Train stations are often the mode of transportation for commuters. Very efficient when you want to beat the traffic. Sometimes crowded, sometimes less. An everyday commute is a game for most. For some, those signify as a symbol of their youth, a simple reunion, or a place where memories flow towards nostalgia. For one, it is simply just an everyday occurrence. Might be asking who that might be?
One of them is Brian, a young man wanting to obtain a good life. Well, his mind says otherwise. Slow but still moves around the house, legs crossed like there is no tomorrow, and God knows what he is thinking in that sleazy brain of his.
"I think I should start cooking..." Brian yawns excessively, "Eat first, then market."
The knife slings from the storage, and the sound of the experienced cook's skills graces elegance. As the son of a very famous chef in the world, there is no doubt that the genes turned on once cooking is on the agenda. While his father travels around the world, he stays indoors with no one. After his father left for international cooking duties, independence was included in his traits, and his cooking skills are on par with his father's. As for his mother, she died while giving birth to him. His memories were photos of her without his presence beside her. Life moves forward for him like how he prepares the dish.
The stove roars as he lays the wok to start reheating the food: Fried Rice with Egg. He eats away the food. Finished in 5 minutes. He dresses up and off he goes to Amandine Station. The sound of the leaves rustling and falling turns into an alarm clock that rings more than twice.
"Ah! No, I almost woke up late!" She beats the doomsday time, in other words, the morning rush hour.
That's Brittany– a young woman chasing her dreams in a heartbeat. Born and raised on the outskirts, she has self learned almost everything except for cooking. The boiling kettle started to whistle, she turned off the stove, and poured the water into the cup noodles, seafood flavor— her favorite.
"Ouch!" A shout echoed through the kitchen while pouring hot water. While waiting for the noodles, she hurriedly showers. Didn't bother using soap, went straight to shampooing her hair. It became too frizzy for her own good. Good thing it was fixed in no time. All dressed up: Black skirt, floral-patterned dress. She opened the cup noodles, and it was ready to be eaten. Took less than 5 minutes to finish.
"Time to go to work! I'm heading off, Mom, Dad", as she says it towards their urns. Both passed away while she was young, and she stayed with her Auntie.
"Bye, Auntie Vi!" as she speeds off towards work.
"Take care, my dear!" Auntie Vivian replies
With earphones on, listening to J-pop, what she does not know is that she is not fully aware of her surroundings. You could compare her to an unaware eagle.
"I gotta hurry or I might miss the train before rush hour", Brittany catches her breath. As she reaches the turnstiles of Amandine Station, then reaching the end of the stairs, her body suddenly bumps into a stranger.
"AAGH! GET OUT OF THE WAY—", she couldn't continue her sentence as she saw who he bumped into.
"Miss, next time don't even try running— wait, Brittany?!", a shocked voice echoed through the station.
"Huh? Who are you— Brian? " Brittany replies in a low-toned voice. "Since when did you pop up to Amandine?"
"You know what, never mind about that. I'm sorry for making a fuss." As Brian leaves, trying to act, nothing happens.
"No, no. You shouldn't be. I should be the one apologizing."
Brian didn't listen, didn't stop walking towards his train.
"What was that about? Anyways, I gotta hurry." Brittany rode and went to work. The sound of the rails was loud as the beating heart of Brittany. Dazed and dumbfounded, her thoughts raced with the beat of her heart.
"You have arrived at Esau Station." She reached her destination, and she is fighting her way out of the crowd; it seems she can't win.
"What the hell is this crowd on the train?! This isn't normal at this hour!"
Brittany struggles to get to the exits. The train announces the closing of doors. As all hope is lost for her, she finally gets out of the crowded train in a rush.
"Phew, that's a relief", she exhaled so hard that even her breath was visible to the public. As she went to her exit, what she did not notice was that someone pulled her out of the train. Her hands could either be numb, or her thoughts were still thinking of earlier.
"You really have no sense of your surroundings, no? Tsk!"
"Huh.. What did you say you punk—", as she turned, her eyes widened as if she saw something she couldn't imagine.
"So, that's how you're gonna talk to your friend after he saved you?" Brian leaned forward towards her staggered face. "I mean, this is a first seeing from you—"
"SHUT UP! I don't mean to, okay?"
"That's alright. See ya~," as he leaves nonchalantly, like nothing happened.
"WAIT!" Brittany hurriedly goes towards Brian's direction.
Her words rumbled through the gangster-looking guy's ears. As if she were trying to convince herself of something.
"I'm really sorry. Maybe I can make up for what happened? Here, how about a coupon to a restaurant or cash? DO YOU EVEN ACCEPT CASH? Or what about a tour of where I work—"
"Brittany, I said it's fine." He sighs heavily, "I know your head is somewhere around the universe. Why don't we drop what happened today? Okay—"
"No! I'll feel indebted if I let this go. How about I treat you sometime?"
Time stood still for her when she said it. As if she… remembers… something… where it is even deeper than the Mariana Trench. Brian didn't hesitate in his answer.
"You still have my social media, right? Hit me up if you found a spot. I really gotta go."
Brian blends into the crowd and goes to his shenanigans. As for why he agreed, well, it's just a normal day for him. He just really does not care about the world surrounding him, but himself, or maybe including a certain person deep inside his heart.
"What did I just say?! AAAAHHHH, nonononono!" head shaken and full of anxiety, that's Brittany's reaction all the way to work. She could not even do her usual morning greetings to her co-workers. Ding says the elevator; well, as for her brain, it went dinging like the bell in a boxing ring— defeat in the situation.
"That's unusual? She just passed by us without her greetings."
That was Jody, a High school friend of Brittany, who works with her.
"Jody, think about it, this is a rare case of a Brittany crashout. Haven't seen this since our last boss gave her so much paperwork."
A melancholic voice graced Jody's ears— that was Dory.
"Dory, I think we know where we'll head out during dinner".
"Sounds like a plan."
Meanwhile, on the anxious woman's desk, she scrambles for her things. All the commotion made a scene, and everyone just stared at her like it was a free concert from Laufey.
"ARRGHHH—" she screamed and noticed she was in the spotlight. "Oh, I am very sorry, everyone! You may go back to your desk or whatever you're doing, hehe…"
Everyone left— after 10 seconds, that is.
"Phew, that was a close one," she sighs under her breath
And now, the 2 best friends came in like there is no tomorrow to her desk, stared at each other, and gave a nod. The 3 knew that that was a signal for their "ultra bestie secret meeting". As daylight passed, all she could think about was why she said it, those exact words to him, "...How about I treat you to dinner sometime?"
"I know I'm gonna talk to the three about me, but if anything, I hope those feelings do not grow back to how they once grew."
What was with them to begin with? How did fate tangle their strings into the world? As their worlds collide once more, the sun rises and burns the first field of their journey.