The walk back to her apartment felt slower than it should have, each step heavier than the last. Maya could feel the weight of Adrian's presence beside her, the soft sound of his footsteps mirroring her own, but there was something more now—an unspoken tension that neither of them had addressed.
The rain had stopped, but the air still held the lingering scent of it, cool and fresh, a welcome contrast to the warmth of the restaurant they'd just left behind. The city around them was quiet, almost peaceful, the lights from the buildings casting long shadows down the street.
Maya kept her eyes ahead, not quite sure what to say, but Adrian's voice cut through the silence before she could gather her thoughts.
"Why do you always hide?" he asked, his tone softer than she expected.
She froze, her breath catching in her throat. She didn't turn to face him, instead keeping her gaze fixed on the sidewalk ahead. She wasn't sure if she was ready to answer that question—not out loud, at least.
"I don't hide," she said, her voice a little firmer than she meant it to be.
"You do," Adrian said, his footsteps slowing until they were in step with hers. "It's like you're running from something, even though it's not chasing you."
Maya let out a breath, feeling the weight of his words sink deep into her chest. She wanted to dismiss it, to tell him it was none of his business, but for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to.
"I'm not running," she said finally, her voice quieter now. "I just don't want to be... found. People always have expectations, and when you let them in, they just disappoint you."
There. She'd said it. The truth she had buried deep inside herself for years. It wasn't just about trust. It was about control. About keeping people at a distance so that she wouldn't get hurt again. But the more she said it, the more she realized it wasn't entirely true.
Adrian's voice was low, almost hesitant as he spoke. "I get it. You don't want to be vulnerable. You don't want to let someone in, only for them to walk away. But Maya... you're not alone anymore."
The words hit her harder than she expected. She had spent so much of her life shutting everyone out, building walls so high she'd forgotten what it felt like to let someone close. To trust. To need.
"I'm not like everyone else," Adrian continued, his words quiet but firm. "I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm not asking for anything. I just... I want you to know that I'm here. If you ever need someone."
Maya swallowed hard, the lump in her throat growing, but she refused to let herself break down in front of him. Not now. Not when everything felt so uncertain.
"Why?" she asked before she could stop herself. "Why are you still here? Why are you trying so hard to... be nice to me?"
Adrian stopped walking, and for a moment, Maya thought he might not answer. But then he turned to face her, his gaze intense.
"Because," he said, taking a step closer, "I see you, Maya. I see more than just the walls you've built. I see a woman who's been hurt, who's been through things she doesn't talk about. And I don't want you to face it alone."
Maya's heart skipped a beat. She could feel the intensity in his voice, the sincerity that washed over her like a wave. She wanted to push him away, to retreat, but she couldn't. Something inside her wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that maybe—just maybe—he wasn't like everyone else.
She felt exposed, vulnerable, and yet, it was the most real thing she'd ever experienced.
"Why are you so kind to me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible against the night.
Adrian's gaze softened, and for a moment, it seemed like he was searching for the right words. He stepped closer, his voice low but steady.
"Because, Maya," he said, his hand gently brushing against hers, "I think you deserve someone who sees you for who you really are. Not just the person you pretend to be."
Maya's breath caught in her throat, the touch of his hand sending a spark of electricity through her. She could feel her heart racing, and her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She had spent so long protecting herself, guarding every inch of her heart, but now... now, she was standing on the edge, teetering between fear and something else—something new.
She wanted to pull away, to tell him it was too much, too soon. But she couldn't. Not with the way he was looking at her. Not with the way his words made her feel seen, understood.
"I'm scared," she confessed, the words escaping before she could stop them.
Adrian's eyes softened, his hand now fully enveloping hers, warmth radiating from his touch. "I know. And I'm not asking you to jump in. I just want you to know that I'm here. Whenever you're ready."
The sincerity in his words broke through her walls, a crack she hadn't expected. She felt her guard start to crumble, piece by piece, but she didn't pull away. She couldn't. Not from him. Not from this.
"I don't know if I'm ready," she admitted, her voice a little more fragile than she wanted it to be.
"That's okay," Adrian said, his thumb gently brushing over her hand. "You don't have to be. I'm not going anywhere. Just... know that I'm here."
And in that moment, standing on the sidewalk in the cool night air, something shifted between them. It wasn't a promise or a confession. It was something quieter. Something unspoken, but no less real.
Maya nodded, the knot in her chest loosening, even if just a little.
As they continued walking toward her apartment, the silence between them wasn't uncomfortable. It wasn't full of the weight of unsaid words or awkwardness. It was the kind of silence that made her feel less alone, like maybe—just maybe—she could take a step forward.
---
When they reached her apartment building, Adrian paused, looking down at her with that same quiet intensity. "Goodnight, Maya."
"Goodnight, Adrian," she replied softly.
As she turned to enter the building, her heart still thudded in her chest, but now it felt different. Not out of fear, but from the pull of something she wasn't ready to name.
Something that felt like a beginning.