The Unexpected Turn
"Huh? Is that you, Jay?"
That voice—it reached my ears like a soft melody, and my body froze in place. My heart skipped a beat, the world around me suddenly slowing down. I couldn't believe it. Slowly, I turned around, half expecting to see nothing but air.
There she was.
A girl stood before me, her golden-brown hair shimmering under the sunlight. The breeze played with her hair, making it sway gently like a river of light cascading down a mountain. It framed her face perfectly, drawing attention to her bright, familiar eyes. She was slim, graceful, and yet there was something about her that made her look so much younger than her age.
"…Oh! It really is you, Jay!!" she said, a smile blooming on her face as she walked toward me, each step light and effortless.
"…What?" My mind was still trying to process the fact that she was standing right in front of me. My thoughts jumbled, as I couldn't quite make sense of the moment.
"Huh? What's with that reaction? Don't tell me you've forgotten about me?" Her cheerful expression faltered just slightly, the hint of concern creeping into her eyes as she tilted her head, her voice softening.
"…Salina?" I finally managed to say her name, the words feeling strange yet familiar on my tongue. She hadn't changed much, but she was somehow even more beautiful than before. Her presence was so much more than I remembered.
"Correct!" she said with a laugh, easing up immediately. "Gosh, you were staring at me like you'd never seen me before."
I blinked, trying to make sense of the situation. It had been so long—way too long—and yet here she was, standing in front of me as if no time had passed at all.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around this unexpected reunion.
"Why are you so surprised? I'm just shopping with my friend Tanvi," she said, casually gesturing to a shop a few feet away.
"No, I mean… what are you doing in this city?" I asked, still confused. "Don't you go to an art college in another city?"
"Oh, that," she said nonchalantly, clasping her hands behind her back, "I got transferred here for some reasons."
"I see…" I muttered, feeling a surprising weight lift off my chest. A strange sense of relief washed over me.
"It's been a really long time, huh?" she said, her voice turning soft, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips. "The last time we saw each other was at our junior college send-off day."
"Yeah…" I said quietly, the memory of that day bringing a lump to my throat. It felt like it happened in another lifetime.
"How have you been?" she asked, her voice gentle as her eyes searched my face for an answer.
"Uh… I guess I'm doing okay," I said awkwardly, shifting my weight from foot to foot.
She leaned in slightly, her eyes still on me as she studied my face with a quiet intensity.
"I can tell by your face," she said with a small, knowing smile.
"…You too, Salina," I said quickly, not wanting to linger too long on her gaze. "I saw your singing video on social media the other day."
"Yup!" she said, blushing just a little. "I'm going to start anchoring a singing show soon. You better watch it."
"I will. I swear," I said, my enthusiasm coming through more than I intended.
"Hey, you don't have to say it so seriously," she laughed lightly. "You're in college now, right? Must be a good one."
"Well… the best one I could get into with my grades," I said, not wanting to boast about my college.
"That still means it's a tough one to get into," she smiled, her voice laced with warmth. "You were always so smart. You saved me from failing so many times."
"That's because you worked hard," I said. "I just helped a little."
"It's those things about you," she said, her fingers playing with a strand of her hair, her eyes soft. "I always thought those things about you were nice."
"Huh?" I blinked, my heart missing a beat.
"I always thought you were kind," she said, her voice growing quieter, her cheeks turning a soft pink. "That's why… I liked you."
My heart skipped, then raced to make up for it. I didn't know how to respond, and my words felt stuck in my throat.
"I—I should go," I said, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by everything. I needed to leave before my mind completely spun out of control.
She reached out, grabbing my sleeve lightly.
"Hey, wait. Why are you trying to end this so fast?" she asked, a hint of frustration creeping into her tone. "Is it bad to talk to me? Or… do you have a girlfriend?"
I felt my stomach drop at the question. My mind scrambled, and I could barely form words.
"…I don't." I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh? You don't?" she said, her tone turning thoughtful. "Hmm…?"
"I don't. It's just… I'm in a bit of a troublesome situation," I admitted, my words fumbling over themselves.
"Then say it," she said, a bit more insistently now, her eyes locked onto mine, waiting for me to speak.
"Umm…" I hesitated. I didn't know if I could tell her everything—not the truth, not about how I'd loved her all these years. I couldn't.
I took a deep breath. "The thing is…" I started, stalling as I tried to figure out what to say.
"Hurry up," she said, her voice firm.
"Yes, ma'am…" I mumbled, feeling helpless.
I tried to explain my situation, leaving out the most important part—the part where I'd been in love with her for over twelve years.
"That's why you're trying to pick up girls?" she said, her eyebrow raised in disbelief. "Boys are stupid, even at good colleges."
I chuckled softly at her remark. "Yeah… I guess."
Then, out of nowhere, her face lit up, as if an idea had just struck her.
"That's perfect!" she said, clapping her hands in excitement.
"…What is?"
"The most beautiful girl in the city is standing right in front of you," she said proudly, opening her arms as if she were presenting herself.
"…I don't understand."
"I'm saying," she said, grinning mischievously, "you should try flirting with me."
"…What?"
"What about your friend?" I asked, my mind racing.
"I'll explain to her," she said confidently.
"…How?"
"Leave it to me," she winked.
!