Dinner ended in warmth and laughter, the Garcia household buzzing with light conversation. Mia had made sure Racheal didn't escape without trying a second slice of cake, and her mother had kept asking about her studies, her hobbies, even what food she liked best. Racheal had smiled politely through it all, but inside, her nerves were coiled tight.
Every time her gaze accidentally brushed across Declan's, her chest betrayed her with an uneven beat. And every time he looked at her, it felt like he saw too much.
When the evening finally drew to a close, Racheal thought she had survived unscathed. That was, until Declan picked up his jacket and casually announced, "I'll walk her out."
Racheal blinked, nearly choking on her water. "That's not—"
"Yes!" Mia interrupted quickly, flashing her a mischievous grin. "Perfect idea. Take her, Declan. Don't let her walk home alone!"
Racheal turned to glare at her friend, but Mia only winked, clearly enjoying herself far too much.
So, with no escape, Racheal found herself stepping out into the cool night air with Declan at her side.
The street was calm, lit only by the warm glow of the lamps and the occasional hum of crickets. The jasmine bushes in the yard released their fragrance into the air, soft and sweet.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched, broken only by the sound of their footsteps against the pavement. Racheal gripped her bag strap tighter, her thoughts racing.
Declan was the first to break the silence. "You were quiet tonight."
"I didn't want to intrude," she replied, her voice careful. "It was your family's dinner, not mine."
"Intrude?" He glanced at her, his brows raising slightly. "My mom already likes you. And Mia…" He let out a small laugh. "She practically treats you like her twin. Racheal, you fit in better than you think."
Her lips pressed together. She wanted to argue, but the sincerity in his tone left her throat dry.
They walked a few more steps before Declan suddenly stopped, turning to face her under the lamplight. His face was shadowed, his expression serious.
"Why do you keep doing that?" he asked quietly.
Racheal stiffened. "Doing what?"
"Building walls. Pretending you don't care. Running every time I get close." His eyes were locked on hers, sharp but not unkind.
Her chest tightened painfully. "Because… because you don't understand."
"Then help me understand." His voice was low, almost pleading.
The words pierced through her defenses, and for a moment, she wanted to break. She wanted to tell him everything—the rumors, the way Erica had once abandoned her, the shadow of Mr. Unknown that never left her, the loneliness that gnawed at her when no one was watching. But fear held her tongue.
Her lips trembled. "Declan…"
He took a careful step closer, his presence overwhelming, the faint scent of his cologne mingling with the night air. "I meant what I said, Racheal. You're not a joke. Not to me."
Her breath caught. The intensity in his eyes was too much, and she quickly turned her face away, hugging her bag like a shield. "Please… don't."
His hand lifted, as though he wanted to touch her, but he stopped himself. Slowly, his fingers curled into a fist, then fell back to his side. "Alright. I won't push. Not tonight."
The air between them was heavy, fragile. Neither moved.
And then—
"Hey! Took you long enough."
Both of them turned.
Gideon stood a few meters away, leaning lazily against a lamppost with his hands shoved in his pockets. His grin was wide, annoyingly casual, as if he hadn't just intruded on something important.
Declan groaned softly. "Seriously, Gideon?"
"What?" Gideon shrugged, strolling toward them with a smirk. "It's late. I thought I'd play knight in shining armor too. Can't let you hog all the credit, right?"
Racheal blinked, torn between relief at the interruption and annoyance at his timing. Declan's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he turned to her, his expression unreadable.
"Go on. Gideon can walk you the rest of the way."
There was no sharpness in his tone, but his eyes gave him away. He was upset.
Racheal's lips parted. "Declan—"
But he was already walking away, his figure retreating into the shadows, shoulders stiff.
Beside her, Gideon let out a low whistle. "Ouch. Did I just ruin a moment?"
Racheal's heart twisted painfully as she watched Declan disappear into the night. She hugged her bag tighter, whispering to herself so softly Gideon couldn't hear—
"Why does it hurt like this?"