here.

No need to be strong.

So she stops trying.

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere continues for a few seconds like nothing changed.

Chloe is still eating, unaware of the weight she left behind.

Elvan sits still.

Not speaking.

Not moving.

Just present, but not participating anymore.

Gawin, however, pushes his chair back.

"I'll go."

Chloe looks up. "Huh?"

But he is already standing.

He doesn't explain.

Doesn't look at Elvan for permission or response.

He simply leaves.

Outside, Gawin steps out into the quiet street.

He pauses.

Looks around.

At first—nothing.

Just cars passing, faint noise, restaurant glow spilling onto the pavement.

Then—

a sound.

Soft.

Broken.

Not loud enough for anyone to notice unless they were already listening for it.

He turns slightly.

And sees her.

Nancy.

Sitting in the dark corner.

Head lowered.

Still.

He doesn't move immediately.

Something in him says go.

Something else says don't make it worse.

So he stays at a distance.

Hidden in plain sight.

Watching without being obvious.

Nancy wipes her face quickly when she hears movement nearby.

Her breathing tightens.

She forces herself upright.

Composes her expression.

By the time she stands, she is already pretending nothing happened.

She takes a step out of the corner—

and stops.

Gawin is there.

Casual posture.

As if he had just stepped out normally.

Not like he had been standing there for the past several minutes.

"Oh—hey," he says first, light tone.

Nancy quickly fixes her expression.

"You… aren't you having dinner?"

"I did," Gawin replies easily. "Got a call from home. Had to leave."

A pause.

Nancy nods slowly.

"Oh… then you should—"

Her voice almost cracks, but she covers it.

Neither of them mentions what is obvious.

Her eyes are slightly red.

Her face too controlled.

Her hair slightly messy from her hands trying to fix herself too many times.

But Gawin looks at her like he didn't notice anything.

Or like he chose not to.

It is hard to tell.

He glances at her briefly.

"Why are you still here? It's been a while since you left."

Nancy tenses for half a second.

Then answers too quickly.

"I… couldn't get a cab."

Gawin nods once.

"Let me drop you."

"No, it's okay. I booked one—it's coming."

A beat.

Silence stretches.

Gawin looks at her properly now.

Not intense.

Just steady.

"Don't lie."

The words are simple.

Not harsh.

But they land directly.

Nancy goes quiet.

Because she knows she has no better answer.

After a moment, she exhales slightly.

"…Fine."

They walk to his car in silence.

The kind of silence that is no longer uncomfortable—but careful.

Like both of them are avoiding stepping on something fragile.

Inside the car, Gawin starts driving without asking much.

Nancy looks out the window.

Hands folded tightly in her lap.

Trying to return to normal.

Failing slightly.

After a few minutes, Gawin reaches into the side compartment and pulls out a wet tissue packet.

He places one on the console.

"Here."

Nancy looks at it.

Then at him.

Confused.

He doesn't turn fully.

Just says casually,

"Your face… makeup got messy."

A pause.

Then, almost as if adding distance on purpose:

"Don't wear too much. It doesn't suit you."

Nancy stares at him for a second.

Then grabs the napkin a little sharply.

"Wow, thanks."

She wipes her face while looking at the mirror, slightly annoyed—but also grateful in a way she won't admit.

Gawin continues driving like nothing happened.

After a while, Nancy notices the route.

Her brows knit.

"That's not my way."

"I know."

She turns fully now.

"…Are you trying to kidnap me or something so you can make money?"

Gawin finally smiles.

"Yes. Obviously. I needed fuel money anyway."

Nancy scoffs.

"You're very bad at crime."

"Yeah, I specialize in honest crimes."

That gets a small laugh out of her.

Short.

But real.

And for a moment, the car feels lighter.

They stop near a small ice cream shop.

Nancy looks at it.

Then at him.

"Ice cream?"

Gawin unbuckles his seatbelt.

"Yes. After dinner. Mandatory."

"I don't want."

"You don't get a vote."

She exhales, half annoyed, half amused—but still gets out.

Inside, they stand in line.

Nancy keeps insisting she won't take anything.

Gawin orders anyway.

Two cones.

When he hands her one, she hesitates.

Then finally takes a bite.

The change is small—but visible.

Her shoulders loosen slightly.

Her eyes soften in a way that wasn't there ten minutes ago.

Gawin notices.

"So it's true," he says.

"What?"

"People really feel better with ice cream."

Nancy rolls her eyes.

"Everyone likes ice cream. It's not gender-based therapy."

He nods.

"Fair."

Outside again, they walk back to the car.

At one point, ice cream melts slightly onto Nancy's hand.

Without thinking, Gawin reaches out and wipes it gently with a napkin.

It happens naturally.

Too naturally.

Both of them freeze for half a second.

Nancy steps back slightly.

Gawin clears his throat.

"…Sorry. Reflex."

Nancy takes the napkin from him quickly.

"Yeah. It's fine."

But neither of them fully returns to how they were before that moment.

The rest of the drive is quieter.

Not tense.

Just thoughtful.

Finally, they reach her place.

Nancy looks at the gate.

"Here."

Gawin parks.

"Okay."

She opens the door, pauses.

Then turns slightly.

"…Thanks for today."

A small, honest smile.

"I really needed the ice cream."

Gawin leans back slightly.

"Anytime. Ice cream is important business."

She smiles a little more this time.

Then gets out.

He waits.

Doesn't leave immediately.

Watches until she goes inside.

Until the door closes.

After Dinner (Elvan & Chloe)

The table in the restaurant feels emptier the moment Nancy leaves.

Not physically.

But something in the atmosphere shifts, like a sound that suddenly got muted mid-note.

Chloe sits still for a second, spoon paused halfway.

Then she lowers it slowly.

"I feel like…" she starts, hesitating. "I said something I shouldn't have."

Elvan doesn't look up immediately.

His gaze stays on the table, on nothing in particular.

Then he answers, calm but flat.

"No. You just need to think twice sometimes."

Chloe glances at him.

There's something off in his tone—not anger exactly.

More like distraction that refuses to leave.

He's physically here, but not fully in the conversation.

Chloe follows his line of sight unconsciously.

But he isn't looking at her.

He isn't really looking at anything.

She exhales softly.

Something clicks in her mind.

He's still stuck there.

Not on her words.

Not on the dinner.

On Nancy.

Chloe lowers her voice a little.

"…Do you think Nancy might've reached home by now?"

Elvan doesn't respond.

Not even a glance.

Chloe pauses.

Then reaches for her phone.

She dials Nancy.

It rings.

No answer.

Her fingers tighten slightly.

She tries again.

Still nothing.

A small crease forms between her brows.

Then she changes the contact.

Nancy's home number.

"Hello?" a voice answers.

"Chloe here," she says quickly. "I dropped Nancy earlier, is she there?"

A pause.

Then—

"Nancy? No… she hasn't come home yet."

Chloe straightens immediately.

"…Not yet?"

Now there's concern in her voice.

"Nana, are you sure?"

The other end shifts.

"What happened? Why isn't she home?"

Chloe quickly forces calm into her tone.

"No, no—it's okay. I was just asking. I'll call her. Don't worry."

A beat.

"You're sure everything is fine?"

"Yes, yes. I'll call her right now."

The call ends.

Chloe lowers the phone slowly.

Her expression changes.

"It's strange," she says softly. "She's not picking up. And she hasn't reached home."

She looks at Elvan now.

A little uncertainty creeping in.

"What if… something happened?

Elvan's jaw tightens slightly.

Just a flicker.

But he doesn't look at her.

Doesn't answer the question.

Instead, he pushes his chair back.

"Let's go. Are you done?"

Chloe stares at him for a second.

Then nods.

"…Yeah. Let's go."

They leave the restaurant.

The night air outside feels heavier now.

Like the world got quieter in the wrong places.

In Chloe's car, both sit in the back while the driver starts moving.

Chloe keeps checking her phone.

Waiting.

After a few minutes—

It rings.

Nancy.

Chloe immediately picks up.

"Are you okay? Did you reach home?"

Nancy's voice comes through, slightly rushed.

"Yes, yes. Don't worry. I'm home."

A pause.

Chloe exhales in relief.

"Okay… fine. Then we'll talk tomorrow."

"Yes. Bye."

"Bye."

The call ends.

Silence returns inside the car.

But this time it feels different.

Lighter.

Chloe lowers her phone.

Then looks at Elvan.

"There. She reached."

Elvan finally speaks.

"I heard."

No relief in his voice.

Just acknowledgment.

But Chloe notices something else.

A slight change in his face.

Subtle.

Controlled.

But there.

Like he was holding something too tightly… and only now let it loosen a fraction.

And still—

he doesn't say her name.

(nancy and gawin )

After nancy went inside

Only then does Gawin speak softly to himself.

"Don't speed up, idiot…"

A pause.

"…you only need her for one year."

The car starts.

And drives away.

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