Kai, with that sly grin of his, suddenly tugged Sofia toward the trail of blooming trees.
"Come on, I want a moment alone with you," he said, disguising his intent.
"Wha—Kai!" Sofia protested, her laughter spilling in the air as she stumbled to keep up.
Before disappearing around the bend, Kai cast Elias a pointed nod — the kind of brotherly shove only he could give.
Leila's stomach dropped. She didn't want them to leave her alone with Elias, not here, not now. But she forced herself to smile, careful not to betray her unease.
"We'll be back soon. Save my favorite cupcake for me!" Sofia's voice rang out, bright and carefree.
"I know, I know," Leila called back, shaking her head, a soft laugh escaping despite the tightness in her chest.
Then silence.
The kind that lingered too long, pressing down on both of them.
Elias sat across from her, his hands clasped together, thumbs restlessly rubbing against each other. His thoughts spun in frantic circles, each one crashing into the next. He had rehearsed this moment a hundred times in his head, but now… now he feared every word might push her further away.
Leila kept her gaze fixed on the picnic blanket, tracing the edge of her cup with her finger as though it were the most important task in the world.
Finally, Elias broke the silence, his voice low, steady — but laced with a weight he could no longer hide.
"I don't know what happened. Why are you distancing yourself from me? But I know that I am not feeling good about this distance. I have been feeling restless for several days."
Leila stiffened. Her hand faltered on the cup, but she didn't look up. Elias noticed. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he pressed on.
"If there's any misunderstanding or anything bothering you about me, we can sort it out. If I have done anything that has offended you…" He paused, his throat tight. "I can apologize."
Leila said nothing. Seconds stretched into minutes, and the quiet carved sharp edges into his chest.
Elias leaned forward now, searching her face — her silence felt heavier than any accusation.
At last, Leila drew in a breath. She braced herself, forcing her voice to remain steady.
"You haven't done anything of the sort."
"Then why?" Elias asked, his voice rawer now, a mix of frustration and desperation.
Leila's lashes lowered. "It's just that I realized something. And I'm glad that I realized earlier."
His jaw tensed. "What have you realized that you decided to distance yourself from me?"
Leila finally met his eyes — and the quiet certainty there was sharper than a blade.
"I have forgotten who I am. I stepped on the wrong track."
The words hit him like a blow, leaving Elias still, as though the world itself had tilted beneath his feet.
Elias felt the sting of her words like salt pressed into an open wound. But underneath the hurt, something else clawed at him—a raw, suffocating fear. Fear that if he didn't bare his heart now, he would lose her forever.
His voice trembled, stripped of its usual composure.
"Please…" Elias whispered, desperation bleeding through the cracks of his tone. "I know I'm late. It's also the first time for me. I felt all these emotions for the first time, so it took me time to realize what I am experiencing."
His gaze locked onto her profile, as if willing her to turn toward him.
"Give me a chance…"
"Stop. Please STOP!" Leila's voice cut through his plea like lightning.
She turned to him at last, eyes bright, unflinching. "I can't… That one thing is all I have to myself. Please don't snatch that from me. We can never be what you want."
Her voice cracked, but her words stood tall, immovable. Elias froze, his throat dry, his chest constricting as though the very air had betrayed him.
For a long heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then Leila's gaze softened—yet the sorrow in her eyes only made the refusal sharper. She inhaled, her lips parting not for an explanation, but for something deeper.
Her voice came low, steady, carrying an old ache as she recited:
"The moon can't be anyone's,
Can the moon ever belong to anyone?
Don't be stubborn for the moon's sake,
Oh, my dear Insha, the moon."
(Ibn-e-Insha)
The words hung in the air between them, timeless, final.
Elias's breath hitched as realization struck him like a cruel mercy—she had known. She had known his feelings long before he himself did.
And yet, the distance between them remained unbridgeable. For him, the walls felt fragile, illusions to be broken. But for Leila… they were immovable truths. The very foundation of her being.
Elias lowered his gaze, his heart aching with a helpless understanding. She wasn't rejecting him alone—she was clinging to the only way she knew to survive.
Just as the silence between Elias and Leila stretched too long, a ripple of laughter floated toward them.
Sofia stumbled back into view, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling, while Kai trailed behind her with a smug grin.
"Stop teasing me already!" Sofia swatted at his arm, her voice flustered yet playful.
"Teasing?" Kai raised a brow, feigning innocence. "I was merely stating facts. You blush like a strawberry the moment someone compliments you."
Sofia groaned, covering her face with both hands. "Ugh, you're impossible!"
"Adorable is the word you're looking for." Kai winked.
Their cheerful banter cut straight through the tension, their voices so lively that Elias and Leila both snapped out of their private storm. Leila blinked, grounding herself as Sofia bounded closer.
"Leila!" Sofia called, still flushed, tugging at her arm. "You won't believe the things he says—"
Leila forced a small smile. "Let's go back to the dorms, Sofia. It's getting late."
Sofia paused, sensing her friend's firm tone. Relief flickered across her expression. "Fine, you're right. Maybe that'll save me from another round of his relentless teasing." She shot Kai a glare, though her lips betrayed a shy smile.
"Relentless?" Kai smirked, strolling closer. "I'm just warming up."
Leila stood, brushing down her skirt, quietly grateful for the excuse to leave. As Sofia clung to her side, they both started toward the waiting car.
Kai slowed, casting a glance at Elias. His grin slipped just slightly as his sharp gaze scanned Elias's face. The slump of his shoulders. The way his jaw was set but his eyes gave him away.
The plan hadn't worked. If anything, it had backfired.
Kai let out a breath, running a hand through his hair before falling in step beside Elias. "So," he murmured low, meant only for him, "how bad is it?"
Elias's silence was answer enough.
They reached the car in unspoken understanding. Kai pulled open the door for the girls, masking everything with an easy smile. Elias slid into the driver's seat, expression unreadable.
The ride back was filled with Sofia's sunshine. She carried the conversation singlehandedly, her laughter bright, her stories flowing from one to another. Kai leaned in, feeding her amusement with little comments and playful interruptions, keeping her flustered.
Leila responded softly when spoken to, her eyes turned to the window more often than not. Elias kept his gaze forward, his hands steady on the wheel, though his silence spoke louder than words.
At last, the car slowed in front of the dorms.
"Thanks for the ride," Sofia chirped, her voice still tinged with laughter as she tugged Leila's hand.
"Anytime," Kai said smoothly, his smirk tugging wider when she turned pink again.
Leila gave Elias the briefest glance—polite, distant—before following Sofia out.
The doors shut, leaving Elias and Kai in the quiet hum of the car, watching the girls disappear into the dorm entrance.