ᴛᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ

ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ ꜱɪx

(Hyeon Above)

"Welcome back, Ciel." The therapist greeted him with her usual calm demeanor, though she couldn't ignore the tension in his posture as he settled into the chair across from her. She crossed her legs, pulling her notepad into her lap. "How have you been feeling?"

"Better." His response was clipped, almost rehearsed.

She studied him carefully. His tone was flat, his expression guarded. A familiar defense mechanism.

"That's good. Any memory relapses?" she asked, her gaze steady on him.

"No. I've been taking my medications."

His fingers tapped absently against his knee—a telltale sign of unease. She took note of it but didn't press.

"I'm glad to hear that." She wrote something in her notepad before looking back up. "And how are things outside of that? Have you been sleeping better? Feeling more—"

"I won't be attending my sessions anymore." The words came out bluntly, cutting through the air like a blade.

She blinked, absorbing the statement. She had suspected something was off the moment he walked in, but she hadn't expected this.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice measured, careful.

"Yes."

A firm, unyielding answer. But she could see it—the way his shoulders stiffened slightly, the way his gaze flickered, just for a moment. He wasn't as sure as he wanted to be.

She exhaled softly, closing her notepad with deliberate slowness. "Alright. If you ever feel like you need to come back, you can always schedule another appointment with my receptionist."

It was all she could offer him. She couldn't force him to stay. Therapy only worked if the person was willing. Still, her gut told her he wasn't ready. Not really.

He needed more time. More help. But he was choosing to walk away.

And she hated that she couldn't stop him.

"Take care of yourself, Ciel." she said, her voice softer now.

He nodded, standing up. But as he reached for the door, there was a brief hesitation so brief that if she hadn't been watching him closely, she might have missed it.

For a second, she thought- hoped he might change his mind. That he'd turn back, sit down, say something real.

But then, just like that, he was gone.

She sat there for a moment, staring at the empty chair, her grip tightening slightly around her notepad.

He'll be back, she thought, not as a hope, but as a certainty. Because she had seen it before.

_____

Ciel and Cayden arrived together, stepping into the warm glow of the house party. The air was thick with music, laughter, and the lingering scent of alcohol. Cayden walked in first, Ciel trailing behind him, eyes scanning the unfamiliar crowd.

A familiar voice called out.

"Hi, Cayden! Haven't seen you in years."

Xoia approached with a bright smile, her arms outstretched. She embraced Cayden briefly before pulling back to study him.

"Yeah, it's been a while. How have you been?" he asked, his tone polite but distant.

"I'm good, just glad you came." She turned to Ciel, her grin widening as she pulled him into a quick hug.