Closer - A Spencer Reid story (2)

1

NOTE this is a sequel to my other story CLOSE (Ik very similar name)

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The gentle hum of a coffee shop provided a familiar yet distant comfort, the faint clink of ceramic cups against saucers, the hiss of the espresso machine, and the low murmur of conversation creating a steady backdrop to the otherwise unremarkable morning. Spencer Reid sat by the window, absentmindedly stirring his coffee, his mind somewhere far away. He hadn't had much time to himself lately—not with the chaos of his work, the relentless cases, and now, the cautious steps of building a relationship with June. He sighed, staring out at the passing crowd, his mind wandering back to simpler days.

He missed those days sometimes, but he rarely let himself dwell on them. The memories of Yn were always lurking, just beneath the surface, ready to overwhelm him if he let them. It had been years since he had seen her, years since she had walked out of his life. She had moved to Hong Kong, far away from him and the tangled mess they had left behind. He had told himself he had moved on. He had to.

Yet, no matter how many times he tried to convince himself, there were moments like these—quiet, reflective moments—when he couldn't help but wonder what she was doing, how she was, and if she ever thought about him the way he thought about her.

The bell above the door chimed, breaking Spencer from his thoughts. He glanced up, prepared to look away as he had so many times before. But this time, he froze.

It was her.

Yn stood by the counter, scanning the menu, her eyes momentarily hidden behind sunglasses she slid into her hair. She looked different. Her hair was styled in a way he didn't recognize, her clothes more polished, more professional. She exuded a quiet confidence, the kind that came with years of experience, with growing into oneself. She hadn't seen him yet. Spencer's heart began to race.

He shouldn't go over there. It had been years. They were different people now, with different lives. But before he could think twice, his body moved on its own.

"Yn?" His voice came out quieter than he intended, almost a whisper, like he was afraid speaking her name too loudly would shatter the fragile moment.

Yn turned toward him slowly, her expression calm, though her eyes widened slightly in surprise when she saw him. A small, controlled smile tugged at her lips, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes but was polite nonetheless.

"Spencer," she greeted, her voice steady. "I didn't expect to see you here."

He swallowed hard, his mind scrambling for words. God, he had imagined this moment so many times, what he would say, how he would act if he ever saw her again. None of those practiced conversations helped him now. His hands fidgeted by his sides before he awkwardly shoved them into his pockets.

"Yeah, um, I come here sometimes." He cursed himself internally for stating the obvious. He cleared his throat. "I—uh—how are you? It's been...years."

Yn nodded, her expression unreadable, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment longer than necessary. "I've been good. I've been in Hong Kong, working on a few architectural projects."

Spencer nodded too, too quickly. "Right, Hong Kong. That's...amazing. I remember..."

There was a beat of silence. Spencer could feel the weight of it pressing down on his chest. What was he supposed to say to her after all this time? How was he supposed to act like she hadn't left a gaping hole in his life when she walked away?

Yn seemed unaffected, calm as ever, the epitome of composure. It made him feel even more unsteady.

"And you?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "How have you been, Spencer?"

The question caught him off guard, as though she genuinely wanted to know, as if their past hadn't left scars on both of them. He blinked, trying to gather his thoughts.

"I've been—good," he lied, his voice wavering just slightly. "You know, same old same old. Cases with the team, lots of traveling. Um, I've been, uh—keeping busy."

Yn smiled faintly, that same polite smile. "That's good. It sounds like things are going well for you."

Spencer opened his mouth to respond, but the words seemed to stick in his throat. Were things going well? Sure, his career had progressed, and he had June now, but seeing Yn here, standing just a few feet away, was like reopening a chapter of his life he hadn't been ready to close.

She looked the same and yet different, more confident, more assured. The Yn he remembered had been strong, but there had always been an underlying vulnerability to her, a sense that she was holding herself together in the midst of chaos. Now, there was something polished about her, something that made Spencer realize just how much time had passed.

"I—I'm really glad you're doing well," Spencer finally managed, his voice soft. He meant it, even if part of him ached at how easily she seemed to have moved on.

Before the conversation could delve any deeper, the bell above the door chimed again, and Spencer felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He didn't need to turn to know who had just walked in.

June.

She approached with a cheerful smile, her eyes lighting up when she saw Spencer. "Hey, you," she greeted, her tone warm and affectionate as she reached his side, her hand lightly resting on his arm. "Sorry I'm late."

Spencer's heart rate spiked, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. His mind was a whirlwind, his thoughts tangled in a mess of panic. How was he supposed to explain this? He glanced nervously between Yn and June, his mouth dry, his words fumbling before he could even begin.

June's eyes flickered toward Yn, her smile faltering just slightly. "Oh, I didn't realize you were with someone." Her tone remained polite, but Spencer could sense the confusion behind her words.

Yn didn't miss a beat. She smiled, this time more genuinely, and extended her hand toward June. "I'm Yn. Just an old acquaintance of Spencer's."

Her voice was smooth, calm, as though this situation didn't faze her at all. Spencer, on the other hand, felt like the ground beneath him was about to crumble. He wanted to say something, to explain, but what was there to say? Yn had gracefully taken control of the situation, sparing him from having to stammer his way through an introduction.

June shook Yn's hand, her expression relaxing slightly. "Nice to meet you," she said, though Spencer could detect a hint of curiosity in her voice. She turned to him, raising an eyebrow playfully. "You never mentioned having an old friend around here."

Spencer's throat constricted. "I, uh—it's been years. We just—bumped into each other."

Yn nodded, her smile unwavering. "Total coincidence." She glanced over at the counter, where her name was being called for her coffee. "Well, I should let you two enjoy your morning. It was nice seeing you again, Spencer."

And just like that, she was walking away, her movements poised, her shoulders back, not a trace of discomfort or hesitation in her steps.

Spencer stared after her, his mind racing, his heart pounding in his chest. Yn. After all these years. After everything.

She reached the counter, retrieved her coffee, and with one last glance in his direction, she was gone, disappearing out the door and into the crowd outside.

June settled into the chair across from him, completely unaware of the internal turmoil raging inside him. She smiled at him, the kind of smile that usually calmed him, but today, it only made the knot in his chest tighten.

"So," June began, her tone light, "what was that all about?"

Spencer forced a smile, but it felt hollow. "Just...someone from a long time ago," he said, his voice quieter than before.

June didn't press further, and for that, he was grateful. His thoughts were spinning, replaying the encounter with Yn over and over in his head. Seeing her again, after so many years, had stirred up something deep within him, something he had tried to bury but now couldn't ignore.

The coffee shop felt too quiet all of a sudden, the noise around him fading into the background as he sat there, lost in his thoughts. He could still feel the ghost of Yn's presence, lingering in the air, and he knew, without a doubt, that this was only the beginning.