Mina noticed it first in the way Aaron looked at her.
Not with his usual heat — that fierce, possessive fire that always crackled beneath his gaze — but something quieter. Something almost… fragile. He watched her like every breath she took mattered. And that alone was enough to make her uneasy.
She was folding Ellie's laundry in the living room when Aaron appeared in the doorway, just standing there like he forgot how to enter his own house.
Mina looked up. "You're staring again."
He blinked — almost caught. "I wasn't."
"You were." She raised a brow. "You do that a lot lately."
Aaron walked in slowly, hands in his pockets, shoulders too tense. He lowered himself onto the couch beside her, but didn't touch her — which was the second strange thing. He always touched her. A hand on her waist, a kiss to her hair, a palm at her lower back — Aaron without touch was like fire without warmth.
"You're quiet," she said.
He nodded once — and didn't answer.
Mina paused, sock half-folded in her hand. "…Aaron, are you hiding something?"
His posture froze.
Ah.
She set Ellie's tiny shirt aside and turned to face him fully. "You've been moving differently. Watching me like you're trying to memorise me. You keep reaching for something in your pocket then stopping." Her voice softened, a mix of suspicion and concern. "What's wrong?"
Aaron looked at her — really looked. And the worst part was, he didn't look defensive. He looked guilty… and scared.
Scared.
Of her.
Mina's breath caught. "Aaron…?"
He swallowed, the smallest crack in his composure. "Nothing's wrong."
She stared. "You're lying."
He didn't deny it.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The house was quiet except for Ellie babbling softly to her stuffed toy on the carpet.
Finally, Aaron exhaled slowly and reached out — not the usual confident touch, but hesitant, almost shy. His fingers brushed hers, barely there. "Mina…" His voice was low, rough around the edges. "Just… give me a little more time."
Her heartbeat stumbled.
Time? For what?
Mina searched his face — and saw it. The tremor is under control. The fear beneath the confidence.
She nodded slowly. "…Okay."
Aaron let out a breath he didn't know he was holding… and for a fleeting moment, looked like a man on the edge of something sacred.