Walker

Chapter 14

Lena stood in the doorway, staring in awe at the grand piano in the middle of her living room. The smooth, polished wood gleamed under the soft light of the lamp beside it, the black and white keys inviting yet mysterious. She was speechless.

*"Walker..."* she whispered, her voice barely audible, her gaze flickering from the piano to him and back. It felt unreal.

Walker stood casually, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his usual nonchalance radiating off him like a protective shield. He didn't seem phased by her shock. *"I made it myself,"* he said flatly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world, *"So, don't ask too many questions."*

Lena's heart raced. She stepped closer to the piano, her fingers hovering above the keys as if afraid to touch something so beautiful. It was everything she had dreamed of, every wish she'd ever whispered to herself when no one was around. A piano, one that was hers—one that was *real*.

Her breath caught in her throat. *"You... made this? With your own hands?"*

Walker shrugged, his face still unreadable. *"Yeah. Like I said, don't ask too many questions."*

Lena's mind was spinning. She couldn't process it all. How could he have known? How could he have made something like this? The idea that Walker—someone who usually kept to himself, someone who barely shared his thoughts or feelings—would go to such lengths to give her something so personal, so *thoughtful*... it didn't add up.

Her heart ached slightly, the overwhelming mix of emotions making it hard to breathe. *"I don't know what to say,"* she murmured, almost embarrassed by how speechless she was.

Walker's expression remained unchanged, but something flickered in his eyes—something subtle, something almost like... tenderness? She couldn't tell.

*"You don't have to say anything."* He uncrossed his arms and gave a small shrug. *"I just felt.. like I owed you something. So, I did it."*

Lena stood there, staring at him for a moment, trying to wrap her mind around what he'd just said. She couldn't make sense of it. Did he feel sorry? Why did he do this for her? She had no idea what to think, but the sincerity of his words—however blunt they were—struck her deeply.

*"It's... okay,"* she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper, unsure of herself. She felt a wave of gratitude and confusion clash inside her.

Walker just nodded, his gaze slipping away from her as if the moment had already passed for him. But Lena couldn't stop looking at him. She didn't understand how he could act so indifferent while still giving her something so precious. He wasn't even asking for anything in return. It was like this gift was... a rare kind of apology, one he would never say out loud.

Tentatively, Lena sat down at the piano, her fingers brushing the cool keys, still unsure. She hesitated for a moment before pressing down on the first note, a soft, tentative sound filling the room. Her heart beat faster, and the moment felt surreal. She tried again, a little more confident now, attempting to play something simple—just a few chords.

Before she could really get into it, a low voice cut through the air. *"So, how's Liam?"*

Lena's fingers faltered on the keys. She looked up at Walker, who had walked over to stand beside her, leaning casually against the piano. His face was unreadable, but there was a strange curiosity in his eyes, a subtle shift in his stance.

Her heart skipped a beat, a little surprised by the question. She looked at him for a second, wondering what exactly he wanted to know. But when she saw his expression—neutral, almost indifferent—she felt a slight tug of relief. It wasn't like he was angry or upset, just... curious.