The city looked normal that morning.
Same traffic.
Same noise.
Same rush.
But inside me, something had changed.
Ever since that encounter with those men, I couldn't stop thinking about Riya. About the fear I had seen in her eyes. About the past she was still carrying quietly, like a burden she didn't know how to put down.
I checked my phone again.
No message.
That wasn't like her.
A Silence That Hurts
By afternoon, the silence started bothering me.
Not the peaceful kind—the heavy kind. The kind that sits in your chest and refuses to leave.
I finally texted her.
Me: "Are you okay?"
Minutes passed. Then more minutes.
Just when I was about to give up, my phone buzzed.
Riya: "Can we meet? Please."
That one word—please—told me everything.
Meeting Again
We met near the riverwalk, a quieter part of the city where tall buildings reflected on the water like broken memories.
She stood there, arms crossed, eyes distant.
"Hey," I said softly.
"Hey," she replied, but her voice didn't reach her eyes.
We walked slowly, side by side. No coffee. No jokes. Just footsteps and the sound of the city breathing around us.
Finally, she stopped.
"Tom… I need to tell you something."
I turned to her. "I'm listening."
The Truth Begins
She took a deep breath.
"Those men you saw… they were from a phase of my life I'm not proud of. A time when I trusted the wrong people. When I thought the city would take care of me… but it didn't."
I stayed silent. I didn't want to interrupt. This wasn't easy for her.
"I made mistakes," she continued. "Nothing illegal. Nothing wrong in that way. But emotionally… I lost myself. I became someone I didn't recognize."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"And I'm scared, Tom. Scared that if you know everything… you'll see me differently."
Her words hit me hard.
My Choice
I looked at her—really looked at her.
Not the confident woman I met weeks ago.
Not the calm smile she always wore.
But the real Riya.
Scared. Honest. Human.
"Riya," I said quietly, "do you think I don't have a past?"
She looked up, surprised.
"I've failed too," I continued. "I've trusted the wrong people. I've made choices I wish I could erase. This city… it doesn't come with instructions."
She blinked, tears forming.
"What matters," I said, "is not who you were when you were lost… but who you are now."
A Moment That Changes Everything
She didn't speak.
She just stepped closer.
For a moment, the city disappeared.
No traffic.
No noise.
No fear.
Just us.
"I was afraid you'd walk away," she whispered.
I shook my head. "I'm still here."
She looked at me then, really looked at me. And for the first time, I saw something clear in her eyes.
Not fear.
Feeling.
Almost Love
We stood there, close enough to feel each other's breath.
I wanted to hold her.
I wanted to tell her everything I was feeling.
But I didn't rush.
Some moments don't need to be claimed.
They need to be respected.
She smiled softly. "Thank you… for not judging me."
"Thank you," I replied, "for trusting me."
The City Watches
We walked back slowly, hands brushing, hearts louder than the city around us.
At the corner, she stopped.
"Tom… I don't know where this is going. But I know one thing."
"What?" I asked.
"I don't want to face this city alone anymore."
I smiled. "You don't have to."
She nodded, turned, and walked away—leaving me standing there with a strange realization.
This wasn't just attraction anymore.
This wasn't just comfort.
This was the beginning of something real.
That Night
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I finally understood something:
Love doesn't arrive suddenly.
It grows—slowly, quietly—between fear and trust.
And somewhere in this noisy, heartless city…
two hearts were learning how to choose each other.
🔥 Episode 10 Hook
Now that Riya has opened up, will the city let them grow closer—or will new challenges pull them apart?
Is Tom ready to fall in love… for real?