The bar pulsed with the beat of the music, the bass vibrating in Elara’s chest as she sipped her drink, her attention not fully on the conversation with Rina. It had shifted, unconsciously, toward the man near the stage. He was standing there, a figure in the crowd, but there was something about him that wouldn’t let her look away. He was just another face in a room full of strangers, but the way he carried himself—the quiet confidence, the intensity in his eyes—it felt like she’d seen him before.

She shook her head slightly, trying to refocus on the conversation, but her thoughts kept drifting back to him. The man had turned briefly, and for a split second, their eyes had met. She had quickly looked away, a warm flush creeping up her neck.

“What’s with you?” Rina’s voice pulled her back to the present, sharp but laced with concern.

Elara blinked, a bit disoriented. “Huh?”

“You’ve been zoning out for the past ten minutes,” Rina pointed out, her eyes scanning the crowd before landing on Elara. “And you’re staring at that guy. If you want him to notice you, maybe you should, you know, talk to him.”

Elara could feel her face heat up. “I’m not staring at him.” She cleared her throat awkwardly, but it was no use—Rina had caught her.

“You’re totally staring at him,” Rina teased, grinning mischievously. “It’s cute, but c’mon, just go for it. If not for you, then for the drama of it all.”

Elara smiled weakly, though a tiny, nervous laugh slipped out. “I don’t even know him.”

“You don’t need to know him. That’s the point.” Rina leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a playful whisper. “Besides, you’ve got that whole ‘I’m too mysterious to talk to’ vibe going. He’s probably dying to find out more.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Elara frowned, though she couldn’t suppress the thought that her friend might be right, at least about the mysterious vibe. There was something about this man—something off, but in a way that was strangely familiar.

Her gaze flicked back to the man across the room. He was still near the stage, his eyes now scanning the room, and when they met hers again, it felt as if the rest of the world blurred away for a moment.

She stiffened.

No, she wasn’t imagining it. There was recognition there, like a thread connecting them across some invisible divide. Her chest tightened, a mix of excitement and fear she didn’t understand.

“Are you okay?” Rina asked again, noticing the sudden change in Elara’s expression.

“I—” Elara opened her mouth but couldn’t quite form the words. What could she say? That she was feeling something she couldn’t explain? Something that went beyond the simple chemistry of meeting a stranger in a bar?

“I’m fine,” she finally said, though it sounded more like a question than an answer. She didn’t want to say anything out loud. What if it didn’t make sense?

Rina, ever the intuitive one, didn’t push, but there was a knowing glint in her eyes. “You sure? ‘Cause you’re looking at him like he’s the last piece of chocolate cake in the fridge.”

Elara managed a small laugh, but it was hollow. She couldn’t seem to pull herself out of the feeling that was gripping her chest. Something was calling her to him, an invisible pull that didn’t make sense in the rational world she usually inhabited.

And then, before she could second-guess herself, Elara stood up. Her legs moved almost of their own accord, carrying her toward the man. She had no idea what she was going to say, but every step felt like it was leading her somewhere important.

As she neared, the noise of the bar seemed to fade away, leaving only the soft thrum of her heartbeat and the pounding of her thoughts. The man was facing her now, his gaze meeting hers once again, this time with no intention of looking away. His eyes were so piercing—so familiar—that for a moment, it was as though she was looking at someone she’d known for years, not a stranger in a crowded bar.

When she reached him, she stopped, her breath caught in her throat.

“Hi,” she managed to say, her voice soft, almost unsure, as if she were testing the waters.

For a brief second, he said nothing. He just looked at her with an expression she couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t surprise, exactly—more like recognition. As if he’d been waiting for this moment, too.

He opened his mouth to speak, but his voice came out low, just above a whisper. “I knew you’d come.”

Elara blinked, her pulse quickening. The words stirred something deep inside her, something ancient and unspoken. She hadn’t been expecting that, but somehow, it felt right. Like this moment had already happened before.

Before she could respond, the sound of the music returned in full force, and she felt her thoughts scatter. But the weight of his gaze stayed with her, pulling her deeper into something she didn’t yet understand.