Catherine's POV,
The site looked different when everyone had left. The heavy sounds of drills and hammers were gone, replaced by silence. Even the wind sounded louder. The setting sun painted the skeleton of steel and concrete in gold, shadows stretching across the ground.
I wanted to take a walk, to feel the air after everything. It was a tiring day.
And then I saw her.
Elai.
She wasn't supposed to be here—at least, not alone. But there she was, sitting on a block of cement like she'd been rooted there for hours. Her helmet lay discarded beside her, her hair falling loose around her face. Her white shirt clung to her from the day's heat, sleeves pushed up, collar slightly undone. Boots covered in dust, jeans creased from kneeling, moving, building.
She didn't notice me right away. Her head was tilted, gaze fixed on the horizon, the water bottle in her hand forgotten. She looked far, lost, like she was waiting for an answer only the sky could give her.
For a moment, I just stood there. My chest tightened the longer I looked.
Because this wasn't the same woman who smirked at me in the hospital. This wasn't the woman who teased me every chance she got. No. This was someone else—quiet, serious, tired. Maybe even hurting.
And something about that… hurt me too.
I should've turned around. I should've pretended I didn't see her. But my feet betrayed me. One step. Then another. Each one heavier than the last, each one screaming stop, stop, stop—but I couldn't.
I hated how much I wanted to know what she was thinking. I hated how badly I wanted her to look at me.
She finally did.
Her head turned, and her eyes locked on mine like she'd felt me coming all along.
"Doctor," she said softly. No smirk. No teasing. Just steady. "Why are you here? You're supposed to be inside, eating."
The sound of her voice knocked the air out of me.
I froze only a few steps away. My hands felt cold, my throat dry. I almost left right then, almost let silence swallow me whole. But something inside me cracked open.
"I… never said thank you," I whispered, my voice smaller than I wanted.
Her eyebrows lifted just slightly, her lips parting like she wasn't sure what to do with my words.
The distance between us felt unbearable.
Her brows pulled together, faintly. She tilted her head, almost confused. "For what?"
I forced a breath. "For that day. For saving me."
She let out a soft laugh, but it wasn't mocking. More like it surprised her. "I didn't save you. You were the one who…" She paused, searching for words, "…who didn't give up on me."
I blinked, stunned. Because I hadn't expected her to say that.
"Don't do that," I said quickly, shaking my head. "Don't make it sound like I—"
"—like you cared?" she cut in, her tone calm, deliberate.
Her words landed sharper than they should have. My throat tightened. "You don't know me."
"I don't have to." She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees. Her eyes didn't leave mine. "I felt it. That night. In the hospital. You looked at me like…" She trailed off, her voice faltering for the first time. "Like my life mattered."
My chest constricted. I wanted to argue, to laugh, to deflect—but nothing came out. Because she was right.
The silence stretched thick between us.
Finally, I sat down on the cement opposite her. Not too close, not too far. Just enough. I clasped my hands together, staring down at my fingers so I wouldn't have to look at her.
"I don't like this," I muttered.
"What part?" she asked gently.
"All of it." My voice cracked. "You. The way you keep showing up. The way you make me feel—" I cut myself off, swallowing hard. "I hate it."
Elai didn't flinch. She just studied me, quiet and patient. "Then why are you here, Catherine?"
I snapped my head up.
Because I didn't know. Because I wanted to leave, and yet my body dragged me here. Because I was tired of pretending I didn't care when I did.
"I don't know," I admitted, almost breaking. "I don't know why I'm here."
For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The only sound was the faint hum of the wind. Then she smiled—small, sad, but real.
"Maybe that's the answer," she whispered.
And God help me, I almost believed her.
"I'm sorry," She suddenly spoke up after a minute of silence. "I lost my mind that night. I wasn't supposed to do anything stupid, but I couldn't stop myself from kissing you."
"It's fine-"
"I like you, Catherine."
I stopped. It felt like everything went silent. I was just looking at her. The feeling where you are in a situation where everything else doesn't matter.
"I am not asking you to like me back. I just want you to know my feelings for you," She smiled, looked away.
I just stared at her. My throat was dry, my palms clammy. The feeling was unreal, like I was suddenly trapped in a moment where nothing else mattered. Not the hospital. Not my father. Not my rules. Just her.
Do I tell her? Do I confess that I can't stop thinking about her? That I hate how much she makes my heart pound? That I've been running and running, but she's still right here, haunting me like a shadow?
I bit my lip, my voice stuck somewhere between my chest and my mouth, refusing to come out. My pulse was screaming yes, but my brain… my brain was tearing me apart.
She still wasn't looking at me. She didn't see how close I was to breaking.
Do I tell her? Do I run again?
What the hell do I do?
"Elai, I—"
I shut my mouth so fast I bit my tongue. The sting grounded me. My fists clenched on my lap.
No. Not now. Not here.
I stayed quiet. Swallowing everything down until it burned.
God, what the hell is wrong with me?
The silence was eating me alive. I thought she'd stop. I thought she'd just let it go.
But then she spoke.
"Catherine." Her voice was soft, too soft. "What were you about to say?"
My chest tightened. "Nothing."
Her eyes were on me this time. Watching me. Searching me. "It didn't sound like nothing."
I wanted to roll my eyes. I wanted to snap at her until she finally shut up. But I couldn't. Not with the way she was looking at me. Not with that patience. Like she had all the time in the world to wait for me.
"I don't want to talk about it," I muttered. It came out sharper than I planned.
She didn't move. Didn't flinch. Instead, she leaned forward a little. "Then don't talk. Just… don't shut me out."
My throat burned. My chest ached. Why does she say things like that? Why does she say them like she knows me?
I wanted to tell her. I wanted to confess everything. But my stupid mouth failed me again.
"You're annoying," I finally said, crossing my arms.
Her smile returned, small and soft. "I can live with that."
And then silence again. She stayed beside me. Quiet. Calm. Not pushing anymore.
Which somehow… made it worse.
Because part of me wanted to give in.
"Elai" I finally looked at her. "I-" I kept stopping mid-sentence.
"What is it?" She looked at me, genuinely confused.
"I like you"
To Be Continued...