The night was quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you think maybe the world finally took a deep breath and stopped spinning for a while.
Zeyon sat outside on a wooden bench under the tree, in front of their small house. The air was a little cold, brushing softly against his skin. He looked up, eyes slowly following the sky, stars twinkling like little secrets, and the moon shaped like a lazy smile, hanging up there like it knew everything.
He didn’t know why, but he liked nights like this. They made him feel small and calm, like nothing could bother him.
Crunch.
He heard footsteps. Light ones. Like someone trying not to be heard, but nature always snitches, leaves rustling under soft steps.
“Allison?”
She paused, maybe surprised he noticed. She was wearing an oversized hoodie and pajama pants, hair messy like she just rolled off her bed but didn’t want to sleep.
“You’re still awake,” Zeyon said, giving her a small smile.
“Could say the same to you.” She walked closer and sat beside him. Not too close, but not far either.
They both looked up for a few seconds, the stars above them blinking gently.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said.
“Me too,” Zeyon replied, voice a bit rough from the cold. “My brain's being noisy.”
Allison chuckled. “I think mine is shouting.”
Silence again.
Until Allison softly said, “You’ve been... different lately.”
Zeyon looked at her. Her voice wasn’t mad or accusing. Just... curious. Gentle.
“You’ve been looking at me like I might disappear or something.”
Zeyon sighed. “Because I’m scared you might.”
That made Allison pause. Her chest rose and fell, slower.
He continued, “When you got lost earlier, I really lost it. My heart was punching inside my ribs. I thought... what if something happened to you? What if you got hurt and I never got to—”
He stopped.
She looked at him. “Got to what?”
He bit his lip and looked away. “Nothing. Just... I promised myself I’d protect you. Even from silly things. Even if I have to overreact and call the police like an idiot.”
Allison laughed, soft and beautiful. “You really called the cops for me?”
“I panicked, okay?” Zeyon said, a bit embarrassed. “I imagined the worst. A thousand bad things.”
Allison smiled. “Zeyon.”
“Yeah?”
“Have you ever seen a guy? Like, tall... mature looking. Pale skin. Eyes sharp, like knives?”
Zeyon froze. That description. That guy from before.
He turned to her. “Why? Did you... meet someone like that?”
“Not really,” Allison replied. “But I feel like... someone’s watching me sometimes. And that guy... I saw him a few times. Not close. But it’s like he’s always nearby.”
Zeyon’s chest tightened. “Allison, listen to me. If you see that guy again, you run. You don’t talk. You don’t even look. You find me or someone, okay?”
“Zeyon, who is he?”
“I... I don’t know exactly. But I’ve seen him before. He asked me about you once.”
Her eyes widened. “He did?”
Zeyon nodded. “That time you were looking for strawberry cake in the store. I saw him near the window. He asked me if I knew someone named Allison. I told him no. I lied.”
She blinked, stunned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to scare you. But maybe that was wrong. I should’ve told you.”
“I’m not mad. Just... confused. Who even is that guy?”
“I’ll find out,” Zeyon said. “I promise.”
The night got deeper. But instead of getting colder, something warmer settled between them.
Then Allison asked, “What about you?”
Zeyon blinked. “What about me?”
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “You and Jessa.”
Zeyon’s breath hitched.
“Why didn’t you tell me she’s your cousin?”
He stared at her, stunned. “You knew?”
“It’s kinda obvious,” she said. “Same nose. Same annoying energy.”
Zeyon laughed. “Wow. Thanks.”
“Why did you hide it?” she asked, gently.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Because... you were acting so weird around her. I thought you’d keep avoiding me. I didn’t want things to get awkward.”
Allison looked away. “It already did.”
“But not because of Jessa. Because I couldn’t be honest.”
“I was jealous,” Allison said suddenly. “At first. When she tripped and you helped her. When she laughed and called you by your full name like she knew all your secrets. It bothered me.”
Zeyon looked at her. “Jealous?”
“Yeah,” she said, then quickly added, “Not in a romantic way! Just... you know, you were my friend first. And I didn’t like how she acted like she knew you more.”
He leaned closer. “But you do know me more.”
Allison swallowed. “Do I?”
Zeyon smiled. “You know how I like my bread. You know I cry watching sad dog movies. You know I can’t lie properly. And you know... I’m a mess without you.”
That silence again. But this time, softer. Like a warm blanket wrapping around them.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
“I’m right here,” she whispered back.
They sat there for a while. No rush. No pressure. Just them. Under the stars and the stupid crescent moon that kept smiling like it knew something they didn’t.
And maybe it did.
Because something changed tonight.
Not loud.
Not big.
But something small and maybe that was enough.