𝚁 𝙴 𝙵 𝙻 𝙴 𝙲 𝚃 𝙸 𝙾 𝙽 | 𝙴𝚛𝚎𝚗 𝚡 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚃 𝙷 𝙸 𝚁 𝚃 𝚈 - 𝙵 𝙾 𝚄 𝚁

I stayed outside on the balcony, watching the sky darken under the warm lamplight until the sun had disappeared into the horizon.

Jean had left about ten minutes ago, but I didn't feel like going back to the party just yet. Plus, I knew my makeup was completely smudged from crying, which a few tears were also still leaking from my eyes.

Though my heart felt broken, another part of me—the part that was beginning to feel stronger and happier—felt relieved, like an entire weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I closed my eyes, leaning forward against the balcony rail with my arms crossed, inhaling the cool night air as the music boosted its muffled noise around me.

I heard the patio door open from behind me again, and I knew who it would be this time—I somehow already knew who it was without having to look back.

Thankfully, Eren didn't say anything as he came
up to the edge with me, standing by my side.

I gave him a quick glance, catching the way he looked out over the city with me—his features lit up by the golden glow of the lanterns around us.

We stayed that way for about five minutes, savouring the quiet—or at least I did—until Eren began speaking.

"Jean left the party," he said, pausing before adding another word. "Alone."

I gave him a sidelong look, my brows furrowed together, then nodded.

I could tell he wanted to say more, his curiosity getting the better of him—but instead of asking about Jean, he voiced his other concern.

"Are you..." he took a deep breath, "alright?"

"Yeah," I said, smiling a bit. "I am."

He was silent for a moment. "You weren't mad at him?"

I shook my head.

More silence from Eren's end. "Why not?" he asked quietly, his curiosity peaking.

I simply shrugged. "Because it wasn't his fault. And—" I turned to Eren— "I don't blame him for it." Eren frowned down at me, not looking very convinced by my reasoning, and I laughed softly. "You seem to be more mad than I am."

Eren shook his head. "I'm not mad..." he trailed off, not finishing what he had to say. "Even if you think that, it doesn't mean what he did was right."

I hummed. "Yeah, I know. But neither of us were innocent in this."

Eren raised his brow at me in question, giving me a strange look. "Oh?" he said, his tone suggestive. "Right, right. Boyfriend number two—how could I forget," he said, jerking his head back to the party.

I stared at him blankly before coming to the realization that he was talking about Niccolo—I'd forgotten he'd given him that nickname.

I hit Eren lightly. "No! He was never..." I didn't exactly know how to explain my relationship with the soon-to-be chef.

Eren merely stared at me, waiting for me to continue.

I sighed. "He was Sasha's... boyfriend. They were together before..." I didn't need to finish.

He nodded, humming to himself. "Is that why you keep looking as though you'd rather eat worms than talk to him for more than a few minutes?"

My mind went back to when Eren had saved me from my last encounter with him, and I suddenly felt guilty about reacting that way with the blonde.

I laughed, trying to hide my cringe. "It's that obvious?"

"Only to me." He winked.

I rolled my eyes dramatically. "Right—because you believe you're oh-so-special when it comes to reading me."