Raisa felt the weight of her world press in on her the moment she opened her laptop. The screen lit up with notifications—emails, messages, and endless demands. She sighed heavily, slumping back into her chair. Her social media accounts were buzzing, but somehow, the connection she craved felt more distant than ever.

Ping!

A message from Luca appeared on her screen, reminding her of the meeting they had later in the afternoon. She couldn’t deny it—there was something about Luca that intrigued her. He was focused, driven, and different from the influencers and superficial personalities she was used to. But still, there was a coldness to him, a barrier she couldn’t quite breach.

As she got ready for the meeting, she thought about Zayn. The architect had disappeared into his own world of blueprints and high expectations. Their last conversation had been filled with tension, his frustration palpable. Zayn’s world was spinning too fast, just like hers, and she wasn’t sure if either of them could slow down enough to truly connect.

Thud!

She accidentally knocked over a stack of papers, groaning in frustration. “Ah! Why today?” she muttered, quickly gathering everything back up. The clatter was a metaphor for her life—everything was spilling out of control.

Across town, Zayn stood in front of a massive, half-completed building, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts. This project was supposed to be his breakthrough, his chance to prove himself, but instead, it was just another source of pressure. His phone buzzed incessantly, and without looking, he knew it was his father. The expectation to succeed, to be perfect, was always lurking over his shoulder.

Zayn let out a deep breath, his hands running through his hair as he tried to regain his composure. He thought about Raisa, about their last conversation and how distant she’d seemed. He couldn’t help but wonder if they were losing each other before anything had really begun.

Ring!

The sudden ringing of his phone startled him. It was Kendra.

“Zayn, hey. You free for lunch?” Kendra’s voice was light, but there was something deeper in her tone, as if she knew he needed an escape.

Zayn hesitated for a moment before replying. “Yeah… yeah, I could use a break.”

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Kendra leaned back in her chair as they sat in a small café, watching Zayn carefully. He was trying to hide it, but she could see the weariness in his eyes, the way his shoulders sagged as if carrying a heavy burden. She knew that feeling all too well.

“So, what’s going on?” she asked gently, sipping her coffee.

Zayn shrugged, not meeting her eyes. “Same old, you know? Projects piling up. Expectations.” His voice was distant.

Kendra nodded, not pushing him further. “Sometimes I think this city moves too fast for us,” she said quietly. “We get caught up in chasing success, and before we know it, we’ve lost sight of everything else.”

Her words hit him harder than he expected. He looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the same exhaustion mirrored in her face. “Yeah… I feel like I’m losing control. And Raisa—” He stopped, unsure of how to explain the disconnect between him and Raisa.

Kendra raised an eyebrow. “Raisa? Something happen with her?”

“I don’t know,” Zayn admitted, rubbing his temples. “We’re both so busy. I barely see her, and when I do, it feels like there’s this wall between us.”

Kendra didn’t say anything for a while, letting the words sink in. Then she smiled softly. “Maybe you’re both lost in your ambitions.”

Later that evening, Raisa sat in Luca’s sleek office, the cold modern décor a stark contrast to the warmth she longed for. Luca was seated across from her, going over the agenda for their project. He was sharp and focused, his words precise, but Raisa’s mind kept wandering.

She found herself studying him—the way he spoke, his controlled manner, and the way he avoided any personal conversation. There was something in his eyes, though, a flicker of loneliness that mirrored her own. For a moment, she wanted to ask him how he really felt, whether he ever felt trapped in his world of ambition.

“Raisa, did you hear me?” Luca’s voice pulled her back to the present.

“Uh, sorry, I was just… lost in thought,” she stammered, shaking her head.

Luca paused, his expression unreadable. “You’ve seemed distracted lately. Is everything okay?”

Raisa opened her mouth to reply, but stopped. Was everything okay? She didn’t know how to answer that.

“I’m fine,” she said instead, offering a weak smile.

Luca didn’t press further. He wasn’t the type to pry. But as they continued discussing business, Raisa couldn’t shake the feeling that both of them were living in worlds too far apart to ever truly connect.

By the time Raisa got home, it was late, and she was exhausted. She glanced at her phone, wondering if she should text Zayn, but something held her back. The distance between them felt wider than ever, and she wasn’t sure if a simple message could bridge that gap.

She lay down on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Outside, the city was alive, bustling with noise and lights, but inside, she felt completely alone.

Drip, drip.

The sound of rain began to patter against her window. Raisa closed her eyes, letting the rhythmic sound soothe her, but it couldn’t drown out the ache in her chest.

In his apartment, Zayn stared out at the rain-soaked streets, his thoughts drifting back to Raisa. He had been on the verge of texting her multiple times throughout the day, but something always stopped him. Maybe it was fear. Fear of losing her. Fear of realizing that they were already too far apart.

Drip, drip.

The sound of the rain was the only thing that filled the silence in his room.