Kitten

Friday had arrived early for Eve this week, or at least, that's how it felt. The anticipation of the weekend had curled inside her like a ball of restless energy, making time drag unbearably slow. Tomorrow, she would finally see her family after five years; five years that felt like a lifetime. The thought made her stomach twist with both excitement and apprehension.

It had also been two days since she had last seen Adrian. In that time, she had thrown herself into work, trying to steady her mind, focus on her well-being, and avoid the looming shadows of her past. She wanted to get her life back on track. But she was coming to a hard realization: no matter how much she tried to force herself forward, her past always found a way to cling to her like an unwanted whisper in the dark.

The memories both bitter and sweet haunted her, the weight of the present pressing down heavily, and the uncertainty of the future looming ahead like a thick fog. She was tired of being consumed by things she couldn't change. So today, she made a promise to herself. A simple one. Find small moments of peace. Choose happiness where you can.

With that thought lingering in her mind, she stepped out of her office, slid into the waiting car, and made an impulsive decision.

"Take me to Adrian's place," she instructed the driver.

The vehicle hummed to life and rolled toward Adrian's house. As soon as she stepped out, the comforting familiarity of the place embraced her. The maid greeted her with a warm smile as she walked inside.

"Good evening, Miss Eve," the maid said, slightly surprised by her unexpected visit.

"Good evening," Eve replied, her tone casual. "Is Adrian back yet?"

The maid shook her head. "Not yet, ma'am."

With a sigh, Eve pulled out her phone and dialed his number. The call connected after two rings.

"When are you getting home?" she asked, her voice softer than she intended. "I'm at your place."

A brief pause. Then his familiar, deep voice filtered through the speaker. "I'll be there in an hour."

She hung up, shaking her head as she walked toward the patio.

The night air was cool, carrying with it the scent of freshly cut grass and distant flowers. She settled into a chair, letting the rhythmic rustling of the wind lull her into a rare, undisturbed sleep.

For the first time in a long time, her dreams were peaceful. No nightmares. No ghosts from the past. Just quiet.

Somewhere in the depths of her slumber, she felt something warm and soft being draped over her. The gentle touch stirred her awake, and as she blinked sleepily, her gaze landed on Adrian. He was crouched beside her, his features partially illuminated by the golden glow of the patio lights. His brows were furrowed in mild irritation, but there was something else in his expression; something softer, something unspoken.

"You're back," she murmured, lifting herself slightly and instinctively holding onto the blanket.

Adrian exhaled, shaking his head. "You're sleeping outside like an abandoned cat. It's windy. Let's go inside."

She smirked, stretching lazily. "What if I like being an abandoned cat?"

His deadpan stare told her he was unimpressed. "Then I'll leave you here and let nature take its course."

Rolling her eyes, she stood up, wrapping the blanket around herself like a cocoon as she followed him inside.

"The dinner is ready." Adrian said as he walked toward the dining table. "

As soon as they sat for their dinner, she started devouring her food like she hadn't eaten in days.

Adrian, watching her with amusement, shook his head with a chuckle. "Nobody is taking your food away. Eat slower, unless you want to meet your end by choking."

She shot him a glare but didn't slow down.

After finishing dinner, they decided to take a walk through the garden. The night was calm, the sky a vast canvas of deep blue scattered with stars. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the path, casting flickering shadows along the stone walkway.

"We'll leave by seven in the morning," Eve said, glancing at him.

Adrian nodded. "Yes, I remember."

They walked in comfortable silence, their steps slow, measured.

For some reason, Eve found herself sneaking glances at him. Just little looks nothing obvious, nothing dramatic. But every time her gaze drifted, she found herself lingering a second too long. The way the golden light traced the angles of his face, the way his presence felt so solid, so… safe. She suddenly noticed the slight curve of his smirk or the way his hands rested loosely in his pockets.

Before she could stop herself, she stole another glance.

And that was when he caught her.

"Are you trying to scare me in the dead of night with your creepy stare?" Adrian quipped, his voice laced with teasing amusement.

Startled, Eve let out a snort, covering it with a cough. "You're the scary one," she shot back, narrowing her eyes at him.

His smirk deepened. "So you admit you were staring?"

"Please, don't flatter yourself," she said, rolling her eyes.

Adrian let out a rare, full laugh. A genuine, rich sound that made something stir in her chest. It was rare to see him like this unguarded, lighthearted. And for a moment, just a fleeting moment, she thought this isn't so bad.

Then, in a moment of impulse, she reached out and grabbed his hand.

The contact sent a jolt through her, but she didn't let go. Instead, she tightened her grip and kept walking.

Adrian didn't say anything at first. He just looked at her, his brow arching ever so slightly in silent question.

Eve, fully aware of what she had done but refusing to acknowledge it, kept her expression nonchalant. "What? Can't friends hold hands?"

Adrian exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "I think the water from the pool has gotten to your brain."

She smirked. "More like you hit your head when you were saving me. Maybe you got brain damage."

"Right," he drawled sarcastically, but he didn't pull his hand away.

They walked like that, hand in hand, until they reached the gate leading to her house. It wasn't a grand moment, nor was it something dramatic. It was simple, natural; just two people walking side by side under the night sky.

When they reached her door, she finally let go of his hand, turning to face him. Without thinking, she took a step forward and wrapped her arms around him in a light hug.

For a second, Adrian stiffened, as if caught off guard. Then, slowly, his arms came up, hesitantly returning the embrace.

It was brief; just a few seconds but in that moment, she felt calm, like the world had momentarily stilled.

Pulling back, she looked up at him, smirked, and said, "Bye."

Then, before he could say a word, she spun around and fled inside, shutting the door behind her.

Leaning against the closed door, her heart hammering slightly, she muttered to herself, "What the hell was that?"

And outside, Adrian stood still for a moment, staring at the door with an unreadable expression before finally shaking his head with a quiet chuckle.