The rustle of silk and the soft echo of refined laughter filled the five-star hotel ballroom. Crystal chandeliers reflected glints of light off jewels and raised wine glasses. In the midst of this opulence, Elara stood like a perfect statue. Her navy evening gown was elegant, her smile perfectly practiced, but her eyes were empty, following the flow of the crowd without truly seeing.
This was the life David had built for her. A beautiful, safe, and... boring life.
"Champagne, Mrs. Davina?" asked a waiter carrying a tray.
"Thank you," Elara said softly, taking a glass. Davina. That was the name David always used in these social circles. A name that made her feel like a character in a play, not herself.
She glanced at her slender wristwatch. Another hour before she could leave with a plausible excuse. David, her husband, was supposed to be at an out-of-town meeting but had finished early. He'd promised to pick her up later.
Suddenly, a foreign energy shifted the air in the room. A vibration that made the hairs on her neck stand up, a primal recognition that came from somewhere deeper than memory.
She turned.
And the world stopped.
Across the room, standing under the spotlight of the main stage, was Kael.
Elara's breath caught in her throat. Time seemed to compress, twist, and then throw her back ten years into the past. His hair was the same, jet black and tousled in a way that looked unintentionally perfect. His frame was broader, filling out a black suit that might have hung loosely on him in college. But his eyes... those dark eyes still held the same intensity, the same wild promise that had kept her awake for nights on end once.
She didn't realize her feet were moving, carrying her forward as if pulled by an automatic force. The crowd seemed to part for them.
"Kael?" Her voice was hoarse, almost a whisper.
He turned. Their gazes locked. And for a moment, there was no charity gala, no husband, no ten lost years. There were only two people who had once known each other's souls.
"Elara," he said. Her name on his tongue sounded like a long-buried prayer. A small, uncertain smile touched his lips. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Neither did I," Elara let out a nervous chuckle. Her hand reflexively smoothed down her dress. "How... how have you been?"
"Good. Really good, actually." His answer was measured. "I'm here for my new firm, we're a sponsor."
"That's great. That's... really great, Kael."
An awkward silence hung between them, filled with a thousand unasked questions.
"And you?" Kael finally asked, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe. A gaze that made Elara's skin feel warm. "You look... very happy."
The phrase hung in the air. Looked happy.
"I'm well," Elara answered too quickly. "I... I'm married. I have a daughter."
"Is that so." Kael's expression didn't change, as if he already knew. "I am too. A son. He's three."
"That's wonderful." Elara nodded, a strange mix of relief and a dull sense of disappointment settling in her chest. So, he had moved on, too.
Suddenly, the ring of her phone shattered the moment. The screen lit up with "David My Love". Elara's heart hammered against her ribs.
"Sorry, I have to take this," she said to Kael.
"Of course."
She turned away, trying to find a quieter corner. "Hello, Darling?"
"Where are you, Dav? I'm already in the lobby. My meeting was cancelled. I can pick you up now."
Instantly, the blood in Elara's veins ran cold. David, here? Now? She glanced over her shoulder and saw Kael still standing there, watching her with an unreadable expression.
"Uh... don't! I mean, don't bother coming up. The event is almost over anyway. I can come down myself." Her words were stammered, her pitch unnaturally high.
"Don't be silly, Darling. The lobby is huge. Just wait there, I'll come up. Besides, I want to see Mr. Handoko. I saw on Instagram he's at the same event."
"No, David, wait—"
But the call had ended.
Elara stood with her back to Kael, her body trembling. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. This was insane. Why did she feel like she was about to be caught doing something wrong?
She turned around, forcing a calm smile. "That was... my husband. He's coming to pick me up."
Kael nodded slowly. His eyes, for the first time that night, showed a clear emotion: a deep sadness. "I understand."
Before Elara could say another word, she heard a too-familiar voice call out from behind her.
"Davina! There you are."
David approached with confident strides, a wide smile plastered on his face. He immediately slipped his arm around Elara's waist, pulling her into a possessive hold that made her breath hitch.
"Sorry I'm late, Sweetheart. The traffic was—"
David suddenly stopped. His eyes landed on the man in front of his wife. His expression shifted from affectionate, to confused, and then to wildly enthusiastic in a split second.
"Kael? Kael, is that you? My God, it's been forever! How are you, old friend?"
Elara felt her knees go weak. Old friend?
She stared from her beaming husband to Kael, who had now masked all emotion, replacing it with an equally polite, social smile.
"David," Kael greeted, his voice flat. "It has been a long time."
"Small world! You know my wife?" David asked, still oblivious to the storm raging between these two people.
Kael finally looked at Elara. The glance was brief, but it was filled with an acknowledgment that made her soul scream.
"Yes," Kael said, his voice calm yet sounding like thunder in Elara's ears. "We... have known each other for quite some time."
And in that sentence, Elara knew. Kael had never forgotten her. And she knew, with a painful certainty, that she had never truly forgotten him, either.