The Shortcut Home
630 Words
Chapter 11
Mia didn’t look back as she left the rooftop, but her footsteps were faster than usual, the kind of pace someone takes when they’re trying to outrun their thoughts.
By the time she reached the street, the city was alive with neon signs and the hum of late-night traffic. She was halfway to booking a ride when a familiar voice stopped her.
“Mia!”
Leo was jogging toward her, slightly out of breath. Andrea was nowhere in sight.
“You shouldn’t follow me,” Mia said without turning, but her voice lacked conviction.
“Then don’t walk so fast,” he replied, a playful tone undercutting the seriousness in his eyes. “Let me walk you home.”
She hesitated. “And if I say no?”
“Then I’ll just walk a few steps behind you until you get tired of pretending you don’t want me here.”
Mia shot him a glare, but the corner of her lips betrayed a tiny, unwanted smile. “You’re still annoying.”
“And you’re still here.”
They fell into step together, the city lights brushing against their faces as they passed small cafés and late-night street food stalls. The scent of grilled isaw (chicken intestine barbecue) drifted in the air, and Leo slowed down, glancing at her.
“Still your favorite?” he asked.
Mia rolled her eyes. “Don’t act like you remember everything.”
“I remember more than you think,” Leo said softly, his gaze steady on her. “Like how you always eat the last piece, even if you pretend you don’t want it.”
She almost laughed, almost.
The walk felt longer than it should have. Not because of the distance, but because every step carried unspoken memories. At a quiet intersection, Leo gently touched her elbow to guide her across. It was such a small gesture, but it sent an old, familiar warmth rushing back into her chest.
When they reached her apartment building, Mia stopped. “This is it. You can go.”
But Leo didn’t move. “Let me see you up.”
“That’s not a good idea.”
“Neither was letting you go, but I did it anyway,” he said, voice low but firm. “I’m not making the same mistake twice.”
For a moment, Mia just looked at him, the stubborn tilt of his jaw, the hint of vulnerability in his eyes. She turned toward the elevator, expecting him to follow. And he did.
Inside the small, mirrored space, the air felt heavier. Mia stared at the glowing floor numbers, refusing to meet his eyes.
Leo, however, never looked away.
When the elevator chimed and the doors slid open, Mia stepped out quickly. But before she could unlock her door, Leo spoke again, his voice softer now.
“Mia… kung gusto mo pa rin akong itaboy, sabihin mo. Pero kung kahit kaunti lang… kaunti lang… gusto mong malaman kung saan tayo pwedeng makarating ngayon, don’t shut me out tonight.”
She froze, her keys in hand. Her pulse betrayed her faster, louder.
“I’m not promising anything,” she whispered.
Leo took a slow step forward, close enough that she could feel the faint heat of his skin. “I’m not asking you to.”
For a heartbeat, they just stood there close, but not touching, as if the air between them was the only thing holding back a storm.
Then Mia unlocked her door and stepped inside. She didn’t invite him in. But she didn’t close the door right away either.
Leo’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “Goodnight, Mia.”
The door clicked shut, but the echo of his voice lingered like a touch she hadn’t felt in years.
- Writer
