The next morning felt illegal.
That's the only way I can explain it.
Too peaceful.
Too soft.
Like the world forgot it was supposed to stress me out.
I woke up smiling.
Smiling.
For no reason.
Then I remembered last night.
The food.
The walk.
The way he held my hand like I'd disappear.
That stupid soft kiss.
My face heated instantly.
I buried myself in my pillow.
"Get a grip," I mumbled.
But my heart was acting like I won the lottery.
Pathetic.
By afternoon, I was helping at the shop again.
Folding clothes.
Arranging fabrics.
Arguing with my cousin about whose turn it was to sweep.
Normal life stuff.
Ethan had texted earlier.
Ethan:
"Good morning. Did you sleep?"
Simple.
But it made me stupidly happy.
I replied casual.
"Yeah. Don't be late to work."
He sent:
"Look at you caring. I feel loved."
Idiot.
I didn't reply after that.
Let him suffer small.
Balance.
Around 3PM, the shop got busier.
Two women arguing prices.
A kid crying.
Generator making noise.
Total chaos.
I was at the counter calculating something when the bell above the door jingled.
"Welcome," I said automatically, not looking up.
"Hi… um… excuse me."
The voice was soft.
Polite.
Not local.
I glanced up.
And froze.
She was pretty.
Not just pretty.
The calm, clean kind of pretty.
Light skin. Curly brown hair tied back. Oversized shirt tucked into jeans. Simple jewelry.
Effortlessly put together.
Like those girls in movies that don't even try.
She smiled at me.
"Do you work here?"
"…yeah," I said slowly.
"I'm looking for Mira."
My stomach dropped.
"That's me."
Her smile widened like she found what she wanted.
"Oh thank God. I was worried I had the wrong place."
Wrong place?
My brain started running.
"Do I… know you?" I asked.
"No," she said quickly. "But I know Ethan."
My heart stopped.
Here we go again.
Why is my life like this?
"Ethan?" I repeated carefully.
"Yeah. Ethan Cole."
The way she said his full name so easily.
So familiar.
Like it belonged to her mouth.
Something ugly twisted in my chest.
Who is this now?
I forced a calm expression.
"…okay?"
She stepped closer.
"I'm sorry if this is weird. My name's Ava. I just got back into town yesterday."
Back into town?
"I've been trying to reach him, but his number changed," she continued. "Then someone told me he's been around here a lot lately. With you."
My brain: ???
"With me?"
She smiled softly. "Yeah. So I thought maybe you could help me find him."
Help her… find him?
Excuse me??
I crossed my arms slightly.
"…how do you know Ethan?"
She laughed a little.
Like it was obvious.
"We grew up together."
My heart sank.
Oh.
Not again.
"Childhood friends," she said. "Same street. Same school. Same everything. Our parents still talk."
Every word felt heavier.
Another history.
Another past.
Another girl who knew him before me.
God, how many prequels does this man have?
"We kinda lost touch when I moved abroad," she added. "But I'm back for good now."
Back.
For good.
My stomach twisted tighter.
She pulled out her phone.
"I just wanted to surprise him, you know? He used to hate when people disappeared on him. So I thought if I showed up randomly, he'd freak out."
She laughed.
Like she already knew exactly how he'd react.
Like she'd seen it a hundred times.
Like she belonged in his story.
And suddenly…
I felt small.
Again.
I hate this feeling.
I hate it.
"You okay?" she asked, noticing my silence.
"Yeah," I said quickly. Too quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"So… you're his girlfriend, right?"
The question caught me off guard.
"…something like that."
Her eyes softened.
"Ohhh. That's cute."
Cute?
Why does that sound insulting?
"You don't have to look worried," she said casually. "I'm basically his sister."
Basically.
Not actually.
Basically.
Those words are dangerous.
Because Lena was also "basically family."
Look how that turned out.
"So… can you give me his address or something?" she asked.
My brain screamed.
Address??
Girl, are you mad??
I forced a smile.
"I'll… tell him you're looking for him."
"Oh. You don't have it?"
"I do. I just… don't share people's addresses."
She blinked.
Then smiled again.
"Fair enough."
She scribbled her number on a receipt and handed it to me.
"Tell him Ava's back. He'll understand."
The confidence in her voice.
Like she knew he would drop everything.
Like she knew she mattered.
Too much.
"Okay," I said quietly.
She waved and walked out.
Just like that.
But the air she left behind felt heavy.
My cousin walked over immediately.
"Who was that fine girl?"
I stared at the paper in my hand.
"I don't know," I muttered.
But my chest already knew.
Trouble.
That evening, Ethan texted.
"I'm coming to see you after work."
My fingers hovered over the screen.
I looked at the number on the receipt again.
Ava.
Childhood friend.
Basically sister.
Back for good.
I don't know why…
But something about her smile made me uneasy.
Like she knew parts of him I never would.
And I hate competing with history.
I really do.
When Ethan finally showed up outside the shop, smiling like usual…
I stepped out.
Holding that small piece of paper.
"Hey you," he said happily.
But I didn't smile back.
His smile slowly faded.
"What's wrong?"
I handed him the paper.
"Someone came looking for you today."
He frowned.
"Who?"
I watched his face carefully.
Every little movement.
Every blink.
Every breath.
Then I said it.
"A girl named Ava."
And the way his expression changed?
Yeah.
I didn't like that at all.