It was one of those days when Austin was staying over at Valerie's house. They actually planned to stay only for a few days, but since her parents wanted to spend some more time with her, Austin urged her to delay their departure.
That evening, they sat together in the back garden of the mansion, sipping tea.
It was one of Valerie's favorite places. After a long day of training, she often came here to wind down—her favorite tea in hand, watching the sun dip below the horizon. It was peaceful. Familiar.
But now, that peacefulness feels warmer than usual. She wasn't alone. She was sharing the table with the person who mattered most to her.
And they weren't drinking her usual tea.
Milk tea.
Austin's favorite.
He watched her closely as she took another sip, hope flickering in his eyes. To him, tea without sugar was like music without melody. And since Valerie had once loved sweet things, he secretly wished that this taste would bring back a little of that old fondness.
