"The Fifth Whisper"

Lost in the hustle and bustle of the café, Siara was still thinking about Lucian's mysterious presence when her phone rang on the counter.

A familiar name flashed on the screen, "Eira."

A wave of relief washed over Siara's face as she quickly picked up the call, her voice carrying a playful complaint.

"When are you coming back, Eira? I'm going crazy here all alone!"

On the other end, Eira's soft chuckle echoed.

"What could I do, yaar? I had something important to take care of, so I had to leave you behind. But don't worry, I'll be back in two days."

Siara's face lit up with joy.

"Really? You're coming back? Hurry up! I have so much to tell you!"

But then, Eira's voice suddenly turned serious.

"Siara, you haven't taken off the bracelet, have you?"

Siara paused for a moment, slightly startled. Her gaze instinctively dropped to her wrist.

The bracelet was still there, delicately woven, its fine threads holding a small but radiant gemstone at the center.

"No, I haven't taken it off. But why do you always ask me this question every time you leave? What's going on, Eira?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then, Eira let out a light chuckle, brushing it off casually.

"It's just… you attract too much attention. That bracelet is a protective charm. That's why I keep reminding you."

Siara raised a suspicious brow.

"Eira, you're hiding something from me, aren't you?"

But Eira, ever the expert at deflecting, quickly responded,

"You overthink too much! Anyway, I have to go now. Talk later!"

Before Siara could say anything, Eira ended the call.

On the other side, Eira set her phone down, her fingers absentmindedly brushing against a bracelet identical to Siara's.

Her faint smile slowly faded into deep contemplation.

"If only you knew, Siara… this isn't just for protection."

Her fingers traced the gemstone, as if searching for something within its depths.

Then, taking a deep breath, she whispered to herself, "Not yet… not yet."

Back at the café, Siara put her phone down, mumbling in mild annoyance,

"Eira always keeps secrets from me."

Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to work.

Little did she know, Eira's concern wasn't just a simple worry, it was a warning of a hidden danger lurking in the shadows.

At night, Under the dim golden glow of the café lights, Siara sat by the table, lost in her own tangled thoughts.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, lips pressed together, and fingers tapping lightly on the wooden surface.

A storm of questions raged in her mind, today had been nothing but a whirlwind of confusion.

The faint sound of footsteps echoed from the kitchen. Leon emerged, his sharp gaze landing on Siara, who was still deep in thought.

He observed her for a moment before stepping toward her with deliberate ease.

"What's wrong, Manager Siaara? Don't you have a home to go to?" His tone carried a playful tease, yet beneath it, there was a strange familiarity, an unspoken warmth.

Siara flinched at his voice, as if pulled back from her trance. Her brown eyes flashed with irritation as she turned to him. "Why? Is sitting here also a problem for you now?" she snapped.

Leon, unfazed by her anger, quietly sat down a little farther from her.

His gaze lingered on her face, trying to read the emotions she was so desperately trying to hide. But Siara turned away, avoiding his eyes.

Just then, the bracelet on her wrist emitted a soft blue glow. Her heart skipped a beat. "Again?" She looked at her wrist, confusion flickering across her face.

Before she could process it, Leon's deep, steady voice broke the silence.

"Siara, we may not be friends, but… if something is troubling you, you can talk to me."

Siara's eyes narrowed, her gaze locking onto his with irritation, as if his words had reopened an old wound.

"Excuse me, Mr. Leon! You don't need to get so friendly with me. Ever since you came into my life, everything has been turning upside down. So just stay away from me!"

With that, she grabbed her bag from the table and stormed out of the café.

Leon remained seated, his eyes fixed on her retreating figure. His fists clenched slightly, and he let out a slow, uneven breath.

"I'm sorry, Siara... but I can't do that," he murmured, his voice barely audible, even to himself.

A shadow of sorrow flickered in his eyes, deeper than sadness, heavier than regret. A truth he couldn't say aloud.

"If I stay away from you… I won't survive."

His fingers tightened around the hem of his jacket, his knuckles turning white. A pain, buried deep within him for years, threatened to resurface.

"You have no idea who you are… or what you mean to me."

He exhaled deeply, lowering his head slightly, as if whispering a secret to the night itself.

"All I can hope for is… when you learn the truth, you don't end up hating me."

For a brief moment, his eyes dimmed with a quiet ache. Then, he slowly raised his hand.

The air outside the café thickened. A soft mist curled around him, swallowing him whole.

Siara, who had barely taken a few steps outside, suddenly felt a strange sensation crawl up her spine. She stopped, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest.

Turning around instinctively, her eyes searched for him, But there was no one there.

Yet, something felt off, an eerie sensation that sent a shiver down Siaara's spine.

She chose to ignore it, convincing herself it was nothing. With a deep breath, she turned and started walking toward her apartment.

Unbeknownst to her, a shadow lurked in the darkness, silently following her every step.