Months passed. They grew more closer.
He brings her tea after practice. Walks beside her from the library to her dorm, even when she pretends she doesn't notice.
Sometimes she smiles at him — small, soft things that make him stupidly hopeful.
He knows she's broken somewhere deep. But he didn't ask. He kept waiting.
One night, she forgot her journal on the bench beside the court.
Elias accidentally finds it when he came to check if she's still practicing in the dark.
He saw the diary. He knew he shouldn't look..
But the wind turned the pages. Just three lines:
"Ten years left.
Make enough money.
Be free. 2035."
His throat closes. He read it twice, three times. The words didn't change.
He understood all at once — the way she pushes him away, the way she works until her fingers bleed, the way she stares at the sky like she's counting stars she won't see again. He finally gets to understand her coldness.
The next day, he waited for her by the court.
When she arrived and saw the journal in his hands, her face went pale.
She tried to snatch it back , but he hold it tight.
"Why, Sana? Why ten years?"
She didn't look at him and just stared at the cracked court floor.
"Because I'm tired. Because I want to stop owing people things. Because I don't want to live half a life forever. Because I…. I don't want it anymore."
Her voice shakes. He wants to say I love you — but he knows she'll run.
So he just said:
"Then let me stand here for however long you have left. Even if it's ten years. Even if you never want more. Please let me stay right her with you . Sana, please consider, please spend more years with me… Please."
"Elias, I…."
"I love you…. I love you Sana. I know you don't want to but please let me .. let me love you at least .. Please…"
She stayed silent. She long knew that Elias loves her. In fact she did too. But there was no place for Elias in her 10 years of plan. She kept on pushing him away, so that he wouldn't suffer. She knew that Elias will be devasted once she left.. She.. She just couldn't bare the thought of him suffering his whole life for someone so unworthy. She stood in front of him silence, self less also selfish at the same time. Who would have knew what she has been through… She kept on reminding herself.. Ten years, Ten years only Ten years. She had already started to countdown the years..
Elias on the other hand was filled with rage and questions. The person he loved the most had long had plans to die in coming future. A chill went down his spine just thinking of loosing her.
At last he couldn't do anything but devoted himself for her. Elias kept on saying Sana that
"No matter what happens, I will always love you. I understand you want peace. I will provide you more love, more memories. I will keep you happy. Please let me love you"
The Promise
He never said forever.
She never said love.
But they sat together on that cold court anyway, knees touching. She lets him hold her hand for the first time, just for a second, her fingers cold in his hand.
" Ten years is enough to love you my whole life"
She, who stayed away from affection, got Elias, a gentle, kindhearted man who would keep her warm till her lifetime.