The Timing Between Us

Two Nights, Three Days

Clara

I buried my face against my pillow the moment I entered my apartment.

Then screamed.

Not loudly.

Just enough to release the humiliation currently destroying my soul.

“Oh my God.”

I rolled dramatically across my bed before grabbing the nearest pillow and smashing it against my face.

Why was I like this?

Why did Reig always make me malfunction like a broken appliance?

And most importantly

Why did I practically expose myself earlier?

“How was I supposed to react?”

Disgusting.

Horrifying.

Mortifying.

I sounded jealous.

Because I was jealous.

And the worst part?

Reig knew.

I groaned loudly again.

Maybe I should move countries.

That sounded reasonable.

I grabbed my phone from my bedside table out of habit.

Then paused.

Why was I even checking it?

I literally blocked Reig last night.

There was absolutely no way he could message me.

Which was good.

Very good.

Amazing even.

So why did my room suddenly feel quieter because of it?

I frowned at my own thoughts before throwing my phone beside me dramatically.

Absolutely not.

I refused to become one of those girls.

The ones who spiral because of a man.

Especially not because of Reig Miller.

Unfortunately

My brain betrayed me anyway.

Because the moment I closed my eyes, the café scene replayed inside my head again.

The way he leaned close.

The way he laughed.

The way his voice softened when he said:

“There’s no one else.”

My chest tightened annoyingly.

I hated this.

I hated how easily Reig slipped back into my life.

Like he belonged there naturally.

Like years apart meant nothing.

Before I could spiral further, my phone suddenly rang.

Mika.

I answered immediately.

“What?”

“Wow,” Mika said. “Why do you sound like life defeated you already?”

“Because it did.”

“Dramatic.”

“I learned from you.”

“Anyway,” she continued, completely ignoring me, “beach outing this weekend.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“Two nights, three days.”

“No.”

“Clara...”

“No.”

“You didn’t even think about it.”

“I already did. The answer is still no.”

Especially after today.

Absolutely not.

The last thing I needed was:

more embarrassment,

more teasing,

and more Reig Miller.

Three whole days with him?

I would die.

Actually die.

Mika sighed dramatically from the other line.

“You seriously need to leave your apartment.”

“I leave sometimes.”

“To go to the gym and Sara’s café.”

“…That still counts.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

I rolled onto my back while staring at the ceiling again.

“Mika,” I groaned. “I can’t go.”

“Yes, you can.”

“No.”

“Why?”

Because Reig looked too good in white shirts.

Because his voice kept replaying inside my head.

Because every time he smiled at me, my brain stopped functioning properly.

Instead I said:

“I just don’t want to.”

Mika went quiet for a moment.

Then softer this time, she said:

“Clara… before your classes start again, can you at least try to breathe first?”

That made me pause.

My fingers tightened slightly around my phone.

Right.

School.

Engineering.

Reality.

The reminder immediately felt heavy inside my chest again.

“You’ve been stressed for months,” Mika continued gently. “And honestly? You deserve a break too.”

I closed my eyes briefly.

Part of me wanted to refuse again.

To stay inside my apartment.

To overthink peacefully.

To avoid complicated feelings and even more complicated people.

But another part of me

A very dangerous part

Thought maybe Mika was right.

Maybe I did need a break.

Maybe I needed:

sunlight,

beaches,

loud friends,

and a few days where I could stop thinking about my life falling apart.

And honestly?

Maybe I was tired of feeling stuck.

“…Who’s going?” I asked carefully.

Mika immediately gasped dramatically.

“Oh my God. Is that a yes?”

“No. I’m gathering information.”

“Same thing.”

I heard shuffling from her side before she started listing names excitedly.

Marco.

Pat.

A few other classmates.

Then...

“And Reig.”

I immediately sat upright.

“No.”

Mika groaned loudly.

“Clara, please.”

“I changed my mind.”

“You haven’t even agreed yet.”

“And now I won’t.”

“Why are you acting like he personally committed tax fraud?”

“He’s annoying.”

There was a pause.

Then Mika suddenly snorted.

“Oh my God. Sara was right.”

I frowned immediately.

“What did Sara say?”

“That you and Reig looked one argument away from dating earlier.”

My face heated instantly.

“That old woman needs hobbies.”

“She said you nearly killed him with your eyes.”

“He deserved it.”

“Apparently he looked very happy while getting attacked.”

I groaned loudly and covered my face with a pillow again.

Traitors.

All of them.

Mika laughed for a few more seconds before finally calming down.

Then softer this time, she said:

“Listen. You don’t even have to interact with him if you don’t want to.”

That actually made me stop.

Because technically…

She was right.

It was a group outing.

Not a romantic getaway.

I could survive three days.

Probably.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

And honestly

How hard could it be to ignore Reig Miller for one trip?

…

Actually no.

Very hard.

Still

Maybe this was exactly why I should go.

To prove to myself that:

I could handle him,

I could move normally around him,

and he no longer affected me that much.

Yes.

Perfect.

Very mature plan.

“…Fine,” I muttered finally.

Mika screamed so loudly I pulled the phone away from my ear.

“You’re going?!”

“I said fine. Don’t make it dramatic.”

“Oh my God. Wait until everyone hears about this.”

My eyes widened immediately.

“No... don’t tell Reig yet.”

Silence.

Then slowly

Far too suspiciously

Mika asked:

“…Why?”

Because I wanted time to emotionally prepare.

Because seeing him unexpectedly already shortened my lifespan daily.

And because if he found out too early

he would absolutely become more annoying.

“…Just don’t,” I grumbled.

Mika laughed again.

“Too late.”

My stomach dropped.

“What do you mean too late?”

“Marco already invited him earlier.”

I groaned loudly.

Of course.

Of course the universe hated me.

After ending the call, I threw my phone beside me again before staring blankly at the ceiling.

Then after a few seconds

I slowly grabbed it back.

And opened my blocked contacts.

Reig Miller.

I stared at his name suspiciously.

Then sighed dramatically before pressing unblock.

Only because:

we were going on the same trip,

and blocking him again would look childish.

Not because I missed talking to him.

Absolutely not.

The moment I exited the screen

My phone vibrated immediately.

I froze.

Slowly…

I looked at the notification.

Unknown number.

I opened the message.

And immediately regretted it.

Don’t block this number too, Rabbit.

Can’t wait to see you in a bikini, Rabbit.