The dim glow of Althea's laptop screen was the only light in the otherwise silent office. Althea rubbed her eyes; she glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall. It was 9:00 PM. She had been so wrapped up in her work that time had slipped by without her noticing.
"Finally, another late night," she muttered to herself, twisting her neck and stretching her arms, then picked her phone absentmindedly and began scrolling through her social media feed. A few photos of colleagues and old friends popped up—nothing particularly interesting—until she saw it: a post from one of her college classmates.
It was a wedding photo. The kind where the couple smiles, surrounded by a white dress and flowers, the kind that seemed to make it all look so… perfect.
Althea paused. The girl in the photo, her classmate whom she barely remembered, had always been one of those people who thrived in social settings. Engaged to her college sweetheart, now married, the picture screamed "perfect life," the kind Althea had no interest in.
"Another pawn gone," Althea thought to herself. It wasn't jealousy, exactly. More like a mixture of skepticism and mild detachment. Althea had seen too many people fall into the same predictable pattern: meet someone, get married, settle down, and before they knew it, they were just in another loop of life. She'd always been more of an observer, watching others run toward their happiness, while she stayed firmly behind the scenes, making sure her own life stayed in check.
Althea scrolled past the wedding photo. She wasn't sure what bothered her more—the photo itself or how it triggered a thought that she might one day be in the same position. Not in the same wedding dress, certainly, but the same loop that everyone seemed to follow without questioning.
She sighed again, "Enough of that," closing her laptop with a soft click. Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes for a moment, hoping for some peace before she had to face another busy day tomorrow.
The only thing on her mind right now was getting through another night of work—and somehow, managing to do it all over again tomorrow.
Next Morning
Althea woke up as sunlight streamed through her curtains. She fumbled for her phone on the nightstand and squinted at the screen. Her lips curled into a small smile as she dropped the phone back onto the pillow beside her. It's the weekend, she thought, sinking deeper into the warmth of her comforter. The thought of sleeping in a bit longer felt like a luxury she couldn't pass up.
Just as she sank back into her pillow, a notification popped up on her phone. Althea groaned softly but sat up. "What again..." she mumbled under her breath.
"Dad coming home!!" the reminder in her phone went off.
As the comforting aroma of her fresh made coffee filled the room, Althea decided staying awake wasn't so bad after all. Althea leaned back against the pillows, taking slow sips of her coffee. Lost in thoughts, Althea's eyes lit up, and a broad smile spread across her face. Dad's coming... her eyes lit with excitement. Althea felt a wave of happiness. Her father was strict with others, but never with her. To him, she was his little princess, and his rare visits always filled the house with warmth.
An hour later, Althea came out from her room, refreshed from her shower and dressed in her soft pastel blouse and a flowy skirt. Her blonde hair fell loosely over her shoulders as she walked down the staircase.
"He's here!" Althea exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Her father's presence filled the space with authority yet warmth, a quality Althea always admired. Without a second thought, she ran downstairs, her footsteps echoing in the hall.
"Dad!" she called as she threw her arms around him.
Her father chuckled, a rare smile softening his usually stern face. He wrapped her in a firm embrace. "One year? Seriously, Dad?" Althea sulked, looking up at him.
He patted her head; his eyes filled with affection. "Such a young lady you've become in just a year, Althea," he said, his voice gentle.
Althea smiled, her heart full, but her happiness dimmed slightly as she noticed movement on the staircase. Her mother.
Althea's smile faltered. Though they lived under the same roof, the bond she longed for with her mother had always felt out of reach.
"Darling," her mother greeted as she approached, leaning in to hug her father. "Welcome home." she said, her tone soft but distant. Althea stepped back, watching the exchange in silence. The longing in her chest grew heavier, but she hid it behind a small smile.
Her father noticed her change in expression and gave her a reassuring smile. "Everything okay, Althea?" She nodded softly, trying to mask the ache in her heart. "Yeah. Just happy you're here."
Her mother glanced at her, offering a soft smile. "Come on you both. Let's start the day with a meal together." she suggested, her voice still carrying that practiced warmth.
Althea took a deep breath, joining the table with her family. As they began their meal, she stole a glance at her mother, silently yearning for the closeness she saw in others but never quite feeling herself. Watching her mother reminds Althea of something that had lingered in her heart for years. She had never truly known what it felt like to have a mother's love.
Maybe one day, she thought, things will be different. Until then, I should cherish these moments.
"How's work going?" her thoughts were cut off by her father. "Not bad, Dad. I do expect a--"
"What should we even expect. Every day she comes home late at night. Who know what she's been..." Her mother said, slowly pushing the food around her plate with her fork, her voice sharp and mocking. Althea held back a swallow and looked at her plate of food. "What do you mean late night?" her dad took a glance at them.
She knew she couldn't lie about working late—what would be the point? Her father would see right through it. Her job didn't even require late hours; there were no deadlines, no overtime, no excuse to cling to. But the lie was never the important part. It wasn't about convincing her father—it was about delaying the inevitable.
She didn't want to go home. That was the truth, plain and unpretty. She didn't want to sit across from a woman who always found a way to twist silence into judgment, who could make a casual glance feel like an accusation. Every conversation felt like walking into a trap—words turned inside out, meanings redefined, all while her mother stirred food on her plate like it personally offended her. She was staying late because it was easier to let the night swallow her time than to let her care too much, from hoping, from hurting all over again.
Silence filled the room. She couldn't eat anymore. "Looks like I'll have to survive the day on coffee today too" Althea thought to herself before standing up from the chair with a gentle yet almost painful smile towards her father and leaving the room.
The lock of her bedroom clicked as she closed the door. Exhausting... Althea sighed. She sat down on her bed and picked up her phone. Her eyes stared at the screen, but she wasn't really looking at anything.
"Maybe a walk will clear my mind," she thought, feeling a little lost in her own head. Her brain felt like a foggy mess.
Without another second of hesitation, she jumped up, grabbed a book, put on her shoes and walked out the door. The park wasn't just a park—it was her escape, her healing place.
Her steps slow, like her thoughts trying to catch up. The world didn't feel so loud here. A bird flew overhead, kids laughed in the distance, and the sky, painted with the soft colors of early morning, looked almost kind. She walked without a destination, letting her mind breathe.
And just for a moment, everything felt a little bit okay.
Then her eyes fell on him.
Near the open field, a boy—maybe around her age or older—stood surrounded by a group of small kids. He was showing them how to kick a ball properly, crouching down to their level, his smile full of encouragement. When one of the younger ones missed the ball entirely and looked ready to cry, he smiled, ruffled the boy's hair, and said, "That was a good try, kiddo. Wanna go again?"
There was something calming about him, like he belonged there. Like he had figured out something she hadn't yet. She stood quietly for a moment, watching him. Something about the scene made her heart ache in a gentle way. Maybe it was the way he spoke to them with so much kindness, or maybe in the way that he smiled.
She had come to the park to clear her head—but now, something else was happening. Her mind was still, and for the first time all day, her heart felt warm.
And then—he noticed her.
His eyes fell on her. He tilted his head slightly, as if entertained by her watching, a teasing smile at the corners of his lips. With playfulness, he lifted his eyebrows in a silent "caught you staring?" kind of way.
She quickly looked away, pretending to admire the trees—anything but him.
She turned to leave, flustered, hugging her arms close to her chest like a shield. But before she could take more than a few steps, she heard his voice—loud enough to cut through the quiet.
"Hey there miss!"
She stopped. Slowly turned.
He was standing with one foot casually resting on a soccer ball, surrounded by kids who looked up to him like he was some kind of star.
"Caught you staring." he said, with a soft laugh. "Can you play football?" he asked. "I don't—" he cut her off before she could finish her sentence. "No? Figures. But don't worry—I'm not expecting you to be good. We're short one coach, not a pro player."
She blinked. "I'm… not really into football," she said softly, almost shy.
He shrugged like it was no big deal, then grinned wider. "Good. That means you're perfect for keeping these little maniacs in line." He nodded toward the kids, who were bouncing with energy.
A couple of the kids waved at her excitedly.
She couldn't help but notice how his brown hair fell just right on his forehead, soft strands catching the sunlight. His hazel eyes caught hers—eyes so deep and warm, far deeper than her own blue ocean gaze.
"Come on," he said, hands on his hips. "Snack duty's the best job anyway. Less running, more victory."
She hesitated, then smiled—her first real smile all day.
"Alright," she said, stepping closer.
As the kids chased the ball around, she stood beside him, laughing her heart out, feeling the sun warm her skin and the noise of laughter fill the air. Maybe she couldn't play the game—but maybe, just maybe, this was exactly where she needed to be.
End of Chapter One.