Chapter VII

"Fine."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Fine?"

Anne took a step closer, challenging. "You want me to dive deeper? You're not the only one who likes to play games, Sebastian."

His eyes darkened slightly, the sharp amusement still there, but something deeper stirring beneath it. "I never doubted that."

She exhaled slowly, her hands slipping into her jacket pockets, trying to steady herself against the pull. The pull toward him.

"So what now?" she asked, voice low.

Sebastian watched her carefully, as if making sure she really meant it. And when he saw that she did, his smirk softened into something almost possessive.

"Now?" He leaned in, close enough that she could feel the heat of him, close enough that her breath caught in her throat. "Now you start paying up."

Her stomach flipped. "And what exactly do I owe?"

Sebastian chuckled. "I'll let you know soon enough."

The next time she saw him, she wasn't sure what to expect. It wasn't the session time, and he called her to his apartment. But when he let her into his apartment, something felt different. Gone was the teasing distance, the back-and-forth hesitation. This time, there were no more boundaries. Sebastian had always been the type to study things—and now, he was studying her.

The way she moved. The way she hesitated before stepping inside. The way her fingers twitched slightly, like she was aware of what this meant. And then, he did something that sent her mind reeling.

He reached out—slowly, deliberately—and took her wrist, pulling her forward just enough to close the door behind her. It was nothing dramatic. Nothing flashy. Just a quiet moment of decision. A moment where they both knew—something was happening.

Anne swallowed hard, but she didn't pull away. She didn't want to.

Sebastian let his fingers skim over her palm before finally letting go, stepping back slightly—but not too far.

"Are you being nervous?" he asked, voice almost a whisper.

Anne exhaled sharply, giving him a look. "Not even a little."

"Really? Because your palms are sweaty."

He again did it. Over-smart her, caught her in lies.

He chuckled, but there was something in his eyes now—something that told her this was no longer just a game. Soon they ended up on the couch, the TV playing something neither of them were paying attention to.

His arm was draped lazily along the back of the couch, close enough that his fingers could skim the side of her shoulder if she moved even slightly. And she did. Maybe on purpose. Maybe not .But either way, she felt it—the way his fingertips traced over the fabric of her sleeve, just barely touching her skin. It sent a shiver down her spine.

"You said you wanted to dive deeper."

Her chest tightened. "And you're going to make sure I do, aren't you?"

Sebastian leaned in slightly, just enough to make her heartbeat stutter. "Of course."

His hand moved, sliding down from the back of the couch—slowly, deliberately—until his fingers brushed against her waist.

It wasn't accidental.

It wasn't hesitant.

It was intentional.

And for the first time since they started this game, Anne realized—

She wasn't just playing anymore.

The silence stretched on for a few moments before Sebastian, ever the analytical thinker, broke it with his usual curiosity.

"You know," he said, his voice smooth as he turned slightly towards her, "You're easy to read, Anne." His fingers lightly grazed the edge of her waist, but his attention was elsewhere—focused more on his thoughts than the physical proximity. "You don't give much away, but I can still tell what's going on in your head."

Anne tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she were considering the statement carefully. She knew him well enough to understand that it wasn't just a casual observation—it was his way of testing the waters, of figuring out her thoughts before she had a chance to speak them aloud.

"I'm not so sure about that," she replied, a smile tugging at her lips as she leaned back slightly, keeping her gaze fixed on him. "But I can't deny you've been pretty good at reading people. You seem to always know how to predict what someone's going to do next."

Sebastian's lips curved into a small smirk, his tone shifting ever so slightly, still carrying the weight of his confidence. "It's simple, really. People are predictable. We all have patterns. It's about seeing the pieces and understanding how they fit together. It's a calculation."

Anne's smile faded just a little, replaced by something that resembled curiosity mixed with amusement. "So, you're saying you could figure me out just like that? All based on calculations?"

Sebastian's eyes flickered for a moment, noticing the shift in her demeanor. "Pretty much. It's all about understanding the variables, reading between the lines. You've got to be logical if you want to get ahead."

She studied him carefully, then leaned in slightly, her voice calm but with an edge of something sharper. "Mostly, people who are too logical learn to read others so their calculations will be right. They do it because it gives them stability, control over the uncertainty. It's a defense mechanism, really—so they won't be hurt by the unpredictable nature of others."

There was a long pause as Sebastian processed her words, a look of mild surprise crossing his face. He hadn't expected her to turn the conversation back on him, and certainly not in such an insightful way.

"You're saying I'm trying to protect myself from getting hurt?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine intrigue.

Anne nodded slowly, her gaze unwavering. "Exactly. When you predict others' actions, it's easier to avoid vulnerability. You can keep everything in your control."

Sebastian stared at her for a long moment, his analytical mind working overtime to deconstruct what she had said. It was something he'd never fully considered in such a direct context, but the idea made sense in an unsettling way. She had caught him off guard.

"Interesting," he said, his voice softer now, a hint of admiration in it. "Are you a psychology major or something?"

Anne laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Game development. A bit of a different field, right?"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? That's unexpected. I would've guessed you majored in psychology, honestly. It seems like your understanding of people goes deeper than just... game design."

She smirked, leaning back against the couch. "It's all connected, in a way. You can't develop a great game without understanding human behavior. It's all about creating something that resonates with people, after all."

"Fair point," Sebastian said, a grin forming on his lips. "Well, if you ever need any help with math or—who knows, you know where to find me." Knowing their majors have similarities, he used it to now make a charming offer.

Anne raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so now you're offering your expertise?"

He chuckled. "Hey, it's all part of the deal. I'm a data scientist. We're basically trained to understand patterns in people too, right?"

She laughed, nodding in agreement. "I think we're both getting dangerously close to turning this into a full-blown academic discussion."

Sebastian leaned in a little closer, his hand still resting on her waist. "What can I say? It's hard not to when you're this interesting."

Anne shot him a playful look, but her smile held something more—something deeper. "Well, lucky for you, I'm still not entirely sure if you can read me as easily as you think."

Sebastian's grin widened. "I guess that's a challenge I'll have to accept."

The conversation lingered for a while, both of them lost in the intricate dance of words and ideas. As the night wore on, the initial lightheartedness of their banter gave way to something more introspective. Sebastian leaned back into the couch, his fingers absently tracing the edge of his cup, but his thoughts were still on their discussion.

"So, let me get this straight," he said, breaking the silence once again. "You're telling me that all my calculating, logical thinking is a form of... emotional protection?"

Anne tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Not just that. It's a way to manage the chaos of human interaction. It's easier to predict and control outcomes than to just... let things unfold. Because if you know what's coming, you're not caught off guard. You won't get hurt."

Sebastian's eyes softened as he processed the weight of her words. There was something deeply familiar about her insight—something that resonated with him in a way he hadn't expected. "I never thought of it like that," he admitted. "It makes sense, though. I've always prided myself on being able to predict what's going to happen. I guess I've been avoiding the unknown in a way."

Anne smiled, her gaze gentle but direct. "The unknown is... scary. But it's also where growth happens. Sometimes, the best things come from not having everything figured out."

Sebastian looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the depth of what she was saying. There was something about her calm demeanor, the way she could see through things, that intrigued him even more now.

"You're right," he said quietly. "I think I've spent too much time trying to control things. Maybe it's time I let go a little."

Anne shifted closer to him, her hand brushing against his. "It's not about losing control, Sebastian. It's about finding balance. Understanding that not everything can be calculated or predicted. Sometimes, it's okay to just... be."

He looked at her, surprised by the depth of the simplicity in her words. She had this ability to speak with such clarity about things he had spent years analyzing but never truly understood.

"I guess," he said, his voice low, "that's why I'm still trying to figure you out."

Anne met his gaze, a smile playing at her lips. "Good luck with that. It won't be easy," she teased.

Sebastian chuckled, a glint of challenge in his eyes. "Maybe not. But I like a challenge."

The air between them shifted again, the comfortable silence returning, but this time it was different. It was filled with unspoken understanding, a mutual recognition that there were depths to each other that neither had fully explored yet.