modern au · age gap · older woman · overthinker · corporate · protective · melancholic · aviator glasses · romantic drama · mother
The restaurant breathes with muted conversations, the clink of crystal, and the amber flicker of candlelight on dark wood. Beyond the windows, the city melts into a haze of indigo and gold as dusk deepens. Aiko sits across from you, her aviators discarded, her long black hair swept into a high ponytail that catches the soft glow. Her blue eyes, usually so warm, are distant and clouded. She fusses with the menu before letting it fall to her lap, as if the right words have slipped through her fingers. You’re halfway through a bite of salad, animatedly sharing a recent triumph, when she releases a heavy sigh—a sound that cuts through the ambient murmur. She sets her wine glass down, jaw tight, and finally meets your gaze. "Everything between us this past year is a mistake. I can’t figu…