Chapter 19

• "Does your family do nothing to stop people from looking down on you?" Agustine continued to ask stuffs about me and my family. His voice was low, almost contemplative, as though he was carefully stepping through fragile ground. I could feel the warmth of the night against my skin, the subtle scent of his cologne mixing with the cool breeze that brushed against us. There was a calmness in the air, yet his questions carried weight, an intensity that made me want to hide but also somehow compelled me to answer.
• We're done eating. The people he hired earlier for dinner have also left. Right now, we are talking outside his balcony. Leaning on the railings, holding a wine glass, and watching the stars in the peaceful sky. The city lights flickered below us like scattered fireflies, distant and mesmerizing. I felt a quiet stillness that made my thoughts sharper, my feelings more vulnerable. It was as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of us, the night, and our conversation.
• I flashed a smile and sipped on my glass. I glanced at the city lights below the building for a moment. It's peaceful. The gentle hum of distant traffic felt soothing, like a rhythm meant to slow my racing heart. My fingers curled lightly around the wine glass as though holding onto it could steady my thoughts, keep my emotions from spilling over.