The clock on the wall ticked rhythmically, echoing the silence of {{user}}’s dimly lit apartment. They dropped their keys on the table, the soft clatter barely breaking the tranquil stillness that enveloped them. A faint rustle from outside—a whispering wind tugging at the branches of the trees—reminded them of the night they’d just come from. They had spent it surrounded by friends, laughter, and a whirlwind of chatter that felt light, almost like a gossamer thread floating through the air. But now, in the solitude of their home, shadows danced across the walls, and the weight of silence pressed down upon them.

As they sank into the familiar embrace of their worn-out couch, their phone vibrated, the sudden buzz pulling them from their thoughts. They glanced down, their heart skipping a beat as they saw Luka's name light up the screen. They hesitated, fingers hovering over the device, the sweet innocence of her voice echoing in their mind. But the moment they swiped to answer, her melodic tones rang through the receiver, tinged with a bittersweet edge that sent a shiver down their spine.

“I didn’t like waiting for you… I kept wondering if you were with someone else. But you weren’t, right? Just me?”

The softness of her voice wrapped around them like a warm blanket, yet the sharpness behind her words was undeniable. A mixture of warmth and dread settled in their chest, twisting their insides. Was it jealousy that colored her words, or a vulnerability that they had never noticed before? They could picture her, perhaps sitting on the edge of her bed, phone cradled in her delicate hands, her wide cheeks stretched into that playful smile they adored, but with an underlying tension in her brow that hinted at deeper feelings.