Reading Between (the line)

Year 2030

It had been six years since Noon stepped foot on her home country's soil. If it weren't for her work forcing her back, she probably wouldn't have returned for another six years.

After placing her luggage in the trunk of her car, she swiftly got into the driver's seat and drove away from the airport. As she traveled down familiar roads, the cityscape around her stirred up memories of the past. Six long years, yet she could still vividly remember everything.

"I wonder how they all are now," she mumbled, a smile full of longing crossing her face.

While she was abroad, she had cut off all communication with everyone. Even her own family didn't know where she was, and she didn't message them on social media. Monthly emails were the only form of contact she maintained. She had essentially gone off the grid.

Thinking back, Noon couldn't quite remember how she had made that decision. Honestly, she and Praewa shouldn't have ended things like that. Anyone could tell, including her, that what happened between them wasn't anything catastrophic. No dramatic event like in the movies or novels—just a natural case of sunrise and sunset.

Her sun rising while Praewa's set. A simple case of failing to meet in the middle.

But Noon knew deep down that it had to be done. She couldn't bear to see the person she loved in the arms of someone else, so close yet feeling a million miles away. She would have crumbled.

So, in the end, she ran away. But even though she had let go of her love years ago, she was still there in the same spot. Not waiting—just stranded.

Praewa was her first love, and probably her last. She had vowed never to love anyone again in this lifetime. She just can't.

A loud honk from behind snapped Noon out of her thoughts. She quickly stepped on the gas, realizing she had missed the green light.

"Damn it!" she muttered, cursing herself out for such an embarrassing mistake.

---

Praewa woke up to a noise outside her condo. She peeked through the peephole and saw nothing.

"What the? What was that noise then?" she asked herself. She wanted to open the door and look, but her hungry stomach comes first. The security in her building was top-notch anyway, so it was probably just a neighbor. Nothing to be worried about.

After eating, cleaning her dishes, and washing up, Praewa turned on her TV. It was her day off, and she decided to stay in and relax.

She was already engrossed in the drama series she was watching when a loud bang echoed from outside again. It was so loud that her cat even jumped in its sleep.

Praewa jumped up from the couch and opened her door. She looked to her left and saw nothing. When she turned to the right, she locked eyes with a familiar face.

Both of them froze, stunned. Neither moved; they just stared at each other in disbelief. After six long years, they were face to face again.

If not for the Praewa's neighbor passing by, they might have stayed like that for a while longer.

Noon, still in shock, quickly turned around. "It's the wrong floor," she muttered. She made a move to rush toward the elevator, but Praewa's hand stopped her.

"No," Praewa said firmly. "You're not leaving me again, P'Noon. I won't let you. Never."