Lian had not planned on seeing him that morning.
Plans were a luxury anyway. She and Kai moved because standing still felt dangerous. They picked a café near the hospital because it was noisy and anonymous and because Kai wanted decent coffee for once.
“You are spoiling yourself,” she told him as he paid.
“I am tired of pretending I like burnt water,” Kai said. “We risk our lives daily. Let me have this.”
They took a table near the window. Lian sat with her back to the wall out of habit. Kai faced the street, eyes always moving.
“You look tense,” he said after a moment.
“I am fine.”
“That is not what I asked.”
She lifted her cup. “Drink your coffee.”
He was smiling when it happened. That small pause in his expression. The one that meant he had spotted something before she had.
Lian felt it then. The shift in air. The way her chest tightened.
She turned her head slowly.
He stood at the counter, coat still on, phone in one hand. Older now. Sharper around the eyes. The crease between his brows deeper. He laughed at something the barista said and it hit her the same way it always had.
Familiar. Unwelcome.
Kai followed her gaze. His jaw set.
“So that is him,” he said quietly.
“Yes.”
“He looks well.”
“He always does.”
They did not move. That would have been too obvious.
He noticed her anyway.
His eyes found hers like they were pulled there. The smile faded. Something else replaced it. Relief maybe. Or caution.
He walked over.
“Lian,” he said. Her name still sounded careful in his mouth. “I did not expect to see you.”
“Neither did I,” she replied.
Kai did not introduce himself. He did not need to.
The doctor glanced at him. “You must be Kai.”
Kai raised his cup slightly. “You must be the man who thinks hospitals are neutral ground.”
A beat of silence passed.
“I am on my way to work,” the doctor said. “I should not interrupt.”
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“You already did,” Kai replied.
Lian touched Kai’s arm. Not to stop him. Just to remind him she was here.
“It is fine,” she said. “We were leaving.”
She stood. The doctor hesitated.
“Can we talk,” he asked.
“About what,” she said.
“About anything,” he replied. “About nothing.”
Kai laughed softly. “You always talk like that.”
The doctor met his eyes. “And you always assume the worst.”
“I have reasons.”
Lian exhaled. “Five minutes,” she said. “Outside.”
They stepped into the street. Traffic rolled past them. The city did not care.
“You look tired,” he said to her.
“So do you.”
“I am working too much.”
“You always were.”
He smiled faintly. “Some things do not change.”
She crossed her arms. “Some things should.”
He nodded. “I heard about the things happening downtown. The arrests. The disappearances.”
Kai stiffened.
“They say criminals are vanishing,” the doctor continued. “No bodies. No credit taken.”
Lian watched his face. “You should stop listening to rumors.”
“I listen to data,” he said. “Patterns.”
Kai stepped forward. “Then listen to this pattern. We do not like being studied.”
The doctor looked at him steadily. “I am not studying you. I am worried.”
“That is worse,” Kai replied.
Lian held up a hand. “Why did you really want to talk.”
He hesitated. “I wanted to know if you are safe.”
She almost laughed.
“I have always been safe,” she said.
“That is not true.”
She looked away. “It is true enough.”
He swallowed. “You disappeared. No calls. No goodbye.”
“I am not good at goodbyes.”
“That was obvious.”
Kai shifted. “You had your chance.”
The doctor’s eyes flicked back to him. “So did you.”
The words landed harder than intended.
Lian stepped between them. “Enough.”
She turned to him. “You have a life now. A career. You are respected. Stay there.”
“I am trying,” he said. “But things are not simple.”
“They never are.”
He studied her face. “You are different.”
“No,” she replied. “I am honest now.”
He smiled sadly. “I liked you then.”
“I know.”
“And now.”
She did not answer.
A siren wailed somewhere nearby. The doctor checked his watch.
“I have to go,” he said. “Patients do not wait.”
“Neither do we,” Kai replied.
The doctor hesitated, then reached into his coat and pulled out a card. He held it out to Lian.
“In case you need anything,” he said. “Medical advice. Nothing more.”
She took it without looking.
“Take care,” he added.
He walked away without looking back.
They stood there until he disappeared into the hospital entrance.
Kai let out a breath. “I do not like him.”
“You are not supposed to,” Lian said.
“He knows more than he should.”
“He always did.”
They walked back toward the motel in silence.
After a block, Kai spoke. “You still feel something.”
Lian did not deny it. “Feelings do not disappear because they are inconvenient.”
“They can be dangerous.”
“So can guilt,” she replied.
Kai nodded. “Just remember who you are.”
She met his eyes. “I remember who we are.”
They kept walking. The city swallowed them whole.
