Chapter 10 — Collision
337 Words
Three days later, Jerinah finally returned to the park.
Drecel was already there.
The moment he saw her, relief immediately crossed his face.
“You disappeared again,” he said.
Jerinah sat beside him carefully.
“I know.”
“You scared me.”
The words caught her off guard.
“…Sorry.”
Drecel looked at her tired expression.
“You look exhausted.”
“I am.”
Silence settled briefly.
Then suddenly, Drecel asked,
“Why do you shut everyone out when things get bad?”
Jerinah’s expression immediately hardened.
“Why are you asking like that?”
“Because I’m worried.”
“I didn’t ask you to worry.”
The tension instantly returned.
Drecel sighed softly.
“Jerinah, caring about someone means worrying about them.”
“There.” She laughed bitterly. “That’s exactly the problem.”
“What problem?”
“You care too much.”
Drecel stared at her in confusion.
“You act like I’m some responsibility you need to save.”
“That’s not true.”
“Then why do you always look at me like I’m fragile?”
“Because sometimes you are.”
The sentence hit harder than expected.
Jerinah quickly stood up from the bench.
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“You pity me.”
Drecel stood up too.
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.” Her voice started shaking slightly. “Everyone does eventually.”
“That’s not what this is.”
“Then what is it?”
Drecel opened his mouth slightly before stopping himself.
Because honestly?
He did not fully know anymore.
The silence between them became heavy.
Jerinah laughed weakly while stepping back.
“You know what’s funny?” she muttered. “I told myself not to get attached.”
Drecel’s chest tightened immediately.
“Jerinah—”
“But I still did anyway.”
The vulnerability in her voice completely changed the atmosphere.
And suddenly, neither of them knew how to continue the conversation.
- Writer
