Chapter 8～Too Far to Ignore
454 Words
The next day everything was normal.
Too normal.
Schedules moved forward.
Calls were made.
Instructions were given.
Lila did her job exactly the way she always had.
Efficient.
Quiet.
Precise.
The only difference was she wasn’t there.
Not really.
She stayed where she was supposed to.
Moved when needed.
Spoke when required.
But she didn’t stay close.
Not unless it was unavoidable.
And even then she made sure it was brief.
Evan noticed it immediately.
Not because he was looking for it.
But because something was missing.
Something that had been there—
consistently.
Now it wasn’t.
She stayed further back.
Behind people.
Behind equipment.
Always just out of reach.
If someone else could step in—
she let them.
If there was a choice—
she chose distance.
Every time.
During the first shoot—
he said nothing.
He watched.
Quietly.
Carefully.
This wasn’t coincidence.
It was deliberate.
“Where’s Lila?” he asked once.
The manager glanced around.
“She’s handling something at the back.”
Evan didn’t respond.
But his eyes shifted.
He found her.
Farther than usual.
Focused.
Unbothered.
Like nothing had changed.
But something had.
And she was the one who changed it.
Midway through the shoot—
there was a pause.
“Fix the collar,” the director said.
A second passed.
Then another.
Someone else stepped forward.
Not her.
Evan stilled.
Just for a moment.
Then said nothing.
Allowed it.
But his attention—
didn’t stay on the scene.
It stayed on the distance she was keeping.
Later during a break—
she approached.
Only because she had to.
Clipboard in hand.
Eyes lowered.
Professional.
Controlled.
She stopped at a distance.
“…Schedule update,” she said.
Evan didn’t take the clipboard.
“Come here.”
Simple.
Not loud.
But not optional.
She paused.
Then stepped forward.
Two steps.
Stopped again.
Still not as close as before.
Evan looked at her.
At the space between them.
“…You’re doing it on purpose.”
She didn’t answer immediately.
“…I’m working.”
Flat.
Neutral.
Distant.
“That’s not what I meant.”
She looked up.
“What do you mean, then?”
There was no softness in her tone.
Just a line.
Clear.
“You’re staying away.”
A pause.
Then—
“…Yes.”
No denial.
No excuse.
Just truth.
“Why?”
Her gaze held his for a second.
“…Because I should.”
That was it.
She stepped back.
Returning to the distance she chose.
Evan didn’t stop her.
Didn’t move.
Didn’t speak.
He just watched—
as she disappeared behind someone else.
Out of reach.
And this time—
he didn’t try to close the distance.
Because he knew—
she wouldn’t let him.
- Writer
