I was in the library's third floor stacks, searching for a reference book on pharmaceutical industry regulations, when I heard voices coming from the history section. The area was usually deserted this late in the evening, which made the sound of conversation surprising.
"—can't keep doing this," Nick's voice carried through the quiet space, sounding frustrated and vulnerable in a way I'd never heard before.
"Doing what?" Roni replied, her usual confidence wavering.
"Pretending that what's between us is just strategic performance. Pretending that I don't think about you constantly. Pretending that our fake engagement hasn't become the most real thing in my life."
I froze, knowing I should leave and give them privacy but also genuinely curious about where this conversation was heading.
