He rested his hand on the phone. He wanted to call again — but he knew if he did, he would only push her farther away. The panic inside him was beginning to suffocate his reason.
"This can't end like this…" he murmured.
He stood up slowly. The house felt too big, too empty. His eyes drifted to the couch where Valeria had sat just an hour ago; it still felt like she was there. As if the echoes of their argument were still vibrating against the walls.
Leon pressed his hands to his face.
What did you do, Leon?
You promised to protect her…
And you're the one who hurt her the most.
He took a deep breath and walked through the living room, thoughts clashing like a battlefield. The anger was gone — only fear and regret remained.
For a moment, he looked at the door. A part of him wanted to rush to her hotel. To see her face, to say "don't go," to pour out the words he couldn't form earlier.
But then he stopped himself.
"She wants distance from me right now."
The sentence hit him like ice.
His shoulders dropped. He moved to the window and stared outside. The city lights were blurred; his eyes burned, but the tears wouldn't fall. Leon wasn't someone who cried easily — yet the pressure in his chest dared him to.
As minutes passed, his tension worsened. He couldn't stay still.
He wandered the apartment aimlessly. Half an hour… an hour… two hours later he was still stuck in the same truth:
Valeria was gone.
And he couldn't change that.
Suddenly he stopped. His eyes fell on the keys on the table.
"She said she'd come in the morning."
A determined but exhausted expression settled on his face.
"When she comes, I'll be here. We'll talk calmly. And… I won't let her slip away."
But even as he whispered it, he wasn't sure he believed himself.
He couldn't lose her.
He wouldn't let that happen again.
⸻
Valeria – The Next Morning
When I opened my eyes, the weight from last night still sat on my shoulders. I had slept, but I didn't feel rested. Everything with Leon kept circling in my mind… but today wasn't about facing him. Today was something else entirely.
Sunny and I were apartment hunting.
I got ready quickly, tied my hair back, and took a deep breath as I left the hotel lobby. Thinking about yesterday's panic brought an unexpected softness to my chest. Seeing someone so alone… it had touched me.
I walked toward the café where we planned to meet.
Sunny was waiting by the door. He was wearing the same clothes he'd left the hospital in, but his face looked more alive. He smiled in that way people do when someone's presence calms them.
"Valeria!" he said, raising his hand. "Hey again."
I smiled back. "Hey. You look better."
"I feel better," he said, a little embarrassed. "Yesterday… I think I fainted in a pretty stupid way."
"It's not stupid," I said. "That's what happens when you don't take care of yourself. Anyway… you're okay now, that's what matters."
Sunny dipped his head with a small smile. I caught a flicker of fragility in his expression, but he masked it quickly.
"I scheduled a few viewings for today," he said. "But your opinion matters. I mean… well… since we're going to be living together…"
His eyes darted aside as he said it.
I nodded lightly. "Of course. We'll look together."
Sunny started walking; I followed beside him. A short silence settled between us. Not uncomfortable — just thoughtful.
Then he spoke:
"By the way… thank you for yesterday. When no one came to the hospital… having someone show up, even someone I barely know…"
He paused.
"It felt strange, but… good."
His words hit something inside me.
"I was there," I said simply. "That's all."
Sunny nodded. "And that means more than you think."
As we walked, I watched him. His steps were light, he pretended to examine the surroundings, but I had a feeling he was fighting something inside. Whatever he had left behind… it hadn't been easy.
Eventually, we reached the real estate office.
As we approached the door, Sunny let out a small laugh.
"Ready? A long day awaits us — awful apartments, stingy landlords, outrageous rent prices."
I laughed. "Doesn't matter. At least I'm viewing them with someone fun."
Sunny stopped for a second, eyes turning toward me.
"Really? I'm fun?"
"Yes," I said. "Absolutely."
A soft smile spread over his face. And in that moment I thought:
Maybe this boy really is alone.
And maybe… so am I.
We looked at a few places, but the first one we'd seen had drawn us in. In the end, we decided to take it.
"Honestly…" I murmured to myself, "This place gives me peace. A little old, but affordable, spacious, and not too far from the city center."
And yes… being close to Leon's apartment had once mattered, but that was in the past now.
Anyway, I had to pack. The paperwork had drained the last of my energy.
"Valeria."
"Yes?"
Sunny was standing in the doorway.
"I was thinking… maybe we should put locks on our bedroom doors. Not for a bad reason," he added quickly. "I'm just very used to living alone. And I wasn't sure how it would be living with someone — especially a girl. So… I bought two locks just in case it makes you feel safer."
The fact that he had thought of this made me smile.
He wasn't the macho type at all — but he was every bit as considerate as Leon.
"Thank you. We'll install them when we move in," I said, stepping out.
Just as I was closing the door, Leon crossed my mind again.
He was definitely furious.
It was already noon; after yesterday, he was probably going insane.
When I entered the apartment, it felt completely empty.
"Leon!"
But no answer.
He must've gone out, I thought, and began packing. I didn't have much anyway.
Just as I zipped the last bag, the door opened.
From the hallway, I heard an angry male voice:
"What do you mean you don't know, man?! If something happened to this girl— You say she left the hotel this morning but she's not here!"
Leon.
"Valeria?!"
He stood in the doorway, breathless.