Chapter 5 A Stange Curiosity

That morning, the sun had yet to fully rise when Leo opened his eyes. He hadn't been woken by an alarm, but by a restless mind that couldn't escape the memory of the night before.

Mira's face a stranger he had only met a few hours ago-kept lingering in his thoughts. Her piercing gaze, her cold voice, her indifferent yet brave attitude. It was all like a strange magnet, pulling Leo slowly but surely, stirring up unfamiliar emotions he hadn't felt in years.

Leo sat on the edge of the bed, running both hands across his face. He rarely felt this way, especially toward a woman he'd just met. But this time, it was different. He couldn't forget her.

Anne had never made him feel like this. Anne was too perfect, too orderly, too boring. Mira, on the other hand? Mira was a storm, sudden and destructive shattering the peace he had pretended to maintain all this time with an empty, quiet heart.

Leo chose to stay at his apartment rather than at home with Anne, his legal wife. Now, he stood by the window of his apartment, letting the morning air in, yet his mind was still spinning around one name Mira. The night worker who had unexpectedly sparked his curiosity.

"Who are you really?" Leo whispered.

Meanwhile, in a small apartment on the outskirts of the city, Mira sat at the edge of her bed. She stared at the red mark on her arm, a reminder of Gerald's grip the previous night. The pain had faded, but the disgust and trauma still lingered deep in her chest.

She took a long breath, then walked to the tiny kitchen. A cup of black coffee, no sugar, was quickly prepared. Her face was still puffy, her eyes still tired. She hadn't slept at all, unable to settle her thoughts or find peace.

"Why did he interfere last night?" she muttered while stirring her coffee.

Of course, she meant Leo the stranger who had come out of nowhere and saved her. But what bothered her wasn't the rescue itself. It was his gaze.

A look that wasn't judgmental, wasn't degrading, and wasn't pitying. There was something different in the way he looked at her. And that's exactly what made Mira uneasy.

Because she knew, a look like that could be dangerous. It could make her heart waver. It could make her forget who she really was. She took a sip of coffee and stared at her reflection in the small kitchen mirror.

"I don't need another man. Not anymore. I can take care of myself. He's just like the others. I'm just a night worker don't think beyond that. He's just the same," she whispered to herself.

That day, Leo returned to the office earlier than usual. But not because he wanted to work harder. Quite the opposite he was anxious.

He couldn't focus on thinking, much less on working. He only wanted to escape from the curiosity that had haunted him since the night before. Yet, the more he tried to forget, the clearer Mira's image became in his mind.

He turned on his computer, trying to read financial reports from the team, but the words on the screen danced around and made no sense.

Eventually, he opened a search engine and typed one word. Mira. But of course, the search returned nothing useful. Mira was too common a name. No photo, no clear information. Just thousands of women with the same name.

Leo stroked his chin, thinking. "If she frequents that club, maybe I'll find her again," he muttered.

His mind was made up. He would return that night not to party, not to drink, but for one thing, to see Mira again.

That evening, the nightclub was loud and vibrant again. Colorful lights flashed, accompanied by thunderous music, but Leo didn't come with his usual mood.

He didn't drink. He didn't joke with Rey. He just stood near the entrance, eyes scanning the room full of hope, searching for that one woman.

Rey, noticing his best friend's strange behavior, narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure you're not possessed?" he asked while patting Leo's shoulder. "You've been standing there doing nothing. Don't feel like drinking?"

Leo shook his head. "I'm just looking for someone tonight. No drinks for me."

Rey smirked playfully. "Mira, right? I guessed it correctly, didn't I?"

Leo quickly turned to him. "How did you know?"

Rey chuckled. "The way you've been spacing out all day. Bro, she's hot, yeah but she's not the kind of woman you approach easily. Besides, if she works in a place like this, her life's probably messy. She's just here for the fun and for the money."

Leo didn't respond. But in his heart, he knew Rey had a point. That was exactly why he was more intrigued. Because Mira wasn't like other women.

Mira had scars. And Leo wanted to know what had made her build such thick walls around herself.

After nearly an hour of waiting, Leo finally saw her. Mira. She walked in wearing a simple black dress, her hair cascading freely. Her gaze was still sharp, but her face looked tired.

Leo remained silent, watching her entrance, while Rey raised his eyebrows and shook his head before sitting back down, observing silently.

Leo quickly moved through the crowd to catch up to her, then softly said, "Mira."

Mira turned quickly, clearly surprised. "You?"

Leo nodded. "We meet again."

Mira crossed her arms. "What are you doing here? Following me?"

Leo shook his head. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay. How are you, Mira?"

"I told you, I don't need your attention," Mira replied coldly. "If you're here to play hero again, go find another woman and leave me alone!"

Leo held back, trying to stay calm. "I'm not trying to be a hero. I just want to know more about you, Mira."

Mira sighed, then looked at him with tired eyes. "Why? What's so interesting about me that you're this curious, Leo?"

Leo fell silent for a moment. He didn't know the answer himself, but he knew one thing he had never met a woman like Mira.

"Because you're different," he said honestly, offering a small smile.

Mira smiled bitterly. "Different doesn't always mean good. And I'm not the kind of woman you think is good."

"That's enough to make me want to get to know you better," Leo replied softly.

Mira looked at him for a long moment, then turned away. "You wouldn't last if you knew who I really am. You already know, I'm a woman who sells herself here."

Leo gave a faint smile. "Maybe. But I'm willing to take the risk to get to know you."

Mira didn't answer. She simply walked away, leaving Leo standing there with a pounding heart. And in that moment, Leo realized it wasn't just curiosity anymore.

He was drawn to her. Perhaps too deeply. And perhaps too quickly. But he could no longer lie to his own heart.