The Phnom Penh skyline shimmered in the distance as Debbie sat beside Filex on the rooftop of a cozy café. The evening air was warm but carried a faint breeze, and the city lights seemed to flicker in rhythm with the growing tension between them.
"You've been quiet tonight," Filex said, his deep, soothing voice breaking the silence.
Debbie looked at him, her heart fluttering at the way the dim light accentuated his sharp jawline and intense gaze.
"Just… a lot on my mind, I guess."
Filex tilted his head, his lips curving into a teasing smile.
"You know, for someone with so much on their mind, you sure have a way of making me feel like I'm the only one here."
She chuckled, her cheeks warming. "Maybe you're
imagining things."
"Am I?" Filex leaned closer, his gaze locking onto hers.
"Because I can feel it, Debbie. The way you look at me, the way your guard drops just a little when we're alone. You're not as distant as you pretend to be."
Her breath hitched, and she looked away, flustered. "You're too good at reading people."
"That's my gift, remember?" he said, his tone playful yet laced with seriousness. "But with you, it's different. I don't just see your emotions, Debbie. I feel them. And I know you're scared."
"Scared of what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of letting someone in again."
The vulnerability in his words hit her like a wave, and for a moment, she couldn't find a reply. Instead, she focused on the way his fingers brushed against hers, the heat of his touch sending sparks through her.
"I don't know if I'm ready," she admitted finally.
Filex leaned back slightly, giving her space but never breaking eye contact. "That's okay. I'm not asking you to be ready right now. I'm asking you to let me show you that you don't have to go through this alone."
Debbie bit her lip, her heart racing as she met his gaze again. "And if I fall for you?"
His smile deepened, this time with a hint of mischief. "Then I guess I'll have to catch you, won't I?"
Her laughter bubbled out, light and genuine, and Filex couldn't help but smile in return. The moment felt electric, charged with possibilities, as if the world had paused just for them.
A Turning Point
The following evening, Debbie found herself at Filex's apartment, helping him prepare for an art showcase he was organizing for local artists.
"I didn't know you could cook," Debbie teased as she watched him chop vegetables with surprising skill. Filex glanced at her over his shoulder, a cocky grin spreading across his face. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Debbie."
"Like what?" she challenged, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter.
He paused, the knife stilling in his hand, and turned to face her fully. "Like how much I've wanted to kiss you since the first moment we met."
Her breath caught, and she blinked, caught off guard by his boldness. "You're not serious."
"Try me."
Before she could respond, Filex closed the distance between them, his hands bracketing her against the counter. His eyes searched hers, giving her the chance to pull away—but she didn't.
Instead, she tilted her head up slightly, her voice trembling but steady. "What are you waiting for, then?"
Filex's lips curled into a smirk, and in the next moment, he leaned in, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was slow, deliberate, and filled with an intensity that made Debbie's knees weak.
When they finally broke apart, she was breathless, her cheeks flushed. "You're dangerous, you know that?"
"I like to think of myself as persistent," he replied, his voice low and teasing.
Pasco's Struggle
Across the city, Pasco sat alone in his hotel room, nursing a glass of whiskey. The news of Debbie and Filex's growing closeness had reached him through mutual acquaintances,and it gnawed at him.
"She's moving on," he muttered to himself, his tone bitter. But even as he tried to convince himself that he had no right to feel this way, jealousy burned in his chest. He had taken Debbie's love for granted, assuming she would always be there, waiting for him. Now, the thought of her finding happiness with someone else was unbearable.Pasco pulled out his phone, scrolling through old photos of
them together. Each image was a painful reminder of what he had lost.
"What am I even doing here?" he muttered, setting the phone down and running a hand through his hair.