The city lights blurred into streaks of gold and crimson as the rain fell against the window of the train. Rina pressed her forehead against the cool glass, watching her reflection ripple and fade with every droplet that slid down. Her phone buzzed once—then fell silent again.
It was from Arin.
But she couldn't bring herself to open the message.
"Next stop, Haruno Station," the announcement echoed faintly through the half-empty carriage.
Rina closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. She had promised herself that she wouldn't cry again—not tonight, not after everything was said and done. But memories have a cruel way of showing up uninvited.
The smell of coffee.
The sound of his laughter echoing in the tiny café they both loved.
The warmth of his hand brushing hers when he pretended it was an accident.
Love was supposed to feel like safety. But lately, it felt like walking on glass.
Arin had always been the calm to her chaos. He remembered her coffee order, her favorite songs, the way she tapped her pen when she was nervous. But he also remembered things she wanted to forget—the fights, the silences, the way she pulled away first.
When the train stopped, Rina didn't move. She watched the doors slide open, letting in a gust of cold air. A couple stepped in, laughing quietly, sharing a single umbrella. She looked away.
Her phone buzzed again.
This time, she opened it.
> Arin: "Can we talk? Just once more. Please."
Her heart twisted. She had deleted his number a week ago. Blocked him everywhere. But somehow, his messages still found a way through, like ghosts that refused to stay buried.
The train began to move again, the city fading behind her.
She typed slowly.
> Rina: "It's late, Arin. We said goodbye."
Her thumb hovered over the send button. She hesitated, her chest tightening with the weight of what could've been. Then, before she could change her mind—she hit send.
The reply came almost instantly.
> Arin: "I know. But I'm still at Haruno Café. The lights are on. I'll wait."
Her breath caught.
The same café where they met two years ago, when she spilled coffee all over his notes and he smiled instead of getting angry.
Rina looked out the window again. The rain hadn't stopped. The train would pass Haruno Café in five minutes.
Her heart raced. Every logical thought told her to keep going—to finally let go and move on. But the ache in her chest whispered something else.
When the train slowed for the next stop, she stood. Her reflection in the glass looked unsure, eyes shimmering with something between hope and fear.
She stepped off.
The rain hit her instantly, cold and sharp. She ran—past the closed shops, past the blinking traffic lights—until the small glow of Haruno Café appeared in the distance.
Inside, through the misty glass, Arin sat by the window, hands wrapped around a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. He looked up as she approached, eyes widening just a little—like he couldn't believe she was really there.
Rina froze in front of the door, chest heaving, soaked to the bone. For a moment, neither of them moved. The space between them felt like an ocean, but his eyes were still the same—soft, tired, and full of the same love she'd tried to bury.
And just like that—
She opened the door.
The bell above it chimed softly, marking the beginning of something she wasn't sure she was ready for, but couldn't walk away from anymore.
---
Next Chapter Teaser:
> "Sometimes love doesn't need to start again—it just needs to be remembered."