You only manage to fall asleep late into the night. When you wake up the next day, you find that Caleb is nowhere to be found. Shock and disappointment crash into you like a wave.

Has he left? Without even saying goodbye?!There's a knock at the door and You hope to see him when you open it. And sure enough, he is there.

"I knew you'd be up around this time."

"I thought you had left..."

"I was planning to, but then I remembered I didn't make your breakfast, so I came back."

"Ah... Really?"

"Not really." He walks past you to enter the kitchen. "What do you want to eat? I'll make it."

"Anything, as long as it's cooked by you." you breathe a sigh of relief and follow him. "Did you sleep well last night? I kept hearing your footsteps."

"I didn't. It's hard to sleep when I'm tossing and turning over something."

"Do you want to sleep some more?"

"No need. I'm used to it."

"You seem preoccupied."

"What about you? Or is it easy to forget about your worries? Have you never lost sleep over someone?" The sound of running water mixes with his voice. You freeze.

He said, "I'm used to it." Has it always been like this? He had a satisfied smile on his face. "Silence is the best answer. I guess that's a no."

"Why aren't you full of questions now, just like before?" he takes a bowl and chopsticks in his hands. "Why didn't you ask me... who kept me up all night?"

"I don't want you to have so much on your mind Whenever you see me." he stops his activity to listen to your question before looking at you.

"You say that as if I don't want to end this sooner." the bread in the toaster was ready getting both your attention as you reach the top cabinet to pick a plate.

Caleb is just standing beside you, watching you as you reach to close the cabin door and he places his hand over yours. "Were you avoiding my question? Were you afraid I'd say it was you? Or were you scared, I'd say it wasn't you?"

"Shouldn't you be making breakfast? Focus." you pull your hand back placing your other on the counter, you shift to leave but he places his other hand on the counter as well, caging you in.

"Are you going to help me or not?" you turn to face him. He looks down taking a note from the counter. "Soda recipe: 1.5 ounces of apple syrup. Caleb's favorite type. So you did learn to make it for me after all. I never hear you say you miss me. Should I take this as a sign you do?"

"Whatever makes you happy" pushing him away, you walk past him but he takes your wrist.

"You didn't sleep well last night either, right?" you back away "For whom?" he cages you between the wall and himself taking your hand.

"For..."

"No rush. Take your time to come up with a reason." he places your palm on his chest keeping it there for a moment before reaching out behind you.

"But right now, if delicious things aren't eaten in time, they become stale" he holds an apple between you, you reach out to take it.

He leans in, placing his free hand on the doorframe next to your head, his hand becoming a fist as if he was holding something back.

You did buy these apples on purpose, and chose Caleb's favorite. And grasped the soda recipe and proportions after trying out many formulas. Our subtle interaction in the kitchen this morning makes you suddenly realize-

At some point, without even noticing, you started to look forward to every unexpected visit from Caleb. Just like the apple we held in our hands-delicious things should be enjoyed in time.

If you want to see someone, you should tell them. You went with him to the train station. "You can go back now. Otherwise, you might as well come to Skyhaven with me."

But you follow him into the hall, watching him buy a ticket, and accompanying him to the platform, all the way to the ticket gate.

"Why are you following me around, just like when I went to college? Are you afraid I'll get lost?"

You clutch the spare key in your pocket, hesitating to speak. "When will you be visiting Linkon again?"