Chapter 8-The visit
667 Words
The apartment was quiet when they walked in. Olivia dropped her keys on the table and turned toward Daniel, but he was already standing by the window, his arms folded.
“So,” he said after a long pause, his voice even but tense, “that’s the new neighbor? What are you doing walking together with him?”
Olivia blinked, caught off guard. “Ethan? We just happened to leave work at the same time. We live in the same building, Daniel. It’s not a big deal.”
Daniel let out a small, dry laugh. “Not a big deal? You two looked… close.”
She frowned. “You’re unbelievable. You disappear without saying a word, then show up here acting jealous?”
“I’m not jealous,” he said quickly, though his tone betrayed him. “I just don’t like surprises.”
Olivia crossed her arms. “Well, I didn’t like waking up and realizing you were gone. You didn’t even say goodbye, Daniel.”
He turned to face her fully now. “I had things to clear up. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Then make me understand!” she snapped. “Because every time something happens, you just shut me out. Do you even realize how that feels?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened, his silence answering for him.
“I was worried,” she continued softly. “You left without a word, and now you show up questioning who I walk home with?”
He sighed, the anger fading into weariness. “I didn’t come here to fight. I just… I didn’t like seeing you with him.”
“Well, you’re going to have to get used to it,” she said, quieter now. “He’s working at the restaurant. I can’t avoid him.”
Daniel’s eyes flickered — guilt, maybe, or something heavier. “I miss how things were,” he said finally.
Olivia’s voice dropped. “Then you shouldn’t have left.”
He looked at her for a long moment, like he wanted to say something more, but instead he just nodded slightly. “I should go.”
She didn’t stop him. The door closed softly behind him, leaving her alone in the half-lit room, the echo of his words still in the air.
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The next morning, the restaurant was busy. Olivia moved quickly from table to table, avoiding small talk, throwing herself into work. The sound of dishes and chatter made it easier to think about anything but last night.
But then she froze. Daniel stood near the entrance, his hands in his pockets, watching her.
He walked over slowly. “Hey.”
“Daniel.” Her voice was steady but cool. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to apologize,” he said. “For yesterday. I shouldn’t have said what I did. I just… seeing you with him—it got to me.”
Olivia nodded slightly, but her tone stayed calm. “Ethan and I were just walking home. That’s all.”
“I know,” Daniel replied quietly. “I messed up.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Olivia sighed. “You can’t keep doing this, Daniel. Leaving, coming back, acting like everything’s fine.”
“I know,” he said again, looking down. “I’m trying.”
Her manager’s voice cut through the air. “Olivia! Table three’s waiting!”
She turned quickly. “I have to get back to work.”
Daniel gave a small nod. “Yeah. I’ll see you around.”
He started toward the door, pausing briefly. “I really am sorry.”
Olivia didn’t turn around. “I know,” she said softly.
When he left, she stood for a moment, her hands resting on the counter, trying to steady herself. Then she looked up — and across the room, Ethan was watching her quietly before turning back to his work.
Neither of them said a word. But something in the silence felt heavier than before.
- Writer
