ᴛᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ

ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ ꜰᴏᴜʀ

(Xoia Above)

The next morning, Ciel awoke earlier than usual. He didn't have classes until the evening, but he had to pick up his driver's license from the police station. As the sunlight crept through the curtains, he carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to disturb Akira, who was still peacefully asleep. His mind was already racing with thoughts of the day ahead, but he took a moment to watch her, her soft breaths rising and falling, her face serene in the stillness of the morning.

He went into the bathroom to freshen up, brushing his teeth and splashing his face with cold water, hoping to shake off the remnants of the frustration from yesterday. After a quick shower, he dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, then reached for his phone. He had never relied on taxis or public transport before, but today was different. He had to get to the station, so he quickly Googled "taxis near me" and called for one.

As he made his way downstairs, a knock at the door startled him. He frowned, wondering who could be visiting at this hour. Looking through the peephole, he saw two police officers standing on the other side. His heart skipped a beat.

What could the police want with Akira?

He opened the door cautiously, trying to mask his confusion. "Hello?" he asked, his voice a little shaky.

"Is there a Akira Johnson here?" one of the officers asked, his tone serious but polite.

"Yes, why?" Ciel replied, his curiosity piqued. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach, unsure of why the police would need to speak to her.

"We just have some questions for her regarding an incident that happened a while back," the officer explained.

"She's asleep right now. Can we not do this today?" Ciel asked, his mind racing. The last thing he wanted was for Akira to be disturbed, especially with everything she was already dealing with.

The officer hesitated before pulling out a business card and handing it to Ciel. "Here's my card. Please give this to her and let her know I'd like to speak with her when she wakes up."

"Sure," Ciel replied, taking the card with a tense nod. The officers turned and left, leaving him standing there with a growing sense of unease. He stared at the card for a moment, the name "Dalton" and a phone number printed neatly on the front. Without a second thought, he crumpled it up and tossed it into the trash. His mind was already preoccupied with other things.

A soft honk from outside broke his thoughts. His Uber had arrived. With a sigh, Ciel grabbed his jacket and left the house.

The ride to the police station was quiet, the streets bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. When he arrived, he went inside and approached the front desk, informing the officer there that he was there to pick up his driver's license. The officer behind the counter handed it to him with a nod, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Now, remember to abide by the rules of the road," the officer said, his tone light but serious.

Ciel forced a smile, his frustration from the previous day still lingering in his chest. "I will. Thanks," he replied, his voice flat.

He left the station and decided to stop by a café, needing some space to clear his mind. After grabbing a quick breakfast, he headed back to the parking lot, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee still lingering in the air.

Just as he reached his car, someone called out to him, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Oh my gosh, Ciel! Hi!" The voice was familiar, but it took a second for him to place it.

"Xoia?" he asked, tilting his head, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of the sudden encounter. He hadn't seen her in years.

"Don't you remember me?" Xoia said, laughing softly as she stepped toward him, her smile wide and warm. She pulled him into a hug before he could even respond.