Rena sat at her desk, staring at the email on her screen. Her heart thudded in her chest, a mixture of excitement and dread swirling inside her. The subject line was simple—Offer from Nova Creative Agency—but the weight it carried was immense.
She had been casually applying to jobs in other cities for months now, unsure of what she was really searching for. A new challenge, maybe. Or maybe she had just wanted to see if there was still a way to start fresh, to leave behind the complicated mess of her personal life. And now, here it was: an offer from one of the top marketing firms in the country. It was a golden opportunity—a position that would allow her to grow, to expand her career, and to escape everything that had been holding her back.
But it also meant leaving everything behind. Including Lem.
Rena leaned back in her chair, her fingers trembling slightly as she traced the edges of the desk. A fresh start had been something she'd thought about ever since things had gotten complicated between her and Lem. First, it had been Leandro, trying to weasel his way back into her life with grand gestures and promises of change. Then, there had been Ivy's games, trying to pull Lem back into their past. And on top of it all was the weight of DJ Blue—Lem's radio persona, the version of him that had been both a comfort and a confusion for Rena for so long.
She had fallen for that voice before she had known it was Lem. It had been a strange and beautiful connection, but now, after everything they had been through, she wasn't sure if she could separate the two anymore. She wasn't sure if she wanted to.
The notification sound from her phone pulled her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Lem.
Lem: Hey, I've been thinking about us a lot lately. Can we meet up tonight?
Rena stared at the message, her heart sinking. She had known this conversation was coming, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for it. Things between her and Lem had been fragile lately—too many misunderstandings, too much tension. After everything that had happened with Ivy, they had tried to move forward, but there was always something lingering between them. A shadow from the past that neither of them could shake.
And now, with this job offer on the table, Rena was faced with a choice. She could leave—escape the mess and start fresh in a new city where no one knew her past or her struggles. Or she could stay and try to work things out with Lem, risking more heartache in the process.
Her phone buzzed again, another message from Lem.
Lem: I really want to talk about where we're headed. I've been thinking a lot about the future, and I want to be on the same page.
The future. That word felt so heavy to Rena right now. She stood up from her desk, pacing around her apartment as her thoughts raced. This wasn't just about Lem—it was about everything. Her career, her sense of self, the baggage she had been carrying from her past relationships. She had spent so much time trying to figure out who she was in relation to the men in her life, but what about who she was on her own?
The job offer was more than just a career move. It was a way out. A chance to finally focus on herself without the complications of her past weighing her down. And maybe that's what she needed—time to rediscover who she was, away from Lem, away from Leandro, and away from DJ Blue.
She glanced back at her computer, rereading the email that was still open on her screen. The offer was generous—a competitive salary, relocation assistance, and the chance to work on high-profile campaigns that could elevate her career to the next level. It was everything she had been working toward for years.
But it meant leaving Lem behind.
That evening, Rena met Lem at their usual spot—a quiet café tucked away from the busy streets, where they had shared countless conversations over the past few months. Lem was already there when she arrived, his expression soft but serious. He stood as she approached, giving her a warm smile, though there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes.
