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Leon and Ayesa had been spending time together for six months now. They were friends, and neither of them felt the need to complicate it with expectations or plans for what came next. They simply enjoyed each other's company, meeting whenever they could, as if wanting to be in the same room was reason enough.
They had known each other since high school. Once classmates, once close friends, they had drifted apart with time, only to cross paths again years later at a reunion. What should have been a brief exchange of pleasantries turned into late-night messages, shared stories, and invitations to each other's apartments.
Now, they lingered in the quiet space between friendship and, held together by familiarity, unspoken affection.
They never kissed. They never held hands. They never shared a bed.
When Leon visited her apartment, or when she visited his, they spent their time in the simplest ways possible. They played video games until midnight, watched old movies from start to finish, and talked about life. The years they had missed, the people they had become, and the stories they carried with them.
It should have been enough.
Yet there was always something about Leon that Ayesa couldn't quite grasp. A distance she couldn't name. A part of him that remained locked away no matter how many hours they spent together. And that was exactly why she couldn't bring herself to take their relationship to the next level, also she didnt even know if Leon thinks it too.
Sometimes she wondered if there was another woman.
Not because she had proof. Not because she had caught him lying. It was simply a feeling, a quiet instinct she couldn't shake. Leon rarely spoke about his personal life. She knew what he did for a living. She knew the horrors he had seen and the scars he carried because of it. But beyond that, there were entire pieces of him she had never been allowed to see.
The truth was, she wasn't deeply in love with him yet. If there was another woman somewhere in his life, she knew it wouldn't break her heart. What it would do was give her an answer.
Ayesa respected herself too much to chase someone whose heart already belonged elsewhere. There were plenty of men in the world. Plenty of chances at love.
She simply wanted to know the truth because she is nosey as hell. Because if there was another woman, she needed to know before she invested more time, more hope, and more of herself. She wasn't getting any younger, and she had no desire to waste years standing at the doorway of something that was never truly hers.
The reason Ayesa cared was not because she was in love. She cared because Leon had been her friend long before he became whatever he was now. They shared years of memories together, from crowded high school hallways to unexpected reunions as adults. That kind of history was not something she could easily walk away from.
Still, there were moments that made her wonder.
She remembered the first time she visited his apartment. Leon had casually pointed toward the hallway.
"Don't go into the room next to my bedroom."
The request had been simple, but it planted a seed of curiosity in her mind.
A few weeks later, when Leon left to buy groceries and trusted her enough to stay behind, she found herself standing in front of that very door. She told herself she was only looking. The knob wouldn't turn. It was locked.
Six months had passed since then, and she still had no idea what was hidden inside.
Sometimes she wondered if that room held the answer to all the questions Leon never seemed willing to answer.
"Did you get your dress already?" Leon’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She looked up from her coffee.
"Well, yeah."
"Good."
That was all he said before returning his attention to the television.
Ayesa rolled her eyes.
Men.
The reason she needed a dress at all was because Leon had invited her to accompany him to a birthday party. Not just any birthday party. The birthday party of Ashley Graham, the daughter of a former President of the United States.
Years ago, Ashley had been kidnapped by a cult in Spain. Leon had been the one sent to rescue her, and somehow the two had remained close ever since. Every year, Ashley held a celebration and insisted Leon attend.
This year, however, she had given him a special request.
Bring a date.
Ayesa still wasn't sure why Leon had chosen her. Whether it was because she was convenient, because he trusted her, or because he genuinely wanted her there. Knowing Leon, she doubted she would get a straight answer.
Leon and Ayesa's outfits were meant to match. Originally, her dress had been red. It was her favorite color, and she had fallen in love with the design the moment she saw it.
The moment Leon learned that the dress was red, something in his expression shifted.
It happened so quickly that she almost missed it.
"Can you choose another color?" he asked.
Ayesa frowned. "Why?"
"I just don't like it."
That was all the explanation he gave. No further details. No elaboration. Just another one of Leon's walls.
She had rolled her eyes at the time, but eventually agreed. She was only a plus-one anyway. It wasn't worth arguing over.
Now she was wearing the exact same dress in blue instead. Leon had offered to pay for the replacement, but she refused immediately.
Ayesa was a doctor. She earned more than enough money to buy her own clothes. She didn't need Leon's charity.
The drive to the venue was painfully quiet. The city lights blurred past the car windows while silence settled between them like an unwanted passenger.
Ayesa glanced at him from the corner of her eye. For the past few weeks, conversations with Leon had felt increasingly difficult. He was never much of a talker, but lately it had become worse. It felt as though he was standing on the edge of something, carrying a weight too heavy to hold for much longer. Like a dam moments away from breaking.
"Are you okay?" she finally asked.
Leon kept his eyes on the road.
"Of course." The answer came out flat and immediate.
Ayesa looked away. She wasn't convinced. Not even a little.
They arrived at the venue just as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. Before Ayesa could reach for the handle, Leon stepped out of the car and opened the door for her.
"Thank you for taking the time to accompany me here. It means a lot to me." He smiled softly. "And I'm sorry for putting you in this situation."
Ayesa raised an eyebrow. "A Chanel bag would be a good way to say thank you, by the way."
Leon laughed. "Noted."
She laughed too before following him inside.
The venue was packed with people. Ayesa immediately recognized several politicians, businessmen, and other high-ranking figures. It took everything in her not to roll her eyes. Most of them were probably terrible people anyway.
Before she could comment on it, a familiar blonde woman spotted them from across the room.
"Leon!"
Ashley practically beamed as she walked over and wrapped him in a hug.
"Happy birthday, Ash," Leon greeted her.
"Thank you." Ashley pulled away and immediately looked between them with a teasing smile. "So, this is your date, huh?"
Leon shook his head with amusement. "This is Ayesa, Ash. Ayesa, this is Ashley."
Ayesa smiled and offered her hand. "Happy birthday. It's nice to meet you."
"Thank you so much." Ashley shook her hand enthusiastically. "It's nice to meet you too."
She looked as though she wanted to continue talking, but her attention was quickly pulled toward the crowd.
"Anyways, Leon, I need to go. There are still so many guests I have to entertain." She sighed dramatically. "This is so tiring. I wish I could stay and hang out with you guys."
Leon chuckled. "Go. They're probably looking for you already."
"Unfortunately, you're right." Ashley groaned before giving them one last smile. "Don't leave without saying goodbye."
"We won't." Leon promised. With that, Ashley disappeared back into the crowd, leaving Ayesa and Leon alone among a sea of strangers.
—
After dinner, they decided to stay at the bar section of the venue. Ayesa ordered a martini while Leon, as usual, ordered a beer. Some things never changed.
Once their drinks arrived, she took a sip and turned toward him, intending to start a conversation. The silence between them had become unbearable lately, and she was determined to break it.
"Leon, have you ever—"
The words died in her throat.
Leon wasn't listening. He was staring at something. Or rather, someone.
Following his gaze, Ayesa looked toward the second floor of the venue.
Standing near the railing was a woman in a red backless dress. Her dark bob hairstyle framed a face so strikingly beautiful that Ayesa found herself staring for a moment. There was something effortlessly elegant about her, something almost unreal. The woman stood beside a man who appeared to be in his forties, listening patiently to whatever he was saying.
They were standing a little too close.
Ayesa watched as the man continued talking before finally excusing himself and disappearing into the crowd. The moment he was gone, the woman sighed and rolled her eyes.
Then she looked down. Directly at Leon.
Ayesa felt her breath hitch.
Neither of them smiled. Neither of them waved. Yet something passed between them in that single glance. Something heavy. Something familiar. Something that did not belong to strangers.
The woman held Leon's gaze for a few seconds before looking away first.
Leon, however, continued staring. With longing. Not with regret. Not with anger. It was something far more complicated than that.
Ayesa wrapped her fingers around her martini glass as realization slowly settled in.
The locked room. The distance. The secrets. The way Leon never fully let her in. The strange look on his face when she told him her dress would be red. The sadness he carried around like a second skin.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
So that's her.
The woman who occupied the parts of Leon's heart that no one else could reach.
The moment the woman disappeared into the crowd, Leon let out a quiet sigh. Only then did he finally look away.
He turned back toward the bar, lifted his beer, and finished the entire bottle in one go.
Ayesa watched him in silence.
"Another one," Leon told the bartender.
The bartender nodded.
"Leon?" she called softly.
"Hmm?" he replied.
He didn't look at her.
His eyes remained fixed on the rows of bottles behind the counter.
"Should we— uhm go home?" she suggested.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he lowered his gaze.
"I don't want to go home yet."
The sadness in his voice caught her off guard.
It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't loud. It sounded exhausted. As if going home meant facing something he wasn't ready to face.
Ayesa sighed and swirled the remaining martini in her glass. She had work tomorrow. An early appointment, too. Part of her wanted to leave, crawl into bed, and spend the night thinking about everything she had learned.
About the woman upstairs. About the way Leon looked at her. About the way she looked back.
She wasn't surprised, not really. Deep down, she had always known there was another woman. What surprised her was how sad Leon looked.
For six months, she had wondered whether he was hiding someone. Now she had her answer.
And somehow, instead of feeling angry or jealous, she just felt worried. Because whatever existed between Leon and that woman, it clearly wasn't over.
And judging by the look in his eyes, it hadn't ended happily either.
Leon placed his apartment keys in her hand.
"I'm sorry, Ayesa. Take a cab, okay? I'll follow you home later." As he spoke, his eyes drifted back toward the second floor. "I need to talk to someone."
The woman was there again. This time, however, she wasn't looking at him.
Ayesa closed her fingers around the keys.
"I know. Be careful on the road, Leon."
When she arrived at his apartment, she sent Leon a message telling him she would be returning to her own place instead of spending the night there as they had planned.
After changing, she closed the bedroom door and stared at the other one—the one Leon had forbidden her from opening.
For months, she had respected that boundary. Tonight, she couldn't.
Taking a deep breath, she slid the key into the lock and turned it without hesitation.
After all, she deserved the truth.
The room was clean. Not just clean, but carefully maintained, as though Leon made a point of coming in regularly to dust, organize, and keep everything exactly as it was.
At first glance, it looked completely normal. But the details immediately stood out to her. The bed was made with silk sheets instead of the cotton ones Leon preferred. The room felt softer, warmer, more elegant.
More feminine. A woman had lived here.
Ayesa slowly looked around before making her way to the wardrobe.
When she opened it, her suspicions were confirmed.
Dozens of dresses.
Blouses.
Shirts.
Shoes.
Undergarments.
Most of them were red.
Ayesa immediately remembered the dress Leon had asked her not to wear. She closed the wardrobe and turned her attention to the bedside table instead.
When she opened the drawer, her breath caught.
Dozens of Post-it notes filled the space. Lying neatly on top was a photograph of them together, both smiling at the camera while Leon held her close.
Frowning, she reached for one of the notes.
A lipstick kiss mark decorated the corner.
Had to buy another lipstick because you always want me to leave you a letter before I go. Good morning. - A.W.
Ayesa grabbed another.
I already prepared your breakfast, handsome. - A.W.
Another.
I had to leave again. Take care, Leon. - A.W.
And another.
Don't use alcohol to ease your pain, Leon. You don't want me to get mad, do you? - A.W.
Ayesa stared at the notes for a long moment before carefully placing them back inside the drawer.
It wasn't one-sided. Not even close. Whoever this woman was, she loved Leon. The notes weren't grand declarations of love. They were something far more intimate. Little reminders. Daily routines. The kind of affection that only existed when two people had shared a life together.
Ayesa closed the drawer and sat on the edge of the bed.
She felt curious.
Because if they loved each other this much, what happened?
What could have possibly broken something that seemed so real?
Ayesa heard the front door open, followed by footsteps from the first floor. Her heart skipped a beat.
Quickly, she closed the door and stepped into the hallway to see who had arrived.
Leon.
She was about to call out his name when she noticed someone entering behind him.
Instinctively, she ducked behind the second-floor railing, choosing a spot where she could watch without being seen.
Leon wasn't alone.
The woman from the party had entered the apartment with him.
"Where's the key to the room?" the woman asked, her voice sharp with irritation.
Leon stood a few feet away from her, hands buried in his pockets.
"How are you, Ada?" He completely ignored her question.
So Ada was her name.
Ada let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm fine, obviously."
Her heels clicked against the floor as she crossed her arms.
"Look, Leon. I came with you because you told me I still had things here that I needed to get. I didn't come here to talk to you."
The apartment fell silent.
Ayesa watched them as Leon stared at her.
As if he was trying to memorize every detail of her face. Every expression. Every movement. Every second he could still have.
Ada noticed it too.
"What?" she snapped.
Leon looked away first. "You haven't changed."
For some reason, that seemed to irritate Ada even more. A humorless laugh escaped her lips. "Still dragging me into conversations I don't want to have."
"And you're still running away from them," Leon replied quietly.
Ayesa swallowed.
Whatever had happened between these two, it was far deeper than she originally thought. This wasn't just a breakup. It felt like years of unfinished conversations, unsaid apologies, and feelings neither of them had managed to bury.
"Me running away?" Ada scoffed. "Do I have to remind you that it was you who wanted this to stop?"
Leon stared at her.
"Stop?" he repeated quietly. "Do you really think I wanted to stop whatever we had?"
"You suggested it."
"And you agreed with me!"
Then Ada laughed. It wasn't amused. It was the kind of laugh that came from years of frustration. Years of hurt.
"Did you even hear yourself? What did you want me to do, Leon?" she asked. "Beg you?"
Leon's jaw tightened. "I wanted you to fight me on it."
Ada's expression hardened instantly. "That's not fair."
"I know."
"No, you don't." She shook her head. "You sat me down and told me we couldn't keep doing this. You told me it wasn't healthy. You told me we were going to destroy each other." Her voice cracked slightly.
"And now you're standing here acting like I'm the one who walked away?"
Leon looked down at the floor because he couldn't deny it. Every word was true.
"I wanted more, Ada." The words came out so quietly that Ayesa almost missed them.
Leon ran a hand through his hair and looked away. "I wanted more for us."
Ada's expression didn't change, but her shoulders stiffened.
"I can't do this anymore," Leon continued.
"I can't keep waking up and not finding you beside me. I can't keep waiting days, sometimes months, just to receive a single message from you telling me you're okay, that you're still alive, that you've eaten, that you're safe, or where you are.
I miss you every single day. I needed you so much that it started to hurt. You made me realize what mornings could feel like when you're there. You made me love waking up knowing you'd be the first thing I'd see.
And now every morning without you feels empty."
His voice broke. "And I wanted more of it."
Ada looked down. For the first time, she seemed unable to meet his eyes. She closed her eyes for a moment before letting out a slow breath.
"I didn't force you into any of this, Leon." When she opened her eyes again, there was sadness in them.
"You knew who I was from the beginning."
Leon remained silent.
"You knew what my life looked like."
"Ada—"
"No." She shook her head. "You don't get to do this."
Her voice wasn't angry anymore. That somehow made it worse.
"I can't give you normalcy, Leon."
The words landed like a punch.
"I can't marry you."
Leon visibly flinched.
"I can't be your wife."
The apartment fell silent.
Because Ayesa finally understood why Leon had kept that room exactly as it was. Why he still held onto the notes. Why he looked devastated whenever he looked at her. This wasn't a man who had lost interest. This was a man mourning a future he desperately wanted but could never have.
Ada swallowed hard.
"I told you that from the start," she whispered. "I told you what I could and couldn't give you. You said you understood."
Leon laughed bitterly.
"I thought I did."
"And now?"
His eyes met hers.
"Now I know I lied."
For the first time that night, Ada looked completely shattered.
"I've been watching you for the past six months, Leon. And you've been doing just fine without me."
Ada's voice was calm, but Leon could hear the hurt buried beneath it.
"You've been doing so well that you're comfortable bringing another woman into this apartment. The same fucking apartment where I lived. The same place where we shared a bed."
Her jaw tightened."So what do you want me to do now? Come back to you and be your mistress?"
"Mistress?" Leon repeated, frowning. "Ada, Ayesa and I are just friends. We're not even in a relationship. We just hang out—"
Ada cut him off with a sharp laugh. "Do I look stupid to you? Who are you trying to fool, Kennedy? A man and a woman our age spending time alone in each other's apartments, and you expect me to believe nothing is going on between you two?"
"You said you've been watching," Leon shot back. "Then why don't you know that nothing's happened between us?"
Ada laughed again, but there was no humor in it.
"What, do I look like a masochist to you? You think I'd sit there and watch you with another woman?"
She shoved her hands into her coat pockets and turned toward the staircase.
"If you're not giving me the keys, then I'll just break the door down myself."
Leon didn't stop her. The moment Ada started climbing the stairs, panic seized Ayesa. She had been hiding on the second-floor the entire time, listening to every word. She glanced around desperately, searching for somewhere else to hide, but there was nowhere to go. Her heart pounded louder with every step Ada took.
Then Ada stopped. Ayesa froze.
Slowly, Ada lifted her gaze and found her.
Ayesa immediately straightened from where she had been hiding behind the railing, her entire body tense as their eyes met.
Now that Ayesa saw the woman up close, she was mesmerized by the beauty she carried.
Ada was stunning. Not because of expensive clothes or makeup, but because of the way she carried herself. Every movement radiated confidence. There was something intimidating about her presence. Ayesa felt like Ada could kill her in an instant and still look elegant doing it.
Her skin was flawless from head to toe. Her brown doe eyes were captivating, making it impossible for Ayesa to look away.
Ada noticed her staring. She smirked and shook her head.
"Really, Leon? Bringing me here while she's here?" she said dryly.
Ayesa looked at Leon. Leon looked back at her before letting out a sigh.
Ada turned away and headed upstairs. She entered the bedroom and began packing her things. The apartment fell silent except for the sounds of drawers opening and closing. Within minutes, she came back down carrying a bag. She walked straight to the front door.
"Ada, where are you going?" Leon asked.
Ada stopped with her hand on the doorknob.
"Does she know you're an alcoholic?" she asked.
The question made Leon freeze.
Ada glanced at him before lifting her gaze to Ayesa, who was still standing on the second floor.
"Take care of yourself, Leon."
She opened the door and stepped outside. The door closed behind her. Neither Leon nor Ayesa spoke.
Leon let out a weary sigh and sank onto the sofa, his shoulders heavy with resignation. The moment Ayesa saw him give up, frustration flared in her chest. She stormed down the stairs and stopped in front of him.
"What are you doing?" she demanded. "Go after her."
Leon looked up, startled by the sharpness of her voice.
"If I do that," he said quietly, staring at the floor, "I might lose her forever."
The certainty in his words hung between them like a storm cloud.
Ayesa sighed and dropped onto the seat beside him. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she shook her head. "Seriously, how do you fumble a baddie like that?"
A breath of laughter escaped him, brief and hollow.
"You're such a loser, you know that?" she said.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I am. I'm sorry you had to witness that."
Ayesa offered him a small smile, one meant to reassure him that it was alright. Still, her heart ached for him. She didn't understand why two people who clearly cared so much for each other couldn't simply be together.
"Care to tell me who she is?" she asked gently.
Leon closed his eyes, and for a moment, a soft smile appeared on his face.
"The love of my life."
Ayesa rolled her eyes. "I already know that. What I mean is, what happened between the two of you? Maybe I can help."
The suggestion was genuine. Leon straightened slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as he let out a long sigh.
"We've known each other since 1998. I fell for her the first moment I saw her. She's saved my life more times than I can count." He paused, staring at his clasped hands. "I don't even know why I love her. I don't have a reason. I just do. I just wanted more for us."
"What do you mean by more?"
A sad smile crossed his face.
"I wanted to marry her. Have a family with her. Let her meet my friends. Build a life together." His voice softened. "But she doesn't want that."
"Why?"
"Because she's a wanted woman. A mercenary. A spy."
He let out a laugh that sounded more painful than amused, as if he had repeated those words to himself so many times they no longer shocked him.
Ayesa's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline.
"Are you serious? She's one of the people spreading those viruses?"
"No. No." Leon shook his head immediately. "She works for bad people, but she's not one of them. I know her."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I've seen who she really is."
His gaze drifted somewhere far away. "I've watched her risk everything to save people. I've seen her struggle to do the right thing, even when she pretends she doesn't care. She always ends up turning against the people she works for when innocent lives are at stake." He smiled faintly. "She'd never admit it, though."
Ayesa studied him carefully. "And you're certain?"
Leon didn't hesitate. "I trust her with my life."
The conviction in his voice was absolute.
"Are you judging me because I love her?" Leon asked quietly. "Are you going to tell me I'm stupid for loving her? For choosing her?"
Ayesa frowned. "Does other people's opinion really matter when it comes to your relationship with her, Leon?"
"Of course not."
"Then I'm not going to judge you for it." She shrugged. "I trust your judgment, Leon. And who am I to tell you who you should or shouldn't love? You're a grown man. You're capable of making your own decisions. You're not a kid."
She paused before continuing. "Besides, you're the one who's going to be in a relationship with her—not me, and not anyone else. At the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with that choice."
"Why did you break up with her?" Ayesa asked him.
Leon was quiet for a moment, his eyes fixed on the floor.
"I don't know."
A bitter laugh escaped him. "I really thought she'd say no."
"No to what?"
"Breaking up."
His fingers intertwined as he leaned forward.
"When I told her how I felt, when I asked if we could finally try... I honestly thought she'd turn me down. I never expected her to say yes but even after she did, sometimes it felt like I was the only one in the relationship."
Ayesa frowned but let him continue.
"I felt alone. She still kept everything locked away from me. Her thoughts, her fears, her plans. I never seen her cry. I thought that once we decided to give this a shot, she'd let me in.I know she's spent most of her life alone. I know she's not used to having someone by her side. Trust doesn't come easy to her."
A sad smile tugged at his lips.
"But I'm her partner. I think I deserved that much, didn't I?"
The question wasn't really directed at Ayesa. It sounded more like something he'd been asking himself for months.
"I wasn't asking her to tell me every secret she had. I just wanted to know her. Really know her. Relationships aren't supposed to be one person standing outside a locked door forever."
Finally, Leon sighed.
"I loved her enough to wait. I don't feel her trying enough for us."
Ayesa slowly shook her head.
"No, Leon." The certainty in her voice made him look up.
"I don't think she's not trying."
Leon frowned. "What?"
"I think she's trying harder than you realize. Just not in the way you want her to."
He remained silent.
Ayesa leaned back against the sofa and sighed.
"From what you've told me, you've spent years loving her. Years imagining what your future together could look like. A wife. A family. A normal life.But I think somewhere along the way, you started expecting her to become the woman you imagined instead of accepting the woman she actually is."
The words struck harder than she intended.
"You keep saying she won't open up. That she keeps parts of herself hidden. But Leon..." She paused. "That's who she's always been."
He looked away.
"You're expecting someone who spent most of her life surviving alone to suddenly know how to be vulnerable. You're expecting someone who's been betrayed, hunted, and used by everyone around her to trust as easily as you do. That's not fair."
The silence between them grew heavier.
"I only met her today," she continued, "but the moment she saw me, I could see how much she was hurting. The way she looks at you that is woman who is inlove."
Leon swallowed.
"If she wasn't trying, she wouldn't have stayed here with you.Think about it. You said she's a wanted woman. A spy. Someone whose life is constantly in danger. Yet she chose to live under the same roof as you. Do you know how terrifying that must have been for her? Not because she was afraid for herself, but because being close to you puts you in danger too."
Leon didn't answer.
"People like her don't show love the way you do. They don't always say the right things. They don't know how to hand someone their heart and trust it'll be safe.But they show it in the risks they take."
She glanced toward the front door where Ada had disappeared.
"Maybe living here with you was her way of trying.Maybe letting herself stay was the most vulnerable thing she's ever done."
Ayesa noticed the way Leon fell silent. The argument she had made lingered between them, and for the first time that night, he had no counterpoint.
Because deep down, he knew she might be right.
Ayesa smiled softly. "She loves you, Leon. I can assure you of that."
His eyes lifted to hers, filled with uncertainty.
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked. "I already fucked up."
"You did," Ayesa said bluntly, earning a weak laugh from him. Then her expression softened. "But it's not too late."
Leon looked away.
"I told you that if I followed her, I might lose her forever."
Ayesa stood and crossed her arms. "Maybe."
He frowned.
"But if you don't follow her tonight, you really might lose her forever."
The words hit him like a punch to the chest.
"So what are you waiting for?"
For a moment, he simply stared at her. Then something shifted.
Leon pushed himself off the sofa, grabbed his jacket, and shrugged it on. He snatched his keys from the table and headed straight for the door.
Just before leaving, he turned back. A grateful smile spread across his face.
"Thank you, Ayesa."
She smiled in return.
"Go get your girl, idiot."
Leon laughed, shaking his head before stepping through the doorway.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Ayesa listened as his hurried footsteps faded down the hallway. A moment later, she imagined him breaking into a run, chasing after the woman he should never have let walk away.
The apartment suddenly felt quiet.
With a small smile, Ayesa gathered her things and headed for the door herself.
"You're welcome, Leon," she murmured to the empty room.
Then she laughed softly.
"That's what friends are for."