The gallery's soft hum of voices and clinking glasses faded as Debbie locked eyes with Pasco. After four years of silence, there he was—standing across the room, chatting with a small group of familiar faces. He looked polished, exuding confidence in a tailored blazer that only reminded her how much they now lived in two separate
worlds. Lena nudged her shoulder, bringing Debbie back to the present. "Isn't that… him?" Lena's voice was low but filled with concern.
Debbie's heart sank. She had convinced herself she wouldn't see him again, yet here he was in Phnom Penh, back from his glittering life in Bangkok.
> Introducing Pasco's New Circle in Phnom Penh
Pasco wasn't alone. He stood with two individuals who seemed to complement his new, refined persona:
• Niran: Pasco's best friend and fellow architecture
student, who had joined him on the trip to Phnom Penh for a design showcase. Niran had a knack for charm, his quick wit drawing people in effortlessly.
• Sophea: A rising Cambodian architect and former
classmate of Pasco's from his brief time studying in
Phnom Penh before moving to Bangkok. Her vibrant energy and connection to the local art scene made her the perfect host for their visit.
The Confrontation
Pasco caught sight of Debbie, his expression shifting from surprise to something more guarded. He excused himself from his group, leaving Niran and Sophea in animated conversation.
"Debbie," he said softly, stopping a few feet away. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Debbie's emotions churned—a cocktail of anger, longing, and the urge to flee. But she stood her ground, her voice steady. "Neither did I. Why are you here, Pasco?"
"I'm here for a project. Niran and I are working on a
design collaboration with some local architects," he
explained, gesturing toward Sophea. "It's…complicated."
"Of course, it's complicated," Debbie said, her tone sharp.
"Everything with you always is."
Pasco flinched but said nothing, the weight of their
unresolved history pressing down on them both. Before Debbie could say more, Filex approached from the side. Filex and the Energy Shift
Filex's presence was magnetic, his calm energy
immediately cutting through the tension. He greeted Pasco with a cool nod, then turned his full attention to Debbie.
"Everything okay here?" he asked, his voice steady. Debbie hesitated, her emotions warring within her. She nodded, but Filex wasn't convinced. He glanced at Pasco, his supernatural ability kicking in as their eyes briefly met.
What Filex saw surprised him—a mix of guilt, longing, and confusion radiated from Pasco. Filex's jaw tightened.
"Debbie, I think Lena's looking for you," Filex said gently. Debbie gave Pasco one last look, her voice cold. "Enjoy your project." Then, she turned and walked away, Filex following close behind.
>Debbie's Circle As Debbie left the gallery, she found Lena waiting outside with Theo and Maya.
• Lena: Ever the bold psychologist, Lena immediately noticed Debbie's expression. "Let me guess—he showed up looking all polished and said nothing meaningful."
• Theo: Filex's sarcastic but kind-hearted friend chimed in. "Do I need to go in there and have a chat with him? I've been told I have a way with words."
• Maya: The intuitive healer placed a hand on Debbie's shoulder. "You don't owe him an explanation, Debbie.
Whatever you feel, it's yours to process—not his to
justify." Their support helped Debbie feel grounded, but the encounter left her shaken.
Niran's Perspective
Back inside the gallery, Niran approached Pasco. "That was her, wasn't it?"
Pasco nodded, his expression distant.
"She looks… different. Stronger," Niran observed, sipping his drink.
"She is," Pasco replied quietly.
Niran leaned in, his voice low. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up here without thinking this through. What are you trying to do? Fix something you broke, or just satisfy your guilt?"
Pasco didn't answer, but the question lingered in his mind long after Niran walked away.
Later That Night: Filex's Revelation
As Debbie sat in her small apartment later that evening, she replayed the confrontation in her mind. Filex sat across from her, watching her carefully.
"You're stronger than you think," he said finally.
Debbie looked at him, her eyes tired. "I don't feel strong. I feel… lost."
Filex leaned forward, his gaze steady. "You're not lost. You're searching, and that takes courage. But you need to decide if he's a part of the life you want or just a shadow of the life you had." His words struck a chord, but before Debbie could respond, Filex added something that sent chills down her spine. "When I looked at him, I saw something. He's still tied to you, but not in the way you think. There's more to this story, Debbie, and it's going to come to light soon."