Chapter Four — The Barn at Midnight
891 Words
Nerisa couldn't sleep.
She had tried.
She put her phone away. Closed her eyes. Turned to the wall. Turned back.
Nothing.
The conversation she had overheard kept replaying in her head.
She has a right to know what happened.
What happened?
And why did Gabriel sound like he already knew the answer?
Nerisa sat up.
She looked at the window.
The farm was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
Then she saw a light coming from the barn.
She frowned.
It was nearly midnight.
Who was working at this hour?
She got out of bed.
She told herself she was only going to look.
Nothing more.
She slipped on a pair of sandals and quietly left the room.
The night air was colder than she expected.
As she walked towards the barn, she could hear music.
She stopped.
Music?
She moved closer.
The barn door was slightly open.
Light spilled through the gap.
Nerisa peeked inside.
Gabriel was there.
He was sitting on an old wooden box with his elbows resting on his knees, staring at his phone.
He looked different.
No teasing smile.
No stupid jokes.
Just... tired.
Nerisa almost turned around.
Then he looked up.
Their eyes met.
His eyebrows rose.
“What are you doing here?”
Nerisa stepped into the barn.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“I work here.”
“At midnight?”
He shrugged.
“Sometimes.”
She looked around.
“You're not working.”
“I know.”
“So why are you here?”
He stared at her for a moment.
“Couldn't sleep.”
Nerisa nodded.
“Me too.”
There was silence.
Gabriel moved over slightly.
“You can sit.”
Nerisa hesitated.
Then she sat on the other end of the wooden box.
Not too close.
He noticed.
He didn't say anything.
For a while, they listened to the music playing softly from his phone.
Nerisa looked around the barn.
She liked it.
It smelled like wood, hay and something warm she couldn't describe.
“Do you come here often?” she asked.
Gabriel nodded.
“Since I was a kid.”
“Why?”
He shrugged.
“It's quiet.”
Nerisa smiled slightly.
“I like quiet.”
“I noticed.”
She looked at him.
“Are you going to keep making fun of me?”
“Probably.”
She rolled her eyes.
He smiled.
For a few minutes, neither of them spoke.
Then Gabriel looked at her.
“You heard us earlier.”
Nerisa's stomach dropped.
“Who?”
“Don't.”
She looked away.
“I wasn't listening.”
“You were standing by the window.”
Her face became hot.
“You saw me?”
“I saw your shadow.”
“Oh.”
She didn't know what else to say.
Gabriel sighed.
“You're curious.”
“Yes.”
“That's dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because some things are better left alone.”
Nerisa looked at him.
“Does that mean there's actually something?”
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
“What happened?”
“Nerisa.”
“I'm just asking.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
Gabriel looked down at his hands.
“You've been here for two days.”
“So?”
“So you barely know us.”
“I know.”
“You don't know what happened between our families.”
Nerisa stared at him.
“Our families?”
Gabriel went still.
For a second, Nerisa thought he might tell her everything.
Instead, he stood.
“I should take you back.”
“What?”
“It's late.”
“You didn't answer me.”
“I know.”
She stood too.
“Gabriel.”
He turned.
“What?”
“Did my family do something to yours?”
His face changed.
That tiny reaction told her more than his words could.
Nerisa felt a strange knot form in her stomach.
Gabriel walked towards her.
He stopped a few feet away.
“No.”
She studied his face.
“You're lying.”
He looked away.
“Go to bed, Nerisa.”
She couldn't believe him.
“You can't just say that and expect me to sleep.”
“You were sleeping before you heard us.”
“Exactly. Now I know something is wrong.”
Gabriel sighed.
“Please.”
That word stopped her.
Not because he sounded angry.
Because he sounded tired.
Nerisa looked at him for a long moment.
Then she nodded.
“Fine.”
She walked towards the door.
Before she stepped outside, Gabriel spoke.
“Nerisa.”
She turned.
He looked at her.
“There are things about your family that you don't know.”
Her heart sank.
“What things?”
He hesitated.
“Things that aren't mine to tell you.”
She stared at him.
“Then whose are they?”
Gabriel didn't answer.
Nerisa walked back to the house.
She didn't look behind her.
But Gabriel watched until she disappeared.
Then he pulled his phone out.
There was one unread message.
He opened it.
His expression hardened.
You can't keep hiding the truth forever.
Gabriel stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Especially now that she's here.
He locked the phone.
For the first time since Nerisa arrived, Gabriel looked afraid.
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