iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

“i’m not playing hard to get,” she huffed ， slightly offended at the truth he just said. though ， he might be right. suddenly ， her eyes lost the courage to look into his own. “so … what is it?”

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“if my deductions are correct,” her eyes watched every features on his face ， trying to distract herself from the soft caresses on her cheek. “you might be looking for an answer.”

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“i’m gonna need a better headline.” arms crossed by her chest ， a rather amusing smirk across her face. “some weirdly obsessed man ， breaking into a detective’s house. what’s he looking for, hm?”

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a sigh that may have sounded more like a scoff left her lips in an instant. something between disappointment and relief. “on what grounds? breaking and entering? sounds lame ， even for you.”

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“ha-ha,” her initial curiosity was replaced ， yet again ， by a dry and sarcastic laugh at the little stunt he’s pulling. though ， it did save her from having her heart jumping out of the ribcage. “any other crime you wanna confess to?” she’s clearly rolling her eyes at him.

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at the touch ， her brows were furrowed ， almost as if such warmth pulled a nerve on the face. maybe if he stared so deeply into her eyes ， he’d be able to figure out how she’s trying not to lean into his touch … “scared of … what?” she asked ， swallowing a lump down her throat.

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funny ， she could say the same thing. perhaps not at their first encounter ， but every single time they meet after that ， she could’ve. she should’ve ， but she didn’t. “why didn’t you?” she did not (could not) move to reach out—as if her feet are glued to the floor.

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“i can’t cash it out anyway,” she shrugged once again ， trying to play it casual as if it’s something that she doesn’t care about ， despite the contrary. “you do realise that i ， technically ， involved myself on your ‘thing’ first ， right? could’ve gotten rid of me right there ， but you didn’t.”

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“i mean,” a few moments of silence ， of her thinking about the hours she had put in over the past few months. “technically i could,” she shrugged ， shaking her head softly. “i can talk my way into a long break. a sabbatical leave kind of long break.”

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“it’s not that easy.” she was quick to point ， like it’s a quick tell of how often she thought about dropping everything she has already. “is it even possible?”

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there’s a lump in her throat ， preventing her from immediately saying anything in return. which in itself is a blessing ， considering how everything rushed into her mind—every thought ， every memory. “don’t… don’t do that again.” she finally spoke again. “don’t leave like that again.”

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she was way too taken aback to pay attention to anything but the words she just heard. not by the fact ， but hearing those words with his voice? “i…” she paused ， not wanting to blurt out something incomprehensible. “i thought you wouldn’t come back.”

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despite the times that passed ， she couldn’t help but feel the slight burn on her cheeks as her eyes darted towards his—back and forth ， unable to settle on just one. “you’re a good liar.” she said ， almost whispering.

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her fingers grabbed his wrist ， tugging on it gently enough to seem like she barely put any effort on removing his palm from her face. “don’t look too close,” she mumbled against his palm. “you might not like it— the soft wrinkles and sun spots ， i mean.”

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her brows furrowed as she watches his movements ， for once hoping that her assumption would be wrong—but of course ， he just had to do 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁. “what are you— hey!” a palm landed on his face ， lightly ， playfully pushing him away as she laughed.

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perhaps that’s the only thing she’d ever truly wants—not money for the sake of hoarding ， but for an escape plan. “pfft,” her hand dragged a wooden chair to the adjacent side of the table ， then sat and leaned back. “ really? ‘lady’? you’re mocking me! i mean—look at me.”

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as how it usually goes ， she’d brush off the thought with a wave of her hand ‪﹠. shakes her head. it’s impossible ， she thought ， with the logistics and everything else that follows. “you come and go as you like.” she shrugged ， head tipped to the side—considering. “okay ， maybe a little.”

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“i would like some sun and real food to eat.” she nodded enthusiastically ， eyes widened as her smile did. almost as if the line of her wanting to mock his idea ‪﹠. her actually dreaming about it is getting blurry. “you? clingy?” a scoff ， totally in disbelief. “yeah … sure.”

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that’s one fantasy she would never admit to have out loud; stupid and unrealistic ， she thought. “yeah?” she’ll entertain the thought with a beaming smile—wanting to appear as if she is merely 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 to be excited. “find one with a nice coastline ， sunny beaches?”

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her eyes caught his for one split second ， and that lead to her avoiding it for obvious reasons; looking elsewhere … stupid ， stubborn smudge on a wall behind him. “your mess was the reason we met. i don’t think my opinions of y— the whole thing will change.”

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“i can protect myself.” spoken in a rather monotone voice ， she didn’t mean to protest. only that she often heard the same thing from different people ， yet her answer will always be the same. “i’m doing just fine. have been doing just fine.”

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“do you really need a new name with me? kinda beats the whole point of a new identity ， anyway.” despite being aware that his offer was out of kindness ， the thought of him leaving—and potentially disappearing again ， made her a bit nauseous. “yeah ， and come back after months? years?”

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‎ @astrafurto.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

“i don’t like ‘greg’ ，doesn’t sound right.” she shook her head ， almost cutting his sentence off abruptly … having unknowingly heard the wrong name ， which she would blame on the lingering headache.

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“humbling experience ， sure…” she gestured at the small bruises and wounds on his face with her finger ‪﹠. shrugs. “do you need a new name ， now? since you’re barely recognisable anyway.” exaggerating once again.

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‎ @astrafurto.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

brows furrowed yet once again ， eyes carefully watching every inch of him that she could see—trying to find something different. unevenly bruised right knuckles ， chipped finger nails on both index fingers and thumbs ， more bruises and abrasions on his cheekbones … “i’d say you had an adventure.”

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‎ @astrafurto.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

maybe she could say the same for the overtime she took just to follow the crumbs of trail he left ， only to find one dead end after another. “right … ‘interesting’.” she’s exaggerating with some air quotes. “still gonna make me guess, huh?”

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‎ @astrafurto.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

worst thing is ， she could see it ， somehow. it’s not the same look that she often saw back then ， but who knows what had happened to him when he was practically missing … “uh—huh,” she nodded ， partially joking. “gonna tell me what happened?”

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‎ @astrafurto.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

“very funny.” she shakes her head as she scoffs ， thinking what he just said was completely ridiculous. “it’s gonna haunt me more than an unsolved mystery.”

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‎ @astrafurto.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

jaws clenched ， avoiding saying more things she couldn’t finish. “fine,” she muttered under a heavy sigh. “worried. that you might be in a ditch somewhere. that our last meeting ever would’ve been just me drunkenly insulting you the whole night. it was stupid.”

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‎ @astrafurto.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

“well ， i wasn’t exactly waiting, i—” her eyes darted towards the food in her hand ， fingernails scraping on the paper box—unable to dodge it this time. instead ， she took a plate ， a set of cutlery ， and put the warmed up box of takeout in front of him.

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“i was hoping for a sign of life ， at least.” she shrugged ， shaking her head. with the sound of the microwave’s timer ， she turned around once more ， taking the food out. “you don’t need to protect me ， i know the risk.”

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oh ， now he sounds persistent. “bigger fish to catch?” an eyebrow was raised. more in curiosity. “your last ‘client’ was sloppy but he got me my promotion too. i could’ve cleared those eyes for you.”

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maybe she’s just trying to keep them grounded. wouldn’t want to take the wrong step if he won’t be there ， she thinks. “i figured you were in hiding or something,” she set the timer on the microwave to heat up the food ‪﹠. turned back to see him. “didn’t think you’d be hiding from me.”

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“yeah ， yeah ， whatever.” despite her bitter tone ， as soon as she closed the fridge and walked to the microwave ， a rather involuntary smile flashed on her face for a second. “at least that isn’t happening in my apartment. i’m not liable for that.”

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she took the small takeout boxes ， ones with the chinese stall across the street stamped on the lid. “i would’ve gotten something fresh to cook if i know you’d be here. i don’t want to be liable for food poisoning.”

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with an annoyed groan ， she got up from the couch ， lazily dragging her feet to the fridge. “leftovers ， something stale ， something old. take your pick.”

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“not sure i want to,” with a low groan ， she turned around ， hands still wrapped around her chest ‪﹠. eyes finally opening up to look at him. “you’re here for free breakfast? is that it?”

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“i don’t remember.” sensing he’s even closer ， she’d sigh rather loudly. though ， her body stayed still—limbs too heavy to be moved. “𝙗𝙤𝙝. i really do not remember anything.”

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she buried herself deeper into the crevices of the couch ， face planted on the fabric. “help yourself to the fridge … or whatever.”

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alright ， that makes sense ， somehow. “get out,” one hand was flailing around to find a couch pillow ， hoping to throw one at him. “you’re not real.”

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the most welcomed—unwelcomed guest. he could’ve just get on that janky elevator and knock instead of looking like a petty thief.

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sure thing. most of their encounters were just coincidences ， then?

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careful there ， sounds like he’s the worried one.

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and sit through a two hours queue? it’s a waste of time.

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