A Chance Encounter
The city was alive with the hum of late-night traffic, the glow of streetlights cutting through the darkness. Twinkle had never been one to enjoy the night. She preferred the quiet of her small apartment, where she could work on her designs in peace. But tonight, something was different. She was on her way home from a fashion event, her head spinning with ideas and her heart heavy with thoughts she couldn’t yet put into words.
As she walked down the street, the sound of hurried footsteps behind her caught her attention. She turned to find a man in a dark jacket, his face partially obscured by a baseball cap, walking in the same direction. Something about him felt... off.
She quickened her pace, feeling the weight of the night settle in her chest.
Suddenly, the man’s voice broke the silence. “Excuse me.”
Twinkle turned, startled. “Yes?”
“I—uh, sorry to bother you. Do you know where the nearest cafe is?” His voice was rough, like he had been shouting all day.
Twinkle narrowed her eyes, studying his face. “You don’t look like someone who needs coffee.”
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “And what does someone who needs coffee look like?”
Twinkle felt her defenses rise. There was something about his presence, something she couldn’t quite place, that put her on edge. But she didn’t want to be rude. “Two blocks down. Left at the intersection.”
“Thanks.” He nodded, then started to walk past her.
As he did, their eyes met. And for a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. Twinkle could’ve sworn she saw something flicker in his gaze—something dark and intense, but she didn’t have the time to analyze it.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she shook her head. She had no room for distractions. Not tonight.
---
The Encounter Repeats
Twinkle tried to push the strange meeting out of her mind, but it lingered. The man’s face, his voice—it haunted her thoughts as she worked through the night. She was used to stress, used to the constant pressure of deadlines, but tonight was different. She couldn’t focus.
As the days passed, their paths seemed to cross more often. The first time, it was in a local bookstore. Twinkle was thumbing through a new collection of designs when she felt a familiar presence.
“Excuse me.” The voice she had come to recognize so well spoke again.
She turned to find him standing a few feet away, holding a book in his hands.
“You again,” she muttered.
“Me again,” he replied with a grin.
This time, his smirk was less playful and more genuine. There was something about him, something that tugged at her in a way she couldn’t explain.
“Are you stalking me?” she asked, half-joking.
He chuckled. “Not intentionally. Just seems like our paths keep crossing.”
Twinkle didn’t know why, but she couldn’t help but feel intrigued. “I guess we’re just unlucky then.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Unlucky?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t ask for company. But here you are.”
His expression softened, and for a moment, he seemed almost... apologetic. “I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
