As they sat, Alexandre noticed everything about her without meaning to.
The way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
The way her eyes moved, curious, observant, taking in the space around her.
Maria, on the other hand, was trying very hard not to look at him too much.
But she failed.
“You’ve been here before?” he asked, watching her expression.
She shook her head.
“No… but I like it.
It feels… calm.”
“Calm?” he repeated, amused.
“That’s not a word most people use for places like this.”
She shrugged lightly.
“Maybe not.
But it feels like you can breathe here.”
He studied her for a second longer than necessary, then nodded.
“Yeah.
I get that.”
A waiter approached, and Alexandre ordered a bottle of wine without much hesitation.
Maria raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Confident choice,” she said.
“Or risky,” he replied.
“We’ll find out.”
Their menus opened, but neither of them focused on them for long.
Conversation came easily—surprisingly easily.
They talked about small things at first.
Work.
Random stories.
Things that didn’t matter.
But somehow, even the unimportant topics felt meaningful.
Like each word was just a bridge to something deeper waiting underneath.
At one point, their legs brushed under the table.
Both of them paused.
Neither pulled away immediately.
Maria felt the contact first—light, accidental… but it didn’t feel accidental.
Not really.
Her breath caught slightly, and she looked down for a fraction of a second before meeting his eyes again.
He didn’t say anything.
Neither did she.
The wine arrived, and with it, a looseness in the air.
Not reckless just warmer.
They laughed more.
Maria found herself relaxing in a way she hadn’t expected.
Around him, she didn’t feel like she had to measure her words or hold herself together so tightly.
It was… easy.
And that scared her a little.
As they placed their orders, Alexandre reached across the table, almost absentmindedly, and touched her hand.
It was a simple gesture.
But the effect wasn’t simple at all.
Maria’s fingers tensed slightly under his, then relaxed.
A quiet shiver ran through her—not dramatic, not overwhelming, just enough to make her aware of every inch of space between them.
He didn’t pull away right away.
Neither did she.
For a moment, they just stayed like that.
Connected.
When the food arrived, it gave them something to focus on, something to ground the moment.
They ate, talked, shared small reactions to flavors, exchanged smiles that lingered just a little longer each time.
But underneath it all, there was something building.
Unspoken.
“Doesn’t he know he has an effect on me.
Oh gosh, I am literally going to burst my heart.
Look at his calm expression.
Doesn’t feel this same” Maria thought with a shy expression on. Find the original chapter at g.com.
By the time their plates were cleared, the air between them felt charged like a question waiting to be answered.
Alexandre leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
“will go out on a date with me?” he asked.
It wasn’t crude or rushed.
But it was clear.
Maria felt it instantly.
Her heart skipped not in excitement alone, but in conflict.
Because she knew what he meant.
And a part of her wanted to say yes.
Very badly.
Her eyes dropped to the table, her fingers tracing the edge of her glass.
For a moment, she didn’t trust herself to speak.
” I want to try this with him.
He has effect on me but I have a reason why I am in Paris.
If my family has treated me well.
He wouldn’t have seen me here.
No.
I don’t think I am ready if fate bring us back, I will accept him” .
With that thought, she finally looked up again, her smile had faded.
“Alexandre…” she began softly, her voice careful, “I… I think I need some time, okay?”
The shift was immediate.
He leaned back slightly, confusion flickering across his face.
“Time?” he asked.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” she said quickly, shaking her head.
“No, it’s not you.”
And it wasn’t.
That was the problem.
She exhaled slowly, trying to find the right words.
“I just… I need to focus on myself right now.”
He watched her closely, trying to understand what she wasn’t saying.
“I’ll be away for a while,” she added.
“To think things through and focus on my work.”
Something clicked in his expression.
“why?” he asked, more gently now.
“I just need time.”
Saying it out loud made it feel more real.
Heavier.
she continued.
“Maybe longer.”
He didn’t respond immediately.
But she saw it the flicker of disappointment, quickly masked.
The effort it took for him to nod.
“Okay,” he said quietly.
“I get it.”
He didn’t, not fully.
But he was trying.
A pause stretched between them.
“Can I at least call you?” he asked after a moment.
“Check in?”
There was something vulnerable in the question.
Something real.
And that made it harder.
Maria hesitated.
Because she wanted to say yes.
But she also knew that “yes” would mean something.
It would keep something alive that she wasn’t sure she could carry right now.
“I… I don’t know,” she admitted.
“I just need some space.”
It wasn’t cold.
But it was firm.
And that was enough.
Alexandre nodded again, slower this time.
“Okay,” he said.
“I understand.”
His voice didn’t fully match the words, but he didn’t push.
“Good luck,” he added.
“With everything.
I’ll be thinking of you.”
Maria forced a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
“Take care, okay?”
And before she could change her mind before she could let herself feel too much.
she stood, gathered her things, and walked away.
She didn’t look back.
Alexandre stayed where he was.
For a long time.
The empty chair across from him felt louder than the entire restaurant.
The days that followed felt… off.
For both of them.
Maria threw herself into work immediately.
Early mornings, late nights, constant movement.
She told herself it was what she needed focus, discipline, control.
And it was.
But in the quiet moments, her mind drifted.
Back to him.
To the way he looked at her.
To how easy it had felt.
She pushed the thoughts away every time.
“Maria, you have been working hard this days.
What is the problem?
Cora asked during the time customers are not much.
” Yes, i have noticed it too like she want to stop thinking about something”.
Park chimed in while jack only nodded in agreement.
” Nothing, guys.
Just feel like working a lot these past few days ” Maria said to them but their looks told her that they don’t believe her.
Cora approached her and pat her in the shoulder.
” Whatever is bothering you, you can always count on us” and the others nodded in agreement.
They separated after customers started coming in.
But Alexandre looks of disappointment flash in her mind and she waved it off.
She had to because if she didn’t, she might start questioning her decision and she couldn’t afford that.
Not now.
For Alexandre, it was different.
He didn’t have the same kind of structure to hide behind.
So he created one and with the national competition approaching, he have to prove himself to his father that he can do it.
Training became his outlet.
His distraction.
His way of not thinking too much.
He pushed harder than usual.
Longer sessions.
Less rest.
But no matter how exhausted he made himself, the thoughts still found their way in.
Her laugh.
Her voice.
The way she said his name.
He didn’t regret meeting her.
That wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that it had meant something.
And now… it was gone.
Or at least, it felt that way.
“Yoo-hoo, Alexander you have been pushing yourself hard.
What up with serious training?,is it your father again?” Matthew, his best friend ask throwing him a bottle of water and Alexandre catch it, open it and gulp a lot of water.
“Not him, just trying to make myself famous, you know my dreams”.
“Yeah but don’t be too hard on yourself.
Okay?”
“Okay” Matthew pat him on the shoulder and went out to watch others practice while Alexander still remain where was, in the locker room..
Weeks passed.
Then months.
Time moved forward, whether they were ready or not.