Chapter-71 Unspoken Bounds

The city's morning glow illuminated the streets as Arnatraax guided Frederique down the familiar alleyway toward the café. Frederique walked alongside him, the usual air of indifference hanging around her. But today, she wasn't entirely herself. She had brought the Heavenly Demon along for the ride... an new habit she wasn't quite ready to shake. Frideria was present, nestled quietly in Frederique's mind, her invisible presence still lingering like a hungry shadow.

Arnatraax was unusually quiet, the usual air of nervousness around him gone, replaced by something more grounded... perhaps a hint of curiosity, or maybe just the feeling of being with someone he knew.

" Is this the place?" Frederique asked, glancing around as they stopped in front of a small, unassuming café nestled between two taller buildings.

There was something homely about the place... the soft glow from the inside promising warmth and good food, a refuge from the night.

" Yeah," Arnatraax replied, pushing open the door and gesturing for Frederique to enter.

" It's a local spot. Not too many people come here, which is kind of why I like it."

Frederique gave him a dry look, crossing her arms as she stepped inside.

" Not much of a fan of crowds, are you?"

Arnatraax shrugged, a small, almost embarrassed smile tugging at his lips.

"Not really. I prefer quiet places. Easier to think."

" Well, if you're paying, I'll think about it too," Frederique said, teasing as she made her way to the counter, eyes scanning the menu.

She wasn't particularly hungry, but she was curious about what kind of food Arnatraax would pick for her. It was a little strange, this feeling of being "guided" by someone, but it wasn't unpleasant.

Arnatraax followed her, glancing over her shoulder at the array of pastries and drinks.

" I wouldn't say I'm paying. I'm just... inviting you."

Frederique raised an eyebrow.

" Inviting me? As if you have a choice."

" I meant, this isn't a... a date," he stammered, his cheeks flushing slightly.

" I'm not trying to make it anything more than... "

" Relax," Frederique said, cutting him off with a smirk.

" I'm not looking for a date. Let's just get the food."

Arnatraax laughed nervously. He'd been so certain that this was some sort of formal gesture, a way of reaching out, but it seemed like Frederique had no expectations beyond food. That was one thing he could handle.

After they'd ordered... Frederique, of course, choosing more than enough to feed a small army... the two of them settled into a quiet corner by the window, the dim lighting of the café offering a soft glow that made everything feel warmer.

Arnatraax couldn't help but watch Frederique as she dug into the meal, her usual intense appetite on full display. She wasn't ashamed of it, and that was something that made him admire her even more... she didn't hide behind pretenses or false humility.

" How's the food?" he asked after a moment, half-hoping the small talk might ease the tension between them.

" It's fine," Frederique muttered, not pausing in her eating.

" Could be better. But I'm not here for the fancy stuff. I'm here for the fact that I won't be hungry for the next few hours."

Arnatraax chuckled at her bluntness.

" Right. You do eat... a lot."

" I'm hungry," Frederique shot back with a shrug.

"You don't have to act surprised. It's always been like this."

He was quiet for a moment, staring into his cup of tea, a faint smile still on his lips.

"I guess I've never really noticed how much you eat before. Back when I knew you... it was more about the quiet moments than the meals, I guess."

" Hmm." Frederique didn't seem interested in digging too deep into the past.

She was too busy with the food to give him more than a passing glance.

" That was a long time ago, wasn't it?"

Arnatraax's eyes softened for a moment, then he gave a small, almost wistful sigh.

"Yeah. Things change, huh?"

Frederique paused her eating long enough to take a quick look at him. His expression was guarded, but there was something in his eyes... an earnestness that hadn't been there the last time they met. The boy who once skulked in the shadows was gone. In his place, Arnatraax had grown into someone... different. More sure of himself, perhaps, but also more conflicted.

"Yeah, well, life does that to you," she said, taking another bite of the pastry.

Arnatraax fidgeted with his napkin, uncertain how to continue the conversation.

Frederique had always been blunt, but there was a sharpness to it now, as if she were closing herself off. It wasn't that she was unfriendly; far from it. But she kept people at arm's length, and Arnatraax didn't know how to bridge the gap between them.

" Do you ever... feel like things aren't the way they should be? " he asked, his voice quiet but filled with an intensity that made Frederique pause.

She tilted her head, her gaze turning toward him, but she didn't stop eating.

" Define 'should be.' Because I've never been great at following what people say I should do."

Arnatraax smiled at her response, a small laugh escaping him.

" Yeah, I've noticed that."

" I'm serious," she said, her expression growing more thoughtful as she finished her last bite of food.

" What do you want me to say? Things aren't what they were before, and they never will be. I get it. We both get it."

For a moment, Arnatraax didn't respond. He simply watched her, his expression a mix of admiration and something unspoken. He had expected something else... maybe a more vulnerable side of her, but instead, she was as confident and unyielding as ever. And that, for some strange reason, was both comforting and frustrating at the same time.

"So, what now?" Frederique asked after a long silence, leaning back in her chair, the last crumbs of pastry on her plate forgotten.

Arnatraax blinked, momentarily pulled from his thoughts.

" What do you mean?"

" Now that we've had our food," she said, leaning back with a shrug.

" What comes next?"

For a split second, he hesitated, his mind racing with half-formed thoughts. What was he supposed to say to her? What did she want? To him, it felt like they were constantly playing some game... unspoken rules, things left unsaid, feelings buried deep beneath the surface. He wasn't sure how to make sense of it, but he had to admit, he didn't want this moment to end. Even if he didn't know where it was going.

"Well," he said, trying to keep his voice light, " we could keep talking. Or I could walk you back to your place if you're done. Up to you."

Frederique gave him an unreadable look.

" Yeah, sure. I've got nowhere else to be."

They lingered in the café a little longer, neither of them quite ready to break the uneasy silence that hung between them. But there was a new understanding, something deeper than before... something unspoken, but real.

And as the day drew on, neither of them said a word about the lingering tension between them. But it was there, undeniable, and it felt like the start of something new, though neither of them would admit it aloud.