Daniel stretched his arms, yawning exaggeratedly. "Finally, I thought Gary was never gonna stop."
I chuckled, shaking my head as we gathered our things. Together, grab our backpacks. The halls were already buzzing with students eager to leave, the sound of footsteps echoing off the walls. We moved quickly, weaving through the crowd until we finally reached the exit.
At the main gate, Daniel slung his bag over his shoulder and grinned.
"Alright, see you tomorrow, Willy. Don't be late again."
"Yeah, yeah. Bye, Daniel," I replied, waving him off before turning down the familiar path toward the bus stop.
The air outside carried that end-of-school heaviness—students scattered in groups, some laughing loudly, others walking silently with their headphones plugged in. The sun hung low, soft orange light spilling over the rooftops. As I walked, I slowed down near an old shop by the roadside. It was a place I'd stopped by countless times, a small comfort between school and home.
I pushed open the squeaky glass door, the familiar smell of snacks and old wooden shelves greeting me. Without thinking much, I headed straight for the back where the refrigerated drinks were lined up. I grabbed my usual—apple juice—and tilted my head slightly, glancing through the glass wall that faced the bus stop.
That's when I froze.
She was there.
Tia stood quietly, her bag slung over one shoulder, waiting for the bus. Her posture was calm, but something about the way she fiddled with her sleeve made her look… almost fragile.
I pulled my gaze back quickly, pretending to study the rows of bottles. My hand reached out, grabbing another juice almost automatically. Before I could overthink it, I walked back to the counter, setting both on the counter.
"Sky?" a warm voice greeted me.
I looked up to see Mr. George, the shop's owner. He was in his late fifties, with kind eyes and a kind personality. He had seen me grow up through these routine visits, and every time we talked, it felt familiar and warm.
"Sky, after many days," he said, scanning the drinks with a small smile.
"Yes, Mr. George. It's been a while," I replied, matching his smile. "How are you?"
"Still standing, still running this place," he chuckled, bagging the juices. "I assume today was the first day of school?"
"Yup, first day back," I said, leaning against the counter casually.
He gave me a curious look, tilting his head slightly. "That's unusual of you, though."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You usually buy one," he said knowingly, his tone playful. "But today you're buying two?"
I blinked, realizing what he meant, then let out a small laugh. "Oh, this? I just… saw someone I know outside. Thought I'd grab one for them."
Mr. George's smile widened as he handed me the bag. "That's good. It's nice to share once in a while."
I nodded, taking the drinks and stepping back out into the golden light of evening. My steps slowed as I approached the bus stop, the sight of her becoming clearer with each step. She stood at the edge of the bench, lost in thought.
I drew in a quiet breath and called out, "Tia."
She turned sharply, eyes widening slightly when she saw me walking toward her.
"Senior Willy… you're here?" she asked, almost as if she couldn't believe it.
I grinned, holding up the drinks. "Did you forget? We came on the same bus this morning."
For a moment, her surprise shifted into realization, and she gave a small, almost embarrassed nod.
I closed the distance, holding out one of the juices. "Here"
Her gaze flicked from the bottle to my face, hesitant at first, but then she took it gently. "Thank you, Senior."
"You don't have to call me that," I said quickly, scratching the back of my head. "Honestly, I don't really like being addressed as 'senior.' If you are comfortable Just call me by my name."
She hesitated again, her lips parting slightly before she finally murmured, "Okay."
We sat down on the bench together, the quiet stretching between us. The road ahead was busy with students, bicycles, and cars, but in that little corner, it felt oddly peaceful. I glanced at the road and told her, "The bus won't be here for at least ten minutes."
She nodded softly, opening the bottle. As she took a small sip, I caught myself chuckling under my breath.
Her head snapped toward me, eyebrows raised. "Willy?"
I waved my hand quickly. "Sorry, sorry. I just remembered something."
"What is it?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, genuinely curious.
"I just remembered what I said in the cafeteria earlier," I admitted, smiling. "'Maybe we'll meet again.' And now, here I am, sitting next to you in less than an hour."
For a heartbeat, she stared at me, then covered her mouth as laughter spilled out. Her laugh was soft but Compelling, and I found myself smiling wider.
"And another thing," I added, pointing at her juice. "You don't even like that flavor, do you?"
She shook her head, her smile growing warmer. "No… I actually like it."
"Really?" I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be skeptical.
"Yes, really," she insisted, giggling again.
We both laughed then, the sound blending with the hum of the street around us. For a moment, it felt like the world had slowed down, leaving just the two of us in that quiet little bubble.
The minutes slipped by until the distant rumble of the bus engine reached us. I stood, and turned towards her with a smile.
"Shall we go?" I asked, my voice softer than before.
She met my eyes, her smile gentle. "Sure."