The air between Zein Shoin and Ace Craige no longer felt like something that could be measured in distance or explained through logic, because whatever line had once existed between them—professional, controlled, untouchable—had already disappeared somewhere in the middle of all the moments they had shared, all the silences they had filled without meaning to, all the conversations that had started simple and ended heavier than either of them expected.
Now Zein stood there realizing that she couldn't even remember when that line had vanished, only that it was gone, completely gone, and that scared her more than anything else because it meant she had crossed something without noticing, something she couldn't undo even if she wanted to, while Ace stood there like he had seen it happen all along, like he had watched her step closer without stopping her, without warning her, because he had never intended to keep that line intact in the first place.
"There used to be a line," she said.
"There wasn't," he replied.
"There was," she insisted.
"You just wanted there to be," he said.
Zein frowned.
"That's not the same thing," she said.
"It is when it never actually existed," he replied.
Zein crossed her arms slightly.
"…you're saying I imagined it?" she asked.
"I'm saying you relied on it," he said.
"That doesn't make it fake," she said.
"It makes it temporary," he replied.
Zein exhaled slowly.
"…and now it's gone," she said.
"It was never meant to stay," he said.
"That's not comforting," she said.
"It's not supposed to be," he replied.
Zein looked at him.
"…you're too okay with this," she said.
"And you're not okay enough," he said.
Zein shook her head.
"…this changes everything," she said.
"Yes," he replied.
"…and you're just accepting it?" she asked.
"I already did," he said.
Zein paused.
"…when?" she asked.
Ace didn't hesitate.
"Before you did," he said.
Zein blinked.
"…that's unfair," she said.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because I didn't even realize it," she said.
"That doesn't mean it wasn't happening," he replied.
Zein looked away briefly.
"…this is exactly why I avoid things," she said.
"And yet you didn't avoid this," he said.
Zein sighed softly.
"…I couldn't," she admitted.
"I know," he said.
Zein looked back at him.
"…stop saying that," she said.
"Stop confirming it," he replied.
Zein almost reacted—
But didn't.