01
The city's noise was already quieting down; the cars slowed their pace, and the pedestrians no longer hurried anywhere. The view of the city from the balcony was beautiful. I felt someone wrap their arms around my waist from behind and place a gentle kiss on my neck. I caught the familiar scent he always wore. It meant calm and safety. The wind softly embraced us, quietly signaling the approaching storm. His embrace was, as always, gentle and cautious, yet uplifting and comforting. In the distance, the laughter of my childhood self could be heard as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. Lightning flashed in the distance, and the wind picked up.
I turned to face him. The streetlights only revealed the outline of his face; his curly hair was tousled, but still attractive. His features were sharp as a knife, but when his lips curved into a smile, his face softened, eyes shone with the same green as spring leaves.
"The storm is coming soon. Shouldn't we go inside?"I asked. He looked into my eyes with his green gaze and just smiled. In the background, the thunder grew louder, and in the next moment, the rain began pouring down, thunder rumbling closer. I turned away for a moment to see how near the storm was, and when I turned back, my beautiful green-eyed stranger was gone.
My heart was pounding, and sweat coated my neck. It was only a dream. The curtain softly waved in the gentle breeze, barely covering the balcony door's light. I headed to the kitchen and tried to calm my still-racing heart with a glass of water.
***
The hotel lobby was elegant and modern: marble floors, warm lights, and a faint scent of vanilla mixed in the air. To the right of the reception, at the end of the corridor, stood a glass-walled fitness room — from there, soft, pulsing music was faintly audible.
I work at a technology company where we handle data management and business automation — basically, we make corporate systems "smarter." I'm in business development, so I often attend conferences and meetings. Sometimes I feel like I'm always on the move, but I enjoy it: new places, new people, new opportunities.
The conference room was elegant, with round tables, a projector, and softly shimmering lights. The speakers alternated, the audience listened, some taking notes. There were interactive questions, too, but despite the interesting discussion, I struggled to fully focus.
Something nagged at me — the dream, the green eyes, the feeling they left behind.
At the end of the afternoon, the participants were escorted to the hotel lounge for a casual dinner and networking event. I stepped inside and looked around the dimly lit room, glowing with warm colors. Soft music played, waiters circulated with drinks, people chatted in small groups.
The lobby split into two: the lounge on the right, a corridor to the left leading to the elevator and stairs.
I was about to head to the lounge when I spotted someone down the opposite hallway. The staircase rose between us, as if intentionally designed to keep us from crossing paths immediately.
He looked up at the same moment.
He was coming down the stairs, as if by chance, but when he stopped and looked at me, it no longer felt accidental.
Green eyes. The exact same shade. The same gaze.
I froze. But before I could look any longer, someone behind me spoke.
"Hi, you're Violet, right? You were at the roundtable last time, weren't you? I'm David, from LogiCore."
"Yes, I was there. Nice to see you again!" I answered automatically, still trying to gather my thoughts.
"That discussion about data security was really interesting... so, which market are you expanding into now?"
As I replied, I glanced back at the corridor — but the green-eyed man was gone. As if he had never been there.
The evening went pleasantly. There were brief, casual conversations, some interesting contacts, but my thoughts kept returning to that look.
After dinner and talks, only a few people remained in the lounge. I said goodbye to the hosts and headed for the stairs because I found the elevator too crowded.
Outside the hotel door, I paused for a moment. The air was fresh, slightly humid but pleasant. I took a deep breath, letting the day's bustle settle inside me.
Then I heard the door quietly close behind me.
Someone was following.
I turned, and when I looked at the unknown silhouette, I met those green eyes again. The same man from the conference hallway, now much closer. His eyes showed no surprise, only a strange recognition.
He stopped first. With a half-smile, he looked at me.
"Looks like we're leaving at the same time."
"Seems so" I said, trying not to stare too much. But it was hard not to notice his features, which felt all too familiar.
For a moment, we just stood there, then he asked:
"Are you heading home, or taking a little walk to close out the day?"
I looked at him. The streetlights softly gleamed in his hair, his face calm, but as if he was searching for something in me.
"Yes, I'm going home, just enjoying some fresh air and quiet."
"Then... may I join you?" he asked, his voice neither intrusive nor pushy. Simply honest.
I nodded, and we started walking side by side.
