Reina took a deep breath before finally pushing open the staff room door. Her gaze had turned cold, though her eyes were still swollen from holding back tears. She walked out with firm steps, as if nothing had happened. Yet her heart trembled violently, every second stabbing at her chest.
The lounge was almost empty. Most of the VIP guests had already left, leaving only the faint sound of smooth jazz filling the night. And there—Ryuu still stood, staring at the bar with an unreadable expression. The moment he saw Reina emerge, his body instinctively turned, as though ready to go to her.
"Reina…" he called softly.
But upon hearing his voice, Reina didn't turn around. She headed straight behind the bar, grabbed a clean glass, and began wiping it down with quick, agitated movements. Her hands trembled, but she pretended to be busy.
Ryuu stepped closer, noticing how Reina seemed to be avoiding him. "We need to talk."
Reina paused, then lifted her face. Her eyes were cold, and a bitter smile curved on her lips. "Sir, the lounge is about to close. If there's no order left, I don't think there's anything else we need to discuss." Her tone was formal—so unlike the way she usually spoke to him.
Ryuu froze, struck by her words. He knew she was angry, but the distance she put between them hurt more than any harsh remark.
"Reina…" His voice softened this time, almost pleading.
But Reina only lowered her gaze again, fussing with the neatly arranged bottles of wine. "I'm sorry, Sir. I still have work to do," she replied curtly.
From a distance, Leon noticed the tension between them. He glanced over but quickly pretended to be busy with the order notes, though the air in the lounge was thick with unspoken emotion.
Minutes of silence passed, broken only by the clinking of glass against the counter.
Finally, Reina untied her apron, folded it neatly, and slung her small bag over her shoulder. She turned to Leon briefly. "Senior, I'll head home early tonight."
Leon raised his brows in surprise. "Ugh, that's unusual for you, Rein. You never leave before closing.."
Reina gave him a faint smile, but her voice carried a tired edge. "I'm really exhausted today, Senior. See you."
Ryuu's sharp gaze followed her every move, as if trying to stop her. But before he could say another word, Reina was already striding toward the door.
Her hand gripped the handle, and she hesitated for just a second. For a moment, she almost turned back… but instead, she let out a heavy sigh and pushed the door open without a word.
"Reina…" Ryuu's voice called again from behind, barely audible.
But she didn't turn.
Ryuu remained standing in the empty lounge, staring at her retreating figure. For the first time, the gentle girl who usually looked at him with warmth chose to ignore him completely.
And for Reina, every step away from the lounge felt unbearably heavy. But she kept walking. Because that night, her heart was already too full of pain—too full of disappointment in herself for hoping too much.
---
KLOK
KLOK
KLOK
"Huft… why do I have to be like this…" she muttered under her breath, half sobbing, half angry at herself.
The night air stung against her skin, the breeze carrying the smell of the city streets—so different from the expensive perfumes inside the lounge. Reina walked quickly along the wet pavement, her heels clicking against the ground still damp from the drizzle. Her breaths came short, as if she were running away from something invisible—or perhaps from herself.
"Reina!" Ryuu's voice rang out from behind, deep and commanding.
She pretended not to hear, quickening her pace. But within seconds, his hand caught her wrist. The sudden pull spun her halfway around, almost crashing her into his chest.
"Akh..! Let go of me..!" Reina cried out, startled, her voice breaking as she struggled to free herself.
Ryuu's gaze locked on hers, his grip firm yet gentle. "No. Not until you tell me why you're avoiding me like this."
Reina scoffed bitterly, her eyes turning red. "You're still asking? I'm not blind, Sir… I saw everything... She touched you as if— as if you were still hers!" her voice trembled.
"She's nothing to me anymore," Ryuu answered quickly, his tone cold but laced with something restrained.
"If she's nothing, then why didn't you stop her?! Why did you let her touch you like that?! Touching, kissing, patting your chest like—like she still owned you..!"
His silence fell heavy between them. His fingers loosened slightly around her wrist, but he didn't let go.
Reina lowered her gaze, her shoulders trembling. "I… I just feel so small, Sir.. am i only a distraction to you? Just someone to fill your empty time when you're bored..?"
"Fuck.. No, Reina!" Ryuu's voice rose sharply. "Don't ever think that. You're not a distraction. You…" he stopped, the words catching in his throat.
Reina looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "Then what am I, Sir? Tell me…"
Silence hung between them. Ryuu opened his mouth, but closed it again. In his eyes, there was something—like a secret so heavy that if spoken, it would change everything.
Reina let out a broken laugh as her tears finally fell. "See? Even now, you still can't answer." She yanked her wrist free with a rough motion this time.
Ryuu froze, his hand still hovering in the air, emptiness stinging his chest. "Reina…"
"Enough, Sir. If you can't be honest, then don't come near me."
Her steps quickened, but her voice lingered faintly in the air, carried away by the wind.
"I'm tired of always guessing, Sir.. I'm not her. I'm not that strong…"
Ryuu stood frozen beneath the streetlamp. The drizzle began to fall again, dampening his hair. His eyes stayed fixed on Reina's back, slowly fading at the end of the street.
Slowly, his hand clenched into a tight fist, his knuckles turning white.
"I'm a fool… Why can't I just say it now…" he muttered under his breath, his jaw clenched.
That night, two hearts that longed for closeness only drifted further apart—pulled away by unspoken words, and the shadows of wounds from the past.