“Raisa! Wait up!” Zayn called out, his voice cutting through the bustling noise of the café. The clatter of cups and chatter of patrons faded into the background as he spotted her near the entrance, her silhouette framed by the warm light spilling in from the street.

She paused, turning slightly to look over her shoulder. A moment stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Zayn’s heart raced. “Ah, there you are!” he managed, closing the distance as he approached her. The sight of her—long hair cascading over her shoulders, a hint of worry etched on her brow—made his chest tighten.

“Hey, Zayn,” Raisa replied, her voice steady yet laced with uncertainty. “I was just… I needed some fresh air.”

“Mind if I join?” He gestured toward the door, trying to gauge her mood. She hesitated, glancing back at the café's bustling interior before nodding.

“Sure, let’s go.”

As they stepped outside, the evening air wrapped around them, cool and refreshing. Raisa took a deep breath, the scent of rain lingering from earlier showers. Zayn watched her, feeling an urge to bridge the gap that had formed between them over the last few weeks.

“Listen, I know things have been a bit… complicated,” he began, fumbling for the right words. “With everything that happened at the event… I just wanted to say I’m sorry if I overwhelmed you.”

“Overwhelmed?” she echoed, a hint of a smile breaking through her tension. “That’s an understatement. It felt like my whole life was falling apart in front of everyone.”

“Raisa, I didn’t mean for it to go that far.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a softer tone. “I just—”

“Zayn, you’re a great guy,” she interrupted, her eyes meeting his with a fierce intensity. “But I don’t know if I can deal with this right now. I’m still trying to figure things out with Kendra and Luca.”

A pang of frustration washed over him, but he kept his tone calm. “You don’t have to figure everything out alone. We can help each other, you know?”

She looked away, staring at the busy street filled with honking cars and laughing pedestrians. “It’s not that simple. I feel like I’m searching for something… or someone I can’t find. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just running away from my own reality.”

Zayn nodded, understanding the depth of her words. “You’re not alone in feeling lost. I’ve been there too, trying to please everyone, fighting against my own expectations. But you don’t have to pretend with me.”

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Suddenly, a loud thud made them both jump. A small child had dropped an ice cream cone, and the sound brought a soft laugh from Raisa. “Oh no!” she exclaimed, the tension in her shoulders easing momentarily. “That poor kid!”

Zayn chuckled, appreciating how a simple moment could lighten the atmosphere. “Yeah, I guess we all have our messes, huh?” He paused, searching her face for a sign of hope. “What if we start fresh? Just the two of us—no expectations?”

Raisa turned to him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. “You mean like… a date?”

“Exactly!” He smiled, feeling a sense of relief. “No pressure, just us getting to know each other better.”

A contemplative silence hung in the air as she considered his proposal. “I don’t know, Zayn… I just came out of something messy. What if I can’t commit?”

“Hey,” he said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. “It’s just a chance to see where this goes. We don’t have to label it. Just two people enjoying each other’s company.”

Raisa’s gaze softened, and for a moment, the world around them faded. “Okay,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s do it. Just no pressure, right?”

“None at all,” he assured her, the corners of his mouth lifting in a grin.

As they began to walk down the street together, Raisa felt a warmth spreading through her, like the first rays of sunlight after a storm. The uncertainty still lingered, but maybe—just maybe—she was ready to explore this connection with Zayn, under the same sky.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket, the familiar ding drawing her attention. “Oh, it’s Kendra!” she said, pulling it out and glancing at the message.

“Is everything okay?” Zayn asked, noting the change in her expression.

“Uh, not really,” she replied, frowning. “It’s about Luca… he wants to talk.”

Zayn’s heart sank a little at the mention of Luca. “Right now?”

“Yeah, it seems urgent.” Raisa sighed, her excitement from earlier fading. “I should probably take this. Sorry, Zayn.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be right here,” he said, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

Raisa stepped aside to answer the call, her brow furrowing as she listened. Zayn watched her, feeling the weight of their unspoken connection slipping through his fingers.

“Uh-huh,” she said into the phone, her eyes darting between Zayn and the street ahead. “I’ll be there in a few… just give me a moment.”

As she ended the call, Zayn took a breath, ready to offer support, but Raisa’s expression was already clouded with uncertainty. “I need to go. I’m sorry.”

“Raisa, wait!” he called after her as she turned to leave. “Let’s not lose this moment, okay? We can figure this out together!”

She paused, looking back with a mix of regret and longing in her eyes. “I know, but I need to face this first. Can we talk later?”

“Sure,” he replied, trying to hide his disappointment. “Just text me.”

With that, she walked away, leaving Zayn standing under the streetlights, a sense of emptiness settling in. The evening sky above them, still illuminated by the fading sunset, felt a little darker without her laughter.

As he turned to head back into the café, the distant sound of laughter filled the air, and Zayn realized he would have to fight for what he wanted. Perhaps love was worth chasing, even when it felt just out of reach.

The journey was just beginning, and under the same sky, he would find a way to bring Raisa back into his life.