After the Silence: A New Beginning

As Steve started his car, he couldn't shake the doubt that clouded his thoughts. The note Viona had given him was still in his hand, like a message calling him to find out more. But there was a feeling that confused him. He knew he had to be careful. They both had their own lives now, had been in relationships with other people. But the feelings that had just emerged between them—feelings that had long been buried—couldn't just be ignored.

Steve's car moved slowly on the empty road, his mind torn between apprehension and the desire to talk more with Viona. Although they hadn't said anything further in the park, the unspoken words in Viona's eyes were enough to make his heart race. Something inside Steve wanted to fix everything, to finish the story that had been put on hold between them.

On the other hand, Viona stood at the door, watching Steve's car recede into the distance. Her heart was still pounding, as if time had stopped for a few seconds when Steve left. She knew what had just happened—she felt like she was on the brink of a big decision. She knew that writing that message wasn't a wise move, but she couldn't resist the urge to contact Steve, to open a conversation that should have been long forgotten.

Viona stared at her phone, then pressed a few buttons. The message she'd written on the paper now appeared on the screen. "I'll contact you later. Just wait." Those words seemed to pave the way for the feelings she had kept for so long. What they had experienced tonight was something unfinished—something they had to discuss, even at a great risk.

After a few minutes of thinking, Viona decided to write again. This time, her message was much shorter. "I'm sorry if I confused you. I don't know what to do."

At that moment, Viona felt her heart wavering. She knew that whatever happened, these feelings couldn't be ignored. She still loved Steve, even though the reality of her life wasn't easy to explain. She knew Steve felt it too, it's just that they never really gave their feelings a chance to flourish.

Meanwhile, Steve continued driving with a heart full of questions. When he got home, he parked the car and took the paper again. Although he already knew what was written there, the words still struck him. "I'll contact you later. Just wait." Suddenly, he felt caught between the past and the future. He wanted to know what Viona felt, but he also knew that they both had to face reality.

Steve's hand trembled as he pressed the button to open a new message. "I'm sorry if I confused you. I don't know what to do."

Steve smiled wryly, feeling as if the message was a call to return to a difficult past full of confusion. He immediately replied with one sentence. "I don't know what to do either. But we have to talk."

A few seconds later, Steve stared at his phone screen, waiting for a reply from Viona. The anxiety he couldn't avoid now turned into anticipation. Something he couldn't explain flowed within him—a desire to resolve everything, even if it meant destroying everything they had built for a long time.

On the other hand, Viona read Steve's message. "We have to talk." That sentence was enough to make her heart beat faster. She knew this wasn't just about a casual conversation. It was about what they felt, about what they would do after this.

With a little fear but full of hope, Viona replied. "When?"

Steve stared at the message for a long time, wondering if now was the right time. But finally, he decided to give a clear answer. "Tomorrow. I'll come to your house. We have to talk."

The message was sent, and as Steve put down his phone, he knew that whatever happened after this, they both had to resolve what they started a year ago. And somehow, he felt ready to face it.

Viona stared at her phone screen, reading Steve's message with mixed feelings. She knew that after this answer, there would be no turning back. This was a moment that would determine the direction of their relationship going forward. After a few seconds of thinking, she finally typed a reply.

"Okay, tomorrow. My house is at Bougenville Street No. 17, in front of the small park."

Viona stared at her phone screen, trying to calm herself. Her thoughts were racing, imagining how the conversation would go. There was so much they needed to talk about, and perhaps much that needed to be explained, but somehow, Viona felt a little relieved after making that decision.

Steve read Viona's message, then took a long breath before replying.

"Thank you. I'll come around 10 a.m. See you tomorrow."

Viona replied briefly, "See you," then pressed the send button. Her heart was still pounding, but for the first time, she felt that the meeting could bring peace. Whatever would happen, at least they would give themselves a chance to talk, to explain everything.

That night, Viona lay in her bed, her eyes staring at the dark ceiling of her room. Silence enveloped her, only the ticking of the clock in the corner of the room that seemed to remind her how slowly time was passing. Viona's thoughts kept spinning, unable to turn off the worries in her heart.

She reached for her phone, opened the screen, and saw Steve's name still displayed there. She told herself not to contact Steve tonight. But somehow, her fingers seemed to move on their own. She remembered clearly their conversation earlier. "See you tomorrow." That sentence kept echoing in her ears. Would tomorrow change everything? Or would it just get more complicated?

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Steve was also awake in his room. His mind was filled with the image of Viona. The night grew late, but he didn't feel sleepy at all. He held his phone, and once again, he saw the message from Viona. The desire to contact her was so great, but he held back. He knew Viona was also feeling heavy, just like him.

Unlike usual, tonight Steve didn't even contact his girlfriend, Sharone. Even though, usually he would send a message, ask how she was doing or just talk before bed. But tonight, his mind was completely diverted by Viona, the feelings that had long been buried, and the unfinished conversation between the two of them.

Viona stared at her phone screen again, then let out a heavy sigh. She felt guilty. She should have contacted Frans, her boyfriend, and told him how her day was. But tonight, with everything that had happened, she felt too hesitant to do so. Her mind was caught between Steve and Frans, but her heart, somehow, leaned more towards one name.

Time passed, and they were both still awake, lost in their own thoughts. Not a single message was sent. They both felt the same thing—the emptiness and hesitation that weighed on their chests, and feelings that were difficult to explain.

But one thing was certain: that night, they both couldn't sleep, and their world felt darker than usual.

That night, while Steve was still awake, his mind couldn't stop thinking about what he would bring to Viona's house the next day. He knew it would be a meeting filled with tension, but it also had the opportunity to open a new chapter in their relationship. Every second felt heavy, full of unanswered questions. However, one thing was clear: he wanted to show his intention to get closer, to not just be a part of Viona's past, but perhaps part of her future.

Steve turned towards his desk and began to open a small cabinet where he kept a few items. Maybe he could bring something simple, but meaningful. He thought about a book they had discussed before, Viona's favorite book that might remind them of those times. Or maybe, a small package that could show his concern, without being too excessive.

He also considered whether to bring some snacks or treats, so that the atmosphere in Viona's house didn't feel too stiff. Occasionally, he glanced at his phone, seeing Viona's name still displayed on the screen. No messages, but his mind kept wandering there. What should he talk about? What if the conversation ended with more of his confusion?

Meanwhile, Viona on the other side of the room, was not much different. She stayed awake with the same thoughts running through her mind. She knew tomorrow would be very important, not just for meeting Steve, but also for feeling the closeness that had been missing for a long time. She wanted to create a more relaxed atmosphere, perhaps a little more intimate.

Viona made a plan in her head: brunch. She would cook something simple, but enough to create a comfortable atmosphere. Her mind immediately focused on some ingredients in the kitchen—avocado toast with scrambled eggs, and maybe some fresh salad. She knew it wasn't something heavy, but at least it could show her concern, and make them talk more without getting caught up in the tension.

For a few minutes, she thought about the ingredients that needed to be prepared and made a small plan in her mind: how to cook the perfect scrambled eggs? Or did Steve like food like this? She didn't know for sure, but one thing she knew—she wanted to give something the best in this moment of uncertainty.

Viona also knew, although there were many feelings piled up inside her, she wanted to spend time with Steve, to listen to what had happened over the past year, and to mend the tension that was between them. But, behind all of that, there was a growing anxiety—what if they couldn't get back like they used to? Or worse, what if this meeting only added to her confusion?

Morning was approaching, and both Steve and Viona couldn't close their eyes all night. Each planned something small but important for their meeting—something that could change their moods, even with a little doubt still binding them.

When morning came, the two prepared to meet, carrying something in their hearts that was bigger than just their small plans. Tomorrow would be a day full of conversations that had to happen, and maybe, after that, they would be able to find a new path in the relationship that had been hanging between them for a long time.