Boundaries or Empathy

Alaric instinctively slowed his steps. Not because he wanted to interfere, but because at that moment, his ears caught a short sentence coming from Clarissa's lips.

"My relationship with him... is fading."

Alaric's steps halted for half a second. His eyes stayed fixed on the path ahead, but his mind turned toward the park bench.

"Most likely, she's talking about Edward," he muttered inwardly. And without asking, his system appeared with its cold, controlled response. The emotional analysis result came up again as a reminder.

[SYSTEM: EMOTIONAL DETECTION ANALYSIS]

[Topic: Personal relationship — not directly related to the main mission or personal development]

[Recommendation: Do not engage.]

Alaric sighed softly. True. It wasn't his business. Even if Clarissa was talking about him, he knew which boundaries shouldn't be crossed anymore.

He resumed walking. Slowly. Focusing on the path ahead. Trying to push away the feelings that wanted to get closer, just to say hello. But just a few meters from the park's end, his steps came to a halt again.

Someone was coming from the opposite direction.

The rhythm of black shoes crunching gravel echoed steadily. A man, with a calm expression that showed no emotion at all.

Edward.

His steps continued in a straight line toward the bench where Clarissa sat. Not hurried, but not leisurely either.

Alaric, unknowingly, stopped again. He couldn't see Clarissa's face from that angle, but he could clearly see how her body reacted.

Clarissa turned.

Straight. Shocked. Her voice was soft but clear,

"Edward?"

Her hand, which had been resting on her lap, was now slightly raised, hovering in the air. Her friend beside her looked confused and turned to look at the man who had just arrived.

Edward didn't respond. He didn't smile. He just stood there, facing Clarissa, eyes fixed on her, saying nothing at all.

But from his gaze, it seemed like there was something left unsaid.

On the other side of the path, Alaric stood frozen. He had no intention of getting involved. But his body refused to turn around and keep walking.

Across the street, Alaric stood frozen. He didn't intend to interfere. But his body refused to turn away and continue walking.

After a few more steps, he stopped on the soft-sanded sidewalk, though his eyes stayed fixed on the view across the park road.

From afar, it was clear that Clarissa's body had tensed. Her voice had called out Edward's name with surprise, but what she received was only his cold and empty stare.

No response. Only tense silence, until it was finally broken by a sudden burst of anger.

"You told me yesterday you were just going to your friend's house!" Edward's voice rose, tearing apart the calm of the park that had only been filled with birdsong and morning footsteps.

Clarissa quickly stood. "Edward, please not here..."

"I saw you yesterday at the restaurant with him. Alaric, right?" Edward's voice was nearly a hiss, but still loud enough for Alaric to hear from not too far away.

Alaric froze.

Clarissa's friend, the girl in glasses, stood next to her with a worried face, trying to become a shield. "Edward, you can't force Clarissa like this."

"I just want to talk to her. And this is between us," Edward snapped back quickly, but his eyes were full of anger and his right hand gripped Clarissa's arm tightly.

Clarissa tried to pull away. "Edward, you're being rough!"

"Because you don't know how to keep your distance!" he shouted again, shaking her arm harder. For a second, he looked like a man who had lost control, either out of fear of losing her or because his pride had been torn apart.

Her friend tried to pull Clarissa's body back. "Let go! You're being—"

But one quick movement from Edward pushed the girl to the side. Not hard, but enough to make her stumble a few steps backward with a panicked breath. Her face turned pale.

And that was the moment Alaric knew he could no longer just watch in silence.

His mind hesitated for a moment. This was their private matter. Hadn't the system warned him not to get involved? But this wasn't just relationship drama anymore. This was about someone who needed help, and someone else who had lost control.

His hand clenched at his side. His heart pounded. But his steps began to move forward, crossing the sidewalk and the thin grass that separated him from them.

One step.

Two steps.

Four more steps and the sound of his shoes began to echo close enough.

Clarissa, who was still trying to pull away, turned around, and her eyes widened when she saw who was approaching. There was a mix of shock and relief flashing through her gaze.

Edward hadn't noticed yet. But it was only a matter of seconds.

And when the moment arrived...

Alaric finally brought himself forward. One hand slipped into his jacket pocket, the other remained hanging at his side. Calm but ready if the situation called for more than words.

"Excuse me," he said quietly but firmly as he stood in front of Edward and Clarissa.

"I don't know what's going on between you two. But please, don't be rough with her."

His tone wasn't raised. But the firmness in his words cut deep, the kind of tone that struck straight into a man's emotions. Including Edward's.

Edward turned. One second passed. Then two. His eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened. Like someone pouring gasoline onto flames still burning in his chest.

"Oh, so you really were meeting him?" Edward pointed at Alaric with a trembling finger. His eyes locked back onto Clarissa. "You think I'm stupid, Clar?"

Clarissa looked shocked. "What? I didn't—"

"You've been following him around and now he suddenly shows up while we're talking? You think I can't put two and two together?!"

Alaric remained calm. "Don't let your mind run wild, Edward. I was just walking by. I happened to see you grab her and I didn't like how you handled it."

But that only fueled the fire.

"Figures," Edward hissed. "You always want to play the hero, don't you? Always meddling in other people's business. Who do you think you are?"

Clarissa couldn't hold back anymore. Her left hand rose and slapped Edward clean across the face.

Slap.

"You're getting worse, Edward!" she shouted, her body trembling. "I'm tired, do you get that? Always blaming me, always accusing me. When it's you who never tries to understand, you who refuses to change!"

Edward's face turned red. His hand rose slightly. And for a moment, the world held its breath.

But before that hand could move any further, it was stopped by Alaric.

With a quick grip. Not too strong, but just enough to hold Edward from going any further.

"Touch her again," Alaric said, eyes sharp as knives, "and I'll report you to the police right now."

His voice was calm and not confrontational. But that was what made it so intimidating. It wasn't shouted anger. It was a cold threat. Not reckless emotion, but conscious courage.

Edward fell silent. Then jerked his arm free from Alaric's grip roughly.

He stepped back, staring at them both with a look that mixed anger, shame, and a sense of defeat.

"Watch yourselves," he muttered as he backed away. "You'll regret stealing her from me."

Without waiting for a response, Edward turned and walked off. His shoes hit the pavement hard, as if he wanted his anger to leave a trail behind him.

Clarissa stood frozen. Her breathing uneven. The friend who had been pushed earlier now stood behind her, gently holding her shoulders.

Alaric only stared at Edward's back as he walked away. He said nothing. He didn't touch Clarissa either. He simply let out a deep breath, then lifted his gaze to the sky that was starting to dim.

Still, he remained in place. Watching Edward's back as it disappeared behind the line of trees and the red-brick fence surrounding the park.

He let his body settle into the last bits of tension still lingering in the air. Just to make sure Edward didn't come back to hurt Clarissa a second time.

There were no sounds now, except the soft rustle of the evening wind. Small birds flitted out from the bushes. Under the shadow of the tall trees, Alaric kept his eyes on the path, following the direction Edward had gone.

When a soft but clear voice broke the silence, Alaric finally looked away.

"Thank you," Cheryl said, Clarissa's friend. Her voice was a little quiet, clearly coming from someone who had just witnessed a couple's fight.

Alaric blinked once. Then turned. Cheryl's eyes looked at him directly, then briefly shifted to Clarissa, before returning to him.

That simple sentence was enough to pull the three of them back from the tension of just moments ago.

Clarissa was still standing. Her body slightly tilted, like someone who was shaken but trying hard not to collapse. Her gaze was empty, as if her mind was still trapped a few minutes in the past.

But once Cheryl spoke, it was like a window slowly opened in her head.

Clarissa let out a breath, then gave a small nod. She spoke after a brief pause.

"I..."

I don't know what would've happened if you weren't here, Alaric."

Her gaze now fell on Alaric. For a moment, there was no more tension or pride usually wrapped around her. What remained was sincerity. And maybe a bit of... guilt?