rought flowers, they

the small blue bundle tuck

eeking at them with a raised brow.

at the corner of his mouth surfacing. "Just thou

but she masked it with a s

and hard

to examine the arrangement. "You'r

wh

disguised as casu

d but sai

floor-to-ceiling windows. The city outside bustled with noise and motion, but ins

months since the

s and strategic planning sessions had mo

once a week-sometimes for busines

thoughts. She responded with half-sarcastic, half-serious commentary. They had even started sharing Spotify play

e, this slow

.. and c

project in Laguna. Isabel was barely listening. Her eyes kept drifting to the way his brows furrowed i

ddenly and caug

u o

"Yes. I was

bo

erself. Then quickly added, "I mean, us. Th

gaze thoughtful.

her slip. "It's rare. To find someone

e you have to explain your ent

eath c

tly

ar values. It was the way she could be aroun

ce softer now, "what surprises

ving hers. "It's not supposed to

. Because suddenly, somethi

en them. A closeness that went deeper than

y... and yet the silence screamed eve

ark after attending a small charity expo. It was late-past 9 p.m.-

s. He had rolled up his sleeves again, that h

d the catered coffee was, the funny speech some

conversation

rtable. Jus

Isabel said as they paused by a fountain, its w

r. "You used to co

exact path every Sunday afternoon. Talk about anyth

d n

e silence

ment. "You don't have

he said. "No

sity of it quiet but undeniable.

etween them-an invisi

said. The wind whispered through the trees.

r and gently draped it over her shoulders.

the breath fr

sure he could hear it. But Marco said

hat silence sa

t forward, som

onger, more personal. Marco started noticing things-when she was

lling him things she ne

ng "the strong one." About how sometimes, she was so afraid

tried t

st li

d once. About the guilt of choosing career over family. About the ache of

ations were no longer about goals and grants and fu

them said what their e

alling into some

ng terr

too sacr

r donor, Isabel leaned back in her chair, eyes clos

u're here,"

d up. "T

In my

softened.

ng p

a whisper, she added, "Sometim

espond. Not

y brushed a strand of hair from her face.

he pull

so

care

af

lik

moment

ething

bond neither of t

were too dra