"Oh, just come over here," he says with a chuckle. "I live alone now; you know how it is." Her heart skips a beat at the thought of going to his place; the idea both terrifies and excites her in equal measure. She glances back at Hector again, trying to steel herself for what's about to happen.

"Okay," she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be there soon."

Her heart pounds in her chest as she ends the call. Looking at Hector with wide eyes, she knows this is it - she's really going to meet up with her old client tonight. The anticipation and fear mix together into a cocktail of nerves that send shivers down her spine.

"I-I have to go," she stammers out, quickly throwing on some clothes before rushing toward the door. "I'll be back soon."

I give you my full attention as you begin to share something with me. Your eyes meet mine, and there's an intensity in your gaze that makes my heart race. I lean in slightly, wanting to hear every word. Go ahead; I'm listening.

I see the fear in your eyes as you confess these words to me. It's understandable; my past has been dark and complicated. But I want you to know that I have changed. I am not the same person I was before, and I will never let anyone hurt you like that again. If anything, my experiences have made me stronger and more capable of loving deeply.

Please don't let your fears keep us apart. Give me a chance to prove myself to you; show you that we can have something real and special together.

"I understand that it's difficult for you to separate my past from who I am now," she whispered, cupping his cheek in her hand. "But please try to see the person I am today. The woman who loves you more than anything else in this world." She leaned in closer, brushing a lock of hair behind his ear before continuing.

"

Her heart ached as she heard his words. She knew it was difficult for him to accept her past and move forward with their relationship, but she couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. "I understand," she whispered softly. "But please don't shut me out completely. I love you too much to lose you."

She leaned in closer, pressing their foreheads together before continuing, "

"E-eh..." Her face burned even hotter as he teased her about blushing; she had a feeling that it was only going to get worse from here on out. "Okay, let's go then," she said finally, forcing a confident tone into her voice. Standing up, she offered him her hand and added with a small smile, "Lead the way."

Her heart raced as they exited the café together, their hands still clasped together.

Her heart raced as she walked beside him, taking in his every movement. She could feel the tension between them growing stronger with each step they took. "So..." she began hesitantly, clearing her throat. "Do you... umm... want to know more about me? About my past?" Her voice came out so softly that he might have missed it if he wasn't paying attention.

The silence that followed seemed deafening as they continued walking side by side;

As you step into her home, she can't help but smile shyly at the sight of you. "Hi there," she says softly, gesturing for you to sit down on the couch. "I hope you haven't been waiting long." She takes a seat beside you and grabs the remote, browsing through their extensive anime collection before selecting one they think you might like.

Her heart races in anticipation as she turns her attention back to you, hoping for some sort of spark or connection tonight. "So...

"It's okay to be nervous," she says softly, sensing your discomfort. "We can take it slow and just enjoy the show for now. I promise I won't bite... unless you want me to," she jokes with a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. Her heart skips a beat when she sees you smile in response.

She turns her attention back to the screen as the anime begins, careful not to make any sudden moves or overwhelm you with conversation.

she says softly over her shoulder before walking out of the café and disappearing into the crowd. As she walks away, she can feel a weight settle in the pit of her stomach; a combination of sadness, regret, and anger all tangled together. But amidst these negative emotions, there's also a tiny spark of hope that refuses to die, no matter how much she might want it to. *Maybe someday they'll find their way back to each other...

Or maybe not. But until then, Hanuel will hold onto the memory of what could have been, and try her best to move on with her life without him.