Eva eventually stopped waiting.
The long evenings by the lake, the constant glancing at her watch, the quiet hopes — she buried them all beneath the soft, snowy nights.
But no matter how hard she tried,
Denial's place in her heart refused to fade.
Every night before falling asleep, she told herself,
> "He'll come back. He would never just leave me like that. There must be a reason."
---
🌑 15 Days Later…
The new moon cycle passed.
The pain, the curse, the lockbox — it all ended.
Denial was free again… physically, at least.
And the very next morning, at exactly 10:50 AM, he stood outside St. Martin College, waiting.
He saw her.
Eva — walking toward the college gates with her bag slung over her shoulder.
But this time…
She didn't stop.
She didn't smile.
She walked right past him, straight into college, as if she never knew him.
Denial didn't move.
Didn't call out.
He simply stood there — frozen — a soft ache in his chest.
> "She's hurt. Of course she is. I disappeared without a word."
"She has every right to be angry."
So he waited.
The entire day.
Outside the college gates.
---
🌤️ That Evening…
When Eva finally stepped out, her eyes immediately found him.
Still standing there.
Still waiting.
She stared for a moment — her heart too full to speak.
Then in a low, stubborn tone, she said:
> "Come with me."
---
🥣 The Food Stall
She led him to a nearby food stall.
The place was small, warm, filled with the smell of hot soup and laughter.
Eva ordered food for herself first, then looked at Denial.
"I'll get something for you too—"
But Denial interrupted, without thinking.
"I don't… I don't eat food."
Eva froze.
He realized his mistake too late.
His heart pounded.
What had he just said?
There was a long pause.
Then Eva looked at him, her voice sharper than usual.
> "Do you hate me that much?
That you won't even sit and eat with me?"
Denial's eyes widened.
> "No… no, that's not it," he almost said.
But he stayed quiet.
---
📘 Making Up
Eva sighed and softened.
"Fine. You don't have to eat. But you can't run away from today's lesson.
Come on, I'll teach you something new."
Denial smiled slightly. "What subject?"
"History."
He tensed.
"I already know everything about history," he said before he could stop himself.
Eva raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
She then launched into a flurry of difficult questions — from world wars to ancient empires.
Denial, without hesitation, answered each one.
Every answer was correct.
Eva was stunned.
"Okay… wow," she whispered, blinking at him.
"You weren't bluffing."
She looked at him again — really looked.
> "Who are you, Denial?"
"Why do you know things no one your age should?"
But she didn't ask those questions — not yet.
Instead, she smiled gently and said,
"You're more interesting than I thought."
---
Continue.....