Chapter 3: Almost Touch
The weekend was unusually quiet.
Alex was in the kitchen again, but this time he didn't offer coffee. He just leaned against the counter, reading his tablet.
I pretended not to notice him, though my eyes kept drifting in his direction.
It was strange… I felt aware of every small movement he made.
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That night, I was sprawled on the couch, trying to finish a paper.
Alex appeared silently, carrying two mugs of tea.
"You shouldn't work too late," he said softly.
I turned toward him, startled. His voice… calm, but something in it made my chest tighten.
"Thanks," I muttered, not sure why I felt nervous.
He handed me the mug, and our fingers brushed again.
This time… longer than before.
I quickly pulled back, my heart racing.
Alex's expression didn't change. Not outwardly. But I caught the faintest pause—just enough to know he noticed too.
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Later, we sat in the living room, a quiet tension between us.
I wanted to speak, to say something—anything—but my words got stuck.
Then, he reached for the remote, his hand hovering over mine.
Our hands touched.
A second. A heartbeat.
I froze.
So did he.
He didn't pull away immediately.
Just let the touch linger, almost… testing.
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The sound of a text notification broke the moment.
I grabbed my phone, trying to calm down.
Alex didn't say anything. Just looked at me, eyes unreadable, yet… something flickered there.
Something soft.
---
Before going to bed, I glanced at him again.
Alex was sitting at the desk, back slightly hunched over his tablet.
I wanted to walk over, to say something, to… I didn't know.
Instead, I just stood there for a moment, watching him.
And realized I didn't want to stop looking.
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