The elevator ride down felt strangely short.

Sienna stood alone in the quiet space, clutching her phone tightly as she stared at her reflection in the mirrored wall before her.

On the outside, she looked calm enough—composed, steady, even slightly tired after spending hours with her friends.

But inside? Her thoughts were an absolute mess.

She had imagined meeting Zachary again this Saturday, but she had never expected to see him today. Just thinking about it made her heart beat uncontrollably fast.

The elevator doors slid open softly on the ground floor, immediately pulling her from her thoughts.

As she stepped outside, the cool night air brushed her skin gently, calming her slightly.

The city was quieter now compared to earlier in the evening, though the distant sound of traffic still lingered in the air.

Sienna quickly unlocked her phone and scrolled to find Zachary’s number. But before the call could even ring, a black SUV pulled up right in front of her, stopping so smoothly and precisely that it almost felt intentional.

She halted immediately.

For several seconds, Sienna stared at the car suspiciously.

Then, instinctively, she stepped back, preparing to continue calling—

However, before she could move farther away, the tinted window slowly rolled down.

And there he was—

Zachary sat behind the wheel, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel, his posture relaxed and composed as always. The dim glow from the streetlights brushed softly across his sharp features, making him look annoyingly handsome in an effortless way that instantly ruined Sienna’s ability to think straight.

A gentle smile slowly spread across her lips before she could stop it.

And without realizing it, she found herself walking toward the car.

But the closer she got, the faster her heart beat.

Seeing him like this—calmly waiting for her in the late night, dressed neatly, looking far too attractive for her peace of mind—suddenly made everything feel real. This is not a dream anymore.

His gaze settled quietly on her.

Then he gestured toward the passenger seat.

Sienna’s smile widened without permission, and her heart pounded so loudly she was almost certain he could hear it.

"Get in," Zachary said gently.

At the same time, he unlocked the passenger door from inside the car.

Sienna quickly made her way to the vehicle and slid into the passenger seat. Instantly, the faint scent of his fresh cologne, mingling with the cool air inside the car, filled her nose.

She had prepared so many sentences in her head during the elevator ride, from questions and greetings to something smooth and natural.

But in the end, the only thing that came out was "Hi..."

Sienna was too worried that Zachary would see her happy expression, so she tried hard to pretend to be calm.

She saw him glance at her briefly, and although his expression remained calm, there was something softer in his eyes tonight.

"Hi," he replied quietly.

Sienna nodded, then quickly closed the door and fastened her seatbelt, desperately trying to keep her hands steady on her lap over her bag.

It had only been a few days since they last met. Yet sitting this close to him suddenly felt dangerous to her poor heart.

Her heart was beating faster than usual.

At the same time, however, warmth slowly spread inside her chest, a quiet comfort feeling she didn’t know how to explain.

Beside her, Zachary glanced at her briefly before starting the car again. The engine hummed softly as the SUV pulled back onto the road.

For a moment, silence settled between them.

"Where do you want to go?" His question immediately made Sienna turn toward him, confused.

’...What?’ She speaks in her mind.

Their eyes met briefly before Zachary returned his attention to the street ahead.

Sienna blinked.

’Wait... are we going somewhere else before my house?’ she wondered, suddenly overthinking everything.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" She asked.

The moment the question left her mouth, she regretted it. Her fingers clenched tightly on her lap.

Why did she say that?

Now it sounded like she was volunteering to spend more time with him.

Zachary didn’t answer immediately. He kept his eyes on the road, his brows faintly furrowed as though seriously considering something.

Sienna waited patiently, her attention drifted toward him again.

The city lights occasionally passed across his face, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the calm expression he always carried. Even the way he drove looked annoyingly attractive to her.

Then suddenly, Zachary turned his head. Only for a moment.

But it was enough to nearly stop Sienna’s breathing for a second. She immediately looked away, pretending to focus outside the window instead.

Her face was definitely red now.

After a while, he finally spoke, "I know this is late, but I haven’t had dinner yet."

Sienna blinked in surprise as she looked back at him. "You haven’t...?"

He shook his head slightly.

"Hmm. I only ate a few slices of fruit," he admitted. "And drank wine."

’He drank wine and was still able to drive?’ Sienna stared at him in disbelief, then glanced at the street ahead. She instantly felt worried.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Zachary added, "Don’t worry, I only drank a little wine, still within the legal driving limit."

Sienna feels relieved to know that, but when she sees the clock on the dashboard, she realizes the night is getting late.

"So, you want to find a place to dine now?"

"If you don’t mind."

Her gaze shifted outside the window, scanning the streets they passed. Many restaurants had already closed, though a few lights still remained open here and there.

She turned her gaze back to him. "Zach, we can try to find a restaurant near my place," she suggested. "Hopefully, there’s still one open."

"Alright."

His answer was simple, but there was something strangely warm about the way he accepted her suggestion without hesitation.

The silence returned afterward.

Sienna quietly rested her hands together on her lap while occasionally stealing glances at him when she thought he wouldn’t notice.

Unbeknownst to her, Zachary noticed it.

He simply chose not to say anything.