Lines We Pretend Not to Cross
817 Words
Elias's POV – The Café
The café smelled like burnt coffee and familiarity.
Elias sat at his usual table by the window, posture straight, his laptop closed for once. He hadn't even ordered yet.
His mind was elsewhere.
And that annoyed him.
Rony arrived late, as always.
"You look tired," Rony said, sliding into the chair across from him. "Which means you didn't sleep."
"I slept," Elias replied flatly.
Rony raised an eyebrow.
"You closed your eyes for two hours. That's not sleep."
Elias ignored him and lifted his coffee.
Rony watched him carefully.
"So..." he said casually.
"Who's Aaira?"
The coffee cup froze halfway to Elias's lips.
He placed it back on the table.
"She's no one."
Rony smiled.
"You've said her name seven times in the last ten minutes."
Elias frowned.
"I have not."
"Six," Rony corrected. "I was being generous."
Silence.
Rony leaned forward.
"You never talk about people. Especially strangers."
Elias's jaw tightened.
"She's not..."
He stopped himself.
"She's just someone I'm helping."
"Helping how?"
"University. Legal paperwork. Connections."
He looked down at his coffee.
"Her father helped me when I had nothing."
"I think... now it's my turn."
Rony studied him carefully.
"And?"
"And nothing."
Rony waited.
Elias let out a slow breath.
"She's... like a child."
Rony blinked.
"She's twenty-three."
"Mentally," Elias answered, sharper than intended.
"She is."
"Don't make it weird."
Rony lifted both hands.
"I'm not."
"I'm just saying..."
"There is nothing to say."
Another silence settled between them.
Finally Rony spoke softly.
"You're smiling again."
Elias looked away.
"I don't smile."
"You do when you talk about her."
That hit closer than Elias wanted.
---
Flashback
A younger Elias stood alone in a school hallway.
Whispers followed him.
"What is he?"
"Pick one."
"That's not normal."
Then came a teacher's voice.
"You'll confuse the other students."
A mirror.
His own reflection.
Trying to become someone acceptable.
Trying...
And failing.
---
Back to the Café
Rony's voice pulled him back.
"Just be careful," he said quietly.
"You've never been good with emotions."
Elias gave a short, bitter laugh.
"Neither is the world."
Rony sighed.
"That's not an answer."
But Elias was already looking down at his phone.
Aaira's POV – Aaira's World
Aaira lay on the floor of her room, her phone resting on her chest.
She wasn't drawing.
She wasn't playing.
She was waiting.
Her phone buzzed.
She gasped.
WATCH PRINCE ❤️
Meeting. Loud people. I'll text later.
Aaira smiled so widely that her cheeks hurt.
She rolled onto her side and typed carefully with two fingers.
AAIRA ❤️
Okay!!! I'm quiet too.
My head is loud but I'm quiet.
She giggled and hugged her toy rabbit.
Irin peeked into the room.
"You're smiling," Irin said.
"That's new."
Aaira immediately sat up.
"I have a friend."
Irin froze.
"A... real one?"
Aaira nodded seriously.
"He doesn't shout."
"He listens with his eyes."
Irin smiled warmly.
"That's good, Aaira."
Aaira leaned closer and whispered,
"He smells like cold."
Irin laughed.
"That's... definitely one way to describe someone."
---
Messages Crossing Worlds
Elias sat in a boardroom while executives argued around him.
Charts filled the screen.
His phone buzzed.
AAIRA ❤️
I ate lunch.
Mommy watched me.
I didn't forget.
Elias glanced at the message beneath the table.
He typed back.
WATCH PRINCE ❤️
Good.
I'm proud of you.
Across the city, Aaira squealed so loudly that Milli had to shush her.
She typed quickly.
AAIRA ❤️
You said proud.
People don't say that to me.
Does it mean I'm good at something?
Or just okay?
Elias stopped typing.
Something tightened inside his chest.
He answered slowly.
WATCH PRINCE ❤️
It means you're good.
Really good.
Aaira immediately sent another message.
AAIRA ❤️
If my brain is like puzzle pieces...
Does that mean you want to see them all?
Or just some?
Elias stared at the screen.
Without realizing it...
He smiled.
A real one.
WATCH PRINCE ❤️
I want to see every single piece.
Aaira giggled so hard she nearly rolled off the bed.
Another message appeared.
AAIRA ❤️
Even the noisy... messy... stubborn ones?
Elias smiled even wider.
WATCH PRINCE ❤️
Especially those ones.
Aaira hugged her rabbit tightly.
Her heart felt warm.
She typed one last message.
AAIRA ❤️
Then I'll show you tomorrow.
Promise you'll come?
Elias didn't answer immediately.
He thought about tomorrow.
Then he smiled to himself.
WATCH PRINCE ❤️
Yes.
I promise.
No excuses.
Aaira's final message appeared.
AAIRA ❤️
Nighty Nighty Watch Prince.
Don't forget me... and your promise.
Elias stared at the screen for a long moment.
His lips curved into the smallest smile.
He hadn't realized how often he thought about Aaira.
Or how much he looked forward to seeing her again.
Finally, he replied.
WATCH PRINCE ❤️
I won't.
Sleep well.
Nighty Nighty, Aaira. 🤍
- Writer
