An Unexpected Seat
1146 Words
Linton City — Afternoon
The restaurant carried a gentle warmth.
Soft laughter, low conversations, and the quiet clink of plates blended into something calm… something easy.
Isolde sat by the window, sunlight resting across the table, catching lightly on the edge of her glass.
Across from her—
Mira Solen.
“…I still don’t believe it,” Mira said, leaning forward with a grin.
“You. Taking a day off. Voluntarily.”
Isolde smiled faintly, stirring her drink.
“It just… happened.”
“That’s not how your life works,” Mira shot back immediately.
“You used to cancel plans just to restock bandages.”
“…That was important.”
Mira stared at her.
Then burst into laughter.
“See? This is what I missed.”
Isolde’s smile grew a little more natural.
“…You haven’t changed,” Mira added, softer now.
“…You have,” Isolde replied quietly.
Mira tilted her head.
“Oh?”
“You talk more.”
“…Rude.”
They both laughed—light, familiar.
Like no time had passed at all.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Mira rested her chin on her hand, studying her.
“…You look tired.”
Isolde paused.
“…Work?” Mira asked gently.
“…Something like that.”
“Something like that?” Mira repeated, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“That’s not an answer.”
Isolde looked down at her plate, poking at the food absentmindedly.
“…Just… thinking a lot lately.”
Mira didn’t push.
“…About what?”
Isolde hesitated.
“…Someone.”
That caught her attention.
“Oh?” Mira leaned in immediately, eyes lighting up.
“Since when do you have a someone?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?
Isolde opened her mouth—
Then paused.
“…I don’t know,” she admitted quietly.
Mira blinked.
“…Now that,” she said slowly,
“…is new.”
Before she could say more—
Her phone rang.
She glanced at it—then sighed.
“…I’m so sorry, I need to take this.”
She stood quickly, already stepping aside.
“Don’t disappear, okay?”
Isolde gave a small nod.
“…I won’t.”
She didn’t mind being alone.
The quiet returned easily.
She picked up her fork again, eating slowly, without rushing.
For once—
She had time.
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
And then
Wind.
Her hand stilled.
A rooftop.
A voice.
“…Live for me…”
Her lips parted slightly.
“…Gloomy Face…” she murmured softly.
“Is that what you used to call me?”
Her heart skipped.
Slowly—
She looked up.
Lucian stood there.
Calm.
Unmoved.
As if he had simply stepped into place.
“…You…”
His gaze rested on her.
“May I?” he asked, gesturing to the empty seat.
Isolde hesitated—just for a second.
Then exhaled lightly.
“…Go ahead.”
Lucian sat.
— Earlier —
Greyford City — Business District
The meeting room doors closed behind them.
“…We’ll finalize the remaining terms by tonight,” one of the executives said quickly, already gathering his documents.
Lucian gave a slight nod.
That was enough.
The meeting ended.
Elias stepped out right after, shoulders slightly stiff—
Then—
He exhaled.
Long.
Deep.
Finally.
His posture relaxed for the first time in hours.
Food. A proper meal.
Maybe sleep.
Or just silence…
A small, rare smile almost formed.
Maybe even a few hours without—
“Handle the Raven Port revisions.”
Elias froze.
“…Sir?”
Lucian had already taken the car keys from his hand.
“I’ll review it tonight.”
And walked away.
Elias stood there.
Still.
Processing.
Then his face dropped.
“…No…”
His shoulders slumped.
“…No, no, no…”
He looked down at his now-empty hand.
Then up again—
“…I just got my freedom back.”
A breath.
“…For five seconds.”
His eyes shut briefly in silent suffering.
“…Unbelievable.”
Then, with visible reluctance—
He turned back.
Because no matter what—
Work came first.
Present — Restaurant
Lucian sat across from her.
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
Isolde studied him more openly this time.
“…You look tired,” she said quietly.
The words came out naturally.
Without thinking.
Lucian paused—just slightly.
“…Do I?”
“…A little.”
Her gaze softened without her realizing it.
“…You should rest.”
A small silence followed.
Then—
“I am.”
The answer made her pause.
Her brows drew together slightly.
“…Sitting here?”
“Yes.”
A beat.
“…That’s not rest,” she murmured.
Lucian looked at her.
“It is,” he said calmly.
Her fingers stilled slightly against the table.
“…I’m your nurse, not your schedule,” she said softly, almost reflexively.
“You don’t get to lie about that.”
A faint shift.
Not quite a smile—
But close.
“Then as my nurse,” he replied,
“what would you recommend?”
Isolde blinked.
Caught off guard for a moment.
“…Sleep,” she said.
“Noted.”
“…And less work.”
“No.”
That made her exhale softly.
“…Then at least eat properly.”
Lucian glanced briefly at her plate.
“You’re doing that.”
“…That’s because I have time today.”
A pause.
“…You don’t usually.”
“No.”
Silence settled again—
But this time—
It felt… lighter.
Less guarded.
“…You heard what I said earlier,” she said after a moment.
“Yes.”
“…And you still came over.”
“Yes.”
She looked at him for a second longer.
“…You’re strange.”
“Yes.”
A quiet exhale left her lips.
“…Gloomy Face suits you.”
Lucian didn’t deny it.
“…It did,” he said.
A pause.
“…Maybe it still does.”
Her heart shifted slightly at that.
Not fully understanding why.
But not ignoring it either.
Just then—
“Hey—I’m so sorry!”
Mira returned, slightly out of breath.
Her gaze moved between them—quick, curious.
“…I have to go,” she added, grabbing her bag.
“Something came up.”
Then she looked at Isolde more seriously.
“…Finish your food, okay?”
Isolde nodded lightly.
“…I will.”
Mira gave her a look—then glanced once more at Lucian.
A silent question.
But she didn’t ask it.
“Text me later,” she said instead, already stepping back.
And just like that—
She was gone again.
The seat across from her remained occupied.
The moment didn’t break.
And for the first time—
Lucian Virell didn’t feel like he was passing time.
He felt like—
He had finally paused.
- Writer
