Mia suddenly pulled Ethan and they both entered the elevator,
Ethan sighed, staring at Mia as the elevator doors closed. He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Mia... what do you want from me?"
Mia frowned deeper. "You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you?"
Ethan let out a quiet chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Avoiding you? Mia, I let you go. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?"
Mia bit her lip. "I mean… yes, but that doesn’t mean we have to act like strangers. We were close once, Ethan. I just—I don’t like seeing you like this."
Ethan looked at her, his gaze sharp. "Like what?"
"Like… someone who's given up," Mia said, frustration in her voice.
Ethan exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Mia, you don’t understand, do you? I didn't give up. I just finally accepted reality."
Mia flinched at his words. The way he spoke, so detached, so unlike the Ethan she once knew—it made her heart feel strangely heavy.
The elevator stopped suddenly, and Ethan straightened. "We’re here," he said.
But before he could step out, Mia grabbed his hand. He stiffened.
"Just smile, Ethan," she whispered. "Just once."
Ethan hesitated for a long moment. Then, with the faintest tilt of his lips, he forced a small smile.
"Happy now?" he asked softly.
Mia nodded, but as he walked away, she realized something—
That smile wasn’t real.
That Afternoon 
Mia sat on her bed, hugging her pillow tightly. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her chest. Ethan had always been quiet and reserved, but today… today, he felt like a completely different person. Distant. Almost like a stranger.
She thought back to the way he had looked at her in the elevator—cold, unreadable. It was nothing like the Ethan she used to know, the one who would always listen to her even when she was being stubborn.
Her phone buzzed. She quickly picked it up, hoping for a message from Ethan. But it was just Alex.
Alex: Hey, how was the excursion?
Mia sighed. She wasn’t in the mood to talk, but she didn’t want to ignore him either.
Mia: It was fine.
A few seconds later, another message popped up.
Alex: You don’t sound fine. Something wrong?
Mia hesitated before typing.
Mia: Just tired. I’ll talk to you later.
She put her phone down and stared at the ceiling. Why did it bother her so much? Hadn't she been the one who pushed Ethan away? Hadn't she been the one who wanted to move on?
So why did it hurt to see him acting like he didn't care anymore?
She rolled onto her side, gripping her pillow tighter.
The Weekend 
The weekend felt like a dream. Mia and Alex spent the entire day together—laughing, eating street food, and playing arcade games. For once, she tried to push all thoughts of Ethan aside and focus on the present.
Alex was the perfect boyfriend, always saying the right things, always making her feel special. But unknown to her, behind his warm smiles and affectionate gestures, he was carefully calculating his next move.
That evening, as they walked along a quiet street, Alex suddenly held Mia’s hand tighter.
"Mia," he started, his voice soft but firm, "do you love me?"
Mia was caught off guard. She looked up at him, surprised. "Of course, Alex. Why would you ask that?"
He smiled, but there was something in his eyes—something unreadable.
"Then prove it to me," he said.
Mia frowned. "What do you mean?"
Alex stopped walking and turned to face her. "I want us to be serious about our future, Mia. I want to be with you forever."
Mia's heart pounded. She hadn't really thought that far ahead, especially with everything that had happened with Ethan.
Alex continued, "I was thinking… maybe you could introduce me properly to your father. Let him know how serious we are."
Mia hesitated. Her father had finally accepted their relationship, but introducing Alex formally was a big step.
"Alex, you know my dad is strict. He might—"
"Come on, Mia," Alex cut in, his voice smooth. "I just want him to see that I’m worthy of you."
Mia sighed. She wanted to believe in Alex, but something about the way he was pushing for this felt… off.
Still, she nodded. "Okay. I’ll talk to him."
Alex’s lips curled into a smirk for just a second before he leaned in and kissed her forehead.
"Thank you, babe," he whispered.
Little did Mia know, this was exactly what Alex had been waiting for. His plan was finally coming together.