Chapter Two: Unexpected Connections
266 Words
Over the following months, the four of them grew closer.
Felix created a group chat, organized outings, and made sure everyone stayed connected. Soon there were brunches, football nights, birthday celebrations, and spontaneous meetups.
Felix's interest in Goodness became obvious.
He remembered everything she mentioned, planned thoughtful dates, and pursued her with complete confidence.
Goodness enjoyed his company, though she rarely revealed exactly how she felt.
Meanwhile, Andrew and Ella found themselves talking more often.
Their conversations happened naturally—in kitchens during parties, outside on balconies, or while waiting for rides home.
One evening at Felix's apartment, they escaped a crowded room and ended up talking alone on the balcony.
Andrew told her about his work in urban planning and how losing his father at seventeen had shaped many of his choices.
Ella shared stories about her graphic design career, her younger brother, and her struggle to fully feel at home in the city.
The conversation lasted nearly an hour.
Neither of them noticed the time passing.
After that night, talking became easy.
Ella learned that Andrew called his sister every Sunday without fail. He learned that Ella carried other people's burdens more often than she admitted.
What surprised her most wasn't how much they talked.
It was how comfortable it felt.
One day Goodness casually asked what she and Andrew always discussed.
"Nothing exciting," Ella replied. "Mostly random things."
Goodness laughed.
"I'll leave the deep conversations to you two."
Ella smiled.
Somewhere along the way, Andrew had become the person she looked forward to seeing.
She wasn't ready to admit how much that mattered.
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