The Unspoken Currents

Where Silence Speaks

Becky walked through the quiet city streets after leaving Pear's apartment, her breath fogging up in the cool night air. She shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her jacket, the night's events replaying in her mind. She had left Freen back at the Nexis bonding event—walked away from whatever tension had been simmering between them—and tried to lose herself in Pear's attention. But all it did was leave her feeling emptier than before.

The streets felt impossibly quiet, every sound amplified by the stillness. The gentle buzz of distant traffic, the hum of neon signs flickering in the dark, the faint whispers of her thoughts that refused to quiet down.

What am I doing? she thought to herself. It wasn't just about tonight. It was about all of it—Freen, the unresolved feelings, the past that kept seeping into her present, despite how hard she tried to keep it at bay.

She reached her apartment building and headed inside, not bothering to turn on the lights as she kicked off her shoes and threw her jacket onto the couch. She stood there for a moment in the dark, just breathing, trying to find some semblance of calm.

But it wasn't there.

The next morning came faster than Becky expected. The moment she opened her eyes, her thoughts went straight to work. The trial was in less than two weeks, and as much as she wanted to focus solely on the case, she knew her thoughts would inevitably drift to Freen. They always did.

Becky arrived at the office early, the sky still tinged with the deep hues of dawn. She was determined to stay focused, to drown herself in work and not let last night affect her. She had to keep things professional. There was too much at stake.

She set her things down in her office, already pouring over the mountain of documents spread across her desk. It wasn't long before the familiar sound of footsteps caught her attention. She looked up to see Freen standing in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee.

"Morning," Freen said, her voice soft but carrying that easy confidence that Becky had always admired. She walked into the office, setting one of the cups down on Becky's desk.

"Morning," Becky replied, trying to sound casual, but her heart was already racing.

"Thought you might need this," Freen said with a small smile, sitting down across from her.

"Thanks." Becky took a sip, feeling the warmth of the coffee seep through her fingers. It was exactly what she needed to shake the remnants of last night from her mind. Or at least, that's what she told herself.

They worked in silence for a while, the atmosphere calm, yet charged with something unspoken. Becky could feel it in every glance, every quiet breath that filled the room.

Eventually, Freen broke the silence. "So... Pear, huh?"

Becky choked slightly on her coffee, caught completely off guard. She coughed, setting the cup down as she looked up at Freen, her expression half-amused, half-embarrassed.

"What about her?" Becky asked, raising an eyebrow in an attempt to play it off.

Freen gave a casual shrug, but there was a glint of something in her eyes. "Just noticed you two... hit it off last night. Didn't seem like your usual type."

Becky narrowed her eyes at her, trying to gauge if there was something more behind Freen's words. "Since when do you know what my type is?"

Freen leaned back in her chair, her tone still playful but laced with something Becky couldn't quite place. "Maybe I don't. But it didn't seem like you were all that into it by the end of the night."

Becky felt her pulse quicken, but she kept her expression neutral. "And you know this how?"

Freen gave a small, knowing smile. "Just a hunch."