Episode 3
1126 Words
Cate's POV
The silence between us was louder than the engine hum of the shuttle.
We were inside the company utility vehicle now — just me, Ali, and Karl. The rest of the team stayed behind at the conference office. Karl said the next areas were too dusty for a full group. An excuse? Maybe. But I didn’t argue.
"Next stop, safety checkpoint and the manual time-in zone," Karl said, keeping his tone professional. Emotionless. As if we were strangers.
But I wasn’t fooled.
Even if I wasn’t looking at him, I could feel his glances. The kind you pretend not to notice — but they're heavy.
"The system flow is really good," Ali said, trying to fill the awkward air. "Looks complex but structured."
Karl nodded. "We've been improving it the past two years."
Two years.
Exactly the time we’ve been apart.
[Flashback – 2 Years Ago]
"Why does it feel like you're the only one adjusting?"
I remembered shouting that night.
"Because I’m the only one still willing to fight, Cate!"
He yelled back.
The apartment was a mess. We were too.
"I never asked you to stay, Karl. You just kept choosing to."
"Because I love you!"
"Then let me go."
That was the last fight.
The one with no closure.
No goodbye.
"Cate? You okay?" Ali’s voice pulled me back.
I blinked. "Huh? Yeah. Yeah, I’m good."
We stopped at the next checkpoint. Karl got off first, motioning for us to follow.
As we walked, I focused on the explanations — RFID scans, emergency response buttons, location syncing with the database. I took notes. Pretending everything was normal.
But every time Karl and I locked eyes — even for just a moment — something came rushing back.
[Flashback – Year 3 Together]
"Promise me that no matter what happens... you'll still chase your dreams, Cate."
I smiled. "We'll dream together."
"When we get married, let’s sing our song, okay?"
"‘I Guess I’m In Love’?"
He laughed. "Corny, but yeah."
Back to the present.
"Careful on the stairs," Karl suddenly said, standing beside me as we moved up to the next zone.
"I’m fine," I replied flatly, brushing past him. But I couldn’t help but notice...
he still walked behind me like he used to.
As if ready to catch me.
We reached the top deck — overlooking the entire site.
Ali was busy taking pictures for reference, so the two of us ended up alone by the railing.
"Did you know I’d be here?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"No," he said — a little too quickly. "Believe me, if I knew... I wouldn’t have volunteered."
I swallowed hard. "Good. Because if you knew, and still said yes... that would’ve been cruel."
He stayed silent.
Only the wind answered us. And the sound of my heart beating faster, against my will.
"I never stopped thinking about you," Karl said suddenly.
I looked at him.
He didn’t smile. He just looked... sad.
"Don’t," I whispered. "Let’s not go there."
Karl looked away.
And just like that, the silence returned.
But this time, it wasn’t peaceful.
It was heavy.
Because the past we tried to bury had resurfaced —
and now, it stood right between us.
Back at the office, I went straight to my desk. I didn’t say much. I didn’t even wait for Ali.
I just needed a moment to breathe.
I slumped into my chair, staring at my screen — but my mind was far, far from the project dashboard in front of me.
What the hell just happened?
After all this time... how could he still affect me like that?
Just seeing Karl brought everything back — the good, the bad, the beautiful, the painful.
Ironically, right?
I thought I had healed.
I thought everything was over.
But one "Cate" from him... and I was 22 again.
In love. In pain. In denial.
I rested my forehead on the desk.
"Ugh."
Why now? Why here?
My phone buzzed.
I didn’t check it right away — assumed it was the team group chat or an email alert.
But something tugged at me.
So I flipped the screen.
[1 New Message – Unknown Number]
I blinked.
Slowly, I opened it.
Hi.
It’s me.
I know I shouldn’t message you.
But... I didn’t know it would still feel like this.
– K
Suddenly, my chest felt heavy.
I stared at the message. No emojis. No name.
But I felt every word.
I didn’t know how to reply.
Or if I even should.
So I locked my phone again and just stared blankly at my desk.
Because the truth is...
I didn’t know how to feel anymore.
"You’ve been quiet since we got back," Ali said while organizing snacks at the pantry table. "Unusual for you. You’re usually the one with a hundred questions during tours."
I tried to smile. "Maybe I’m just tired."
"Tired... or triggered?" she teased, raising an eyebrow.
I blinked. "Triggered?"
Ali leaned closer. "Cate. I’m not blind. Or numb. I heard Karl’s tone earlier. And the way you two looked at each other."
I looked down. "It was nothing."
"Seriously?" she crossed her arms. "You’re gonna keep secrets from your favorite cafeteria partner like that?"
I sighed. Deeply.
"Okay, fine," I muttered, leaning on the counter. "We... knew each other before."
"Knew?"
I nodded. "We were together. For five years."
Her jaw dropped. "As in... ex ex?!"
"Yeah."
"You mean that Karl Tan? The mining site engineer?"
I let out a dry laugh. "The one and only."
Ali blinked fast, taking it all in. "Girl. That’s... wow. No wonder the air felt so heavy earlier."
I didn’t answer. I just busied myself pouring coffee I wasn’t even planning to drink.
"Cate," she said gently, "Are you okay?"
I paused.
Was I?
"I don’t know," I admitted. "It’s been years. I thought I moved on. I thought... I was past it. But when I saw him again, everything I buried came back. Like it got scattered by the wind."
Ali just nodded, not pushing, not interrupting.
"But I’m not stupid," I added. "I’m not that girl anymore. I won’t be."
"Right," she said softly. "But... no matter how strong you are, it’s okay to feel tired sometimes. Or confused."
I looked at her — and for once — let my guard down.
"I’m scared," I whispered. "I’m scared because... what if I’m not really over it? What if... a part of me is still hoping?"
Ali took my hand and squeezed it gently.
"Then I’ll be here. No matter which version of you shows up, Catey."
And for the first time since the tour ended, I smiled — genuinely.
Maybe I wasn’t as alone as I thought.
- Writer
