THE MORNING AFTER**
Morning sunlight spilled into the apartment, soft but cold, casting pale streaks on the walls.
Kai was already awake, moving through the kitchen with rigid calmness, the scent of ginger tea and eggs filling the space. But his hands were unsteady.
The words from the night before kept echoing in his head.
"You ruin everything you touch… You destroy".
He regretted them—but it was too late to take them back.
He remembered the look on her face, the way her walls shattered before she fled to her room.
Ethan had cornered him afterwards, his words blunt and accusing.
"This is bad.
Fix it, Kai. You went too far."
Kai had only nodded slightly, knowing Ethan was right—but also knowing that apologies had never been his strong suit.
He was still standing at the stove when footsteps approached.
Amara.
She appeared in the kitchen, her face unreadable, tired but steady.
Before Kai could speak, she dropped the words like stones.
"I'm moving out."
His hand froze mid-motion.
"What?" Ethan's voice followed as he entered, blinking away sleep.
Amara's voice remained calm, her tone sharper than knives.
"I'll find a place this week. I'll move by next week."
Ethan's face twisted in disbelief. "Amara, wait—"
"It's not about last night," she said flatly. "I should've moved out sooner. And I'm so sorry Ethan for ruining ur night with Bella, I'll make it up to you I promise. "
Ethan turned toward Kai, expecting him to speak.
But Kai said nothing—his face stoic, his lips sealed.
Amara's eyes shifted to him, voice quieter but firm. "I don't need your apology. I've already made up my mind."
Her words carved through the room like a knife.
Ethan moved toward her, desperate. "Don't do this. You're still upset. Just take a few days—"
"I've thought about it long enough Ethan," she replied, finally. "I don't belong here."
She turned and walked away, her door shutting softly—but it sounded like a door slamming inside Kai's chest.
---
Kai remained silent, finishing the eggs like nothing had happened.
Ethan stared at him in disbelief. "You're seriously just letting her go?"
"She's free to leave," Kai replied quietly, his voice unreadable.
Ethan shook his head. "You two are both mad stubborn, I swear."
But Kai's heart wasn't as calm as his face.
---
That afternoon, Amara sat at the dining table, hunched over her laptop, frustration clear on her face.
Apartment hunting in Shanghai wasn't easy.
Everything was either too expensive, too cramped, or too far from campus. Most of the student-friendly apartments were either studio units or small shared flats tucked inside narrow alleys—old buildings with peeling walls but low rent.
She clicked on listing after listing, her patience wearing thin.
"You won't find anything good like that," Kai's voice broke the silence, calm but direct.
She jumped slightly, glaring at him. "I don't need your help."
Kai remained unfazed, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"I know a landlord," he said casually. "Good place. Near campus. Clean. Safe."
Amara narrowed her eyes in disbelief. "…You know someone?"
Kai gave a small nod. "I've helped others before."
She studied him, unsure whether to trust him or not.
"You're sure?"
"I wouldn't say it if I weren't," he replied calmly.
Before she could respond, he pulled out his phone and dialled, speaking swiftly in Chinese. She watched in stunned silence as he handled everything with smooth confidence.
When he hung up, he looked at her.
"You can view the place tonight. If you like it, it'll be ready tomorrow."
Her mouth dropped open. "Tomorrow?"
Kai nodded like it was nothing. "It's better if you settle down quickly."
She couldn't hide her shock—or relief.
"…Thank you," she mumbled, still dazed.
Kai said nothing else, simply walking away.
---
Later that evening, Amara followed Kai to the apartment.
It was tucked behind a quiet street near the university, surrounded by small shops and local noodle stalls. The building was a little big and clean, You'd say it was meant for students who wanted to live comfortably.
The landlord—a middle-aged man with a kind face—greeted them warmly.
The apartment itself was exactly what she'd been scrolling for but never expected to find.
A compact studio—perfect —with white walls, tiled floors, and a large window that overlooked the bustling street below. A comfortable bed stand, a desk near the window, shelves for books, and a kitchen with just enough space for essentials. The bathroom was beautiful.
It was fancy—and it felt right. Warm, safe, functional. Exactly the kind of place students rented all across Shanghai.
Amara could already picture herself here—finally free, finally independent.
"I'll take it," she said quickly, before the landlord even finished showing her around.
The landlord nodded, pulling out the contract and explaining the rent details in Chinese.
Amara reached into her bag for her wallet, but before she could bring it out, she froze.
Kai was already handing over the cash.
She turned to him, stunned. "Wait, what are you—?"
Kai kept his eyes on the landlord, replying calmly, "It's covered."
Amara's heart thudded in shock. "Kai, no— I can pay, I—"
"It's fine," he said without looking at her. "Consider it done."
She stared at him, words caught in her throat, as the landlord finalised the paperwork.
The apartment would be hers by tomorrow.
---
Later that night, Amara found herself standing outside Kai's room again, this time with a heaviness in her chest she couldn't ignore.
She knocked softly.
"Come in," his calm voice replied.
She entered slowly, finding him at his desk.
They sat in silence for a long moment.
Then she finally spoke, her voice soft, fragile.
"I came to say thank you," she began, her words unsteady but sincere. "For the apartment… and everything."
Kai said nothing, watching her quietly.
Amara's hands fidgeted as she kept going.
"And… I also wanted to apologise. Not just for the argument. For everything—back then too."
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to face him.
"In high school, I teased you. I humiliated you. I acted like you weren't worth anything."
Her voice wavered, but she pushed on.
"It wasn't because I hated you. I was just angry—at myself, at life. You were an easy target. I thought if I poked your weakness, it would distract me from mine."
She paused, breath shaky.
"I never wanted to ruin you, Kai. I just… I didn't know how to handle my pain."
Silence settled between them.
Then, slowly, Kai's voice broke through—calm, but edged with something deeper.
"You were a storm back then," he said quietly. "Wild. Untouchable."
Amara's heart clenched.
"And I was the fool who stood in the rain, hoping you'd notice me, I wanted to be friends with u then, but u seemed so far, even now, nothing I do is enough. "
Her breath hitched, guilt thick in her throat.
"I noticed," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I noticed everything, but I don't know." She signed.
They sat there, their shared past heavy between them—but no longer suffocating.
Kai's voice softened slightly, almost like a sigh.
"Thank you. For saying it."
Amara blinked, surprised by his calmness.
"You're… not angry?"
He shook his head faintly. "Some things take time to heal. But I'm not angry."
She let out a shaky breath, a faint, relieved smile tugging at her lips.
"I'll still move out," she said gently. "But… thank you."
Kai's gaze didn't waver. "I'll drive you when you're ready."
Amara's smile turned bittersweet, but genuine.
"Of course you will," she murmured.
She turned to leave but paused, glancing back with a faint glimmer in her eyes.
"I don't ruin everything, you know."
Kai's lips curved, just slightly—an almost-smile.
"Not everything," he replied.
Her chest tightened, but in a different way this time—something lighter.
Without another word, she walked out, her footsteps quieter, calmer.