chapter 2
968 Words
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> The Business lecture started in a medium-sized hall — mirrored walls, soft
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> The Business lecture started in a medium-sized hall — mirrored walls, soft lights, the projector already on.
New students were still scrambling for seats. Daniell sat at the far end of the row — strategic spot: he could see everyone, but no one could watch his back.
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📚 Three Years Later – Final Semester, UXKL
> The classroom atmosphere was much calmer than usual.
Most seniors had already gotten used to the schedules, lecturers, and daily routines...
But one thing still hadn’t changed.
> Part-time lecturer — Mr. Adrean Louise.
Still composed, still charming, but today… there was something different in his eyes.
Like someone who was this close to finding an answer they’d been chasing for years.
> “I’ll be assigning everyone into groups for your final semester project,” he said, scrolling through the list on his tablet.
> Tabby sat at her usual seat, wearing a fake smile.
Daniell next to her leaned back lazily — hoodie sleeves covering his hands, long legs crossed, looking like he just stepped off a private jet.
> “After class, check your group lists. I expect full cooperation. No excuses,” Adrean added.
> Tabby turned to Daniell, her smile sweet… but deadly.
“If I end up with a group of clowns, I’m dropping out for a week.”
> Daniell replied without
> Tabby flopped into the seat beside him, already unpacking her laptop and still talking about the seafood fried rice like it was a religious experience.
"That rice? I could forget men for three days straight, no joke."
> Suddenly, the lecture hall door opened.
Heads turned.
A tall young man walked in, neat black curly hair, holding a file
> Tabby flopped into the seat beside him, already unpacking her laptop and still talking about the seafood fried rice like it was a religious experience.
"That rice? I could forget men for three days straight, no joke."
> Suddenly, the lecture hall door opened.
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> The campus café was quite
Tabby sat at the farthest table — oversized UXKL hoodie, hair tied loosely, still holding her notes.
Beside her, Daniell was calmly scribbling something in a black leather notebook. He didn’t say a word, but his presence alone was enough to ground Tabby’s entire world.
> “I swear… if I fail this paper because of Firash, I’m gonna curse him from eating wagyu ever again,” Tabby muttered under her breath.
> Daniell didn’t answer. He only gave a faint smile.
Then…
He set his pen down. Slowly closed his book.
And looked at her — not with sarcasm, not with calm indifference…
But with a certain emptiness. A quiet heaviness.
> “Blink once… blink again… tomorrow’s your final paper, Tabby.”
Tabby paused.
“Then we graduate.
Then… we go our separate ways.”
> Tabby’s chest tightened.
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> Tabby rushed up to the 54th floor of the La Prince Heritage Hotel.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, fingers clutching her phone—redialing again and again.
But Daniell didn’t pick up. Not even once.
> The penthouse door unlocked with a soft chime after she pressed the intercom.
The air inside was still.
Familiar cologne lingered in a space that was too clean, too quiet.
Brian appeared from the hallway, mildly startled to find Tabby standing like a soul who’d lost her way.
> “Miss Tabby?”
She turned, eyes already glassy with unshed tears.
“Brian… where is Daniell?”
Brian nodded calmly and pulled a small card from his jacket pocket.
“He told me… if you ever came, I was to give you this.
He’s moved. To a private Ambrosio-owned penthouse.”
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🚗 On the Road
> Tabby drove alone.
The night grew deeper, and a slow love song playing on the radio began to sting too close to her heart.
> “Don’t come looking for me.
But remember—I was once here.”
> Daniell’s words echoed through her thoughts.
The more she replayed them,
the harder the tears began to fall.
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🏢 Ambrosio Penthouse – 10:36PM
> She pressed the doorbell.
Click.
The door unlocked.
Daniell stood in a black hoodie, his wavy hair slightly tousled over his forehead. His eyes were tired...
but when he saw Tabby—
his smile bloomed, soft and real.
> “Come in.”
> Tabby stepped inside,
and stopped cold.
The dining table—was full.
Every one of her favorite dishes.
Butter prawns. Spicy tomyam seafood.
Special chicken rice. Blackpepper roast.
Pahang-style sambal hitam.
A small red velvet cake sitting at the center.
> She stood still like a wax figure.
Daniell entered the kitchen again, placing down one final bowl — hot spicy crab soup.
Then turned, hands still faintly smelling of garlic and onions.
> “Were you planning to cook?”
He smirked sideways.
“Hmm… my kitchen would explode. You’d probably burn water trying to make instant noodles, let alone all this.”
> Tabby let out a small laugh… but the tears came anyway.
“Why did you run away from me?”
Daniell looked at her, long and quiet.
“Because I knew…
when all of this is over,
I’m not the one you’d go looking for.”
> Tabby slowly walked toward him.
“Dani… I didn’t come looking for you because you were easy to hold on to.
I came because you were always there…
even when I never asked you to be.”
> Daniell fell silent.
And for the first time in his life…
he let someone come close.
And for the first time too…
he didn’t feel afraid to stay.
- Writer
