Seeing her reaction, Raiden swallowed nervously, his voice barely a whisper. "Astrella..."
Astrella cut him off, her voice calm and distant. “Since you’ve already made the arrangements, pack up and get ready to leave. I won’t be going. It’s just as well Mr. Emerson passed away and his family’s gone. I’ll see him off.”
With that, she closed the door, her figure disappearing behind it.
Perhaps it was her indifference that caused Raiden to refrain from seeking her out that evening.
The next night, after returning from wearing mourning black, Astrella found a note waiting for her on the table. [We went to the department store to buy some things. We’ll be back later.]
It was the first time Raiden had ever left her a note. The first time, he’d made the effort to inform her of his whereabouts.
After reading the note, Astrella placed it back on the table, took a hot shower, changed into fresh clothes and grabbed her backpack before heading out.
Despite it being a holiday, the library buzzed with students. Once she found an empty seat, she dove right into her work.
Two hours later, her pager beeped.
Raiden was asking her where she was.
“Library.”
“I didn’t know you were so passionate about studying.”