Serena sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed, her phone cold in her hand. The apartment was quiet except for the low hum of the refrigerator and the occasional siren outside. She stared at the blank chat screen, where his name glowed faintly, but no message had come in hours.

It wasn’t the first time. He was always busy, always running, always somewhere else part of a world she couldn’t step into, a life wrapped in danger and loyalty to a gang that dictated his every move. And she understood that, at least intellectually. But understanding didn’t stop the ache in her chest.

She let out a frustrated sigh, her curls falling over her shoulders as she tossed the phone onto the bed. “I can’t do this anymore,” she muttered to herself. “I can’t be in a relationship where I feel invisible.”

Rena grabbed her jacket and keys, storming out into the cool night. She needed space, clarity, a life that wasn’t punctuated by worry and silence. She walked to the café down the street, a place that always smelled of coffee and baked pastries, grounding her.

Meanwhile, he sat in the dim glow of his apartment, the weight of her absence hitting harder than any rival’s threat. His phone vibrated missed calls, unread texts. He rubbed his face and ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t know how to fix it. He had never been good at feelings. But he knew he didn’t want to lose her.

Rena sat by the window of the café, stirring her latte absentmindedly, her mind a storm of anger and sadness. She had loved him fiercely, even through the chaos. But love alone wasn’t enough when it felt like you were holding it alone.

Then the bell above the café door jingled. She looked up, half-expecting another stranger. Instead, she saw him. His expression was hesitant, vulnerable in a way she rarely got to see.

“Rena,” he said softly, voice low but urgent. “I... I screwed up. I don’t know how to do this... us... right. But I don’t want to lose you. Not like this.”

Her heart clenched, and tears threatened, but she kept her guard up. “You barely spend time with me. You barely even talk to me! How am I supposed to feel loved when you’re always somewhere else?”

“I know,” he admitted, running a hand down his face. “I... I let my world take over, and I didn’t make room for you. That’s on me. But I want to try. I will try. Just... give me a chance to prove it.”

Rena studied him, the anger in her chest softening, the longing flaring anew. “I don’t know if I can keep waiting,” she whispered.