After the university ended
Luisa walked out of the university gates with a tired breath.
The day felt longer than usual.
Heavier.
Noah's words… his presence… the way he kept following her—
It all stayed in her mind.
Annoying.
Uncomfortable.
Frustrating.
Luisa (thinking):
Why is he like that…?
She tightened her grip on her bag.
Luisa (thinking):
I don't like this… I don't like him…
She stopped for a moment.
Took a deep breath.
And made a decision.
Luisa (thinking):
I won't talk to him again.
No more avoiding, no more answering… I'll just ignore him completely.
That felt right.
At least… something was in her control.
—
She started walking toward the bus stop.
Her steps slower now.
Her mind slowly calming down.
—
And then—
She saw him.
David.
Walking toward her.
His presence was calm… familiar.
Safe.
David stopped when he saw her.
A soft relief appeared on his face.
David: "Luisa… I was looking for you."
Luisa blinked slightly.
Luisa: "Looking… for me?"
David nodded.
David: "Yeah… I went to the library, but you weren't there."
Luisa hesitated for a second.
She didn't tell him about Noah.
Didn't want to.
Luisa: "Oh… I just left early."
David looked at her for a moment.
As if trying to read her.
But then—
He simply nodded.
David: "I see."
A small silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
David: "Are you going home?"
Luisa: "Yeah…"
David: "Me too."
He gave a small smile.
David: "Let's go together."
Luisa nodded lightly.
"Okay…"
—
At the bus stop—
The bus arrived after a few minutes.
This time—
It wasn't crowded.
They both got in.
And surprisingly—
There was an empty seat.
Together.
David looked at her.
Then gestured slightly.
David: "Sit."
Luisa sat near the window.
David sat beside her.
Close.
But still respectful.
—
The bus started moving.
The city passed by slowly outside the glass.
The light of the evening sun fell softly inside—
Touching Luisa's face again.
Her hair moved slightly.
David noticed.
Like always.
But this time—
He didn't move.
He just watched quietly.
There was something peaceful about this moment.
Something he didn't want to disturb.
—
The bus turned suddenly.
Luisa shifted slightly with the movement—
Her shoulder brushing lightly against his.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
David felt it.
That small contact.
Soft.
Warm.
His heartbeat changed.
Just a little.
But Luisa—
Barely reacted.
She just adjusted her position slightly.
Looking outside again.
Lost.
Distant.
—
David glanced at her.
David: "Are you feeling better now?"
Luisa nodded.
Luisa: "Yeah… a little."
David: "That's good."
A pause.
David (softly):
"If anything is bothering you… you can tell me."
Luisa looked at him for a second.
There was sincerity in his eyes.
Care.
Real care.
But—
She wasn't ready.
Luisa: "There's nothing like that."
A small lie.
David didn't push.
He just nodded.
David: "Okay…"
—
The bus slowed down.
Her stop.
Luisa stood up.
David stood too.
David: "I'll walk you."
Luisa: "It's okay—"
David: "Just till the street."
He said it gently.
Not forcing.
Luisa nodded.
"…Okay."
—
They walked together quietly.
The evening air was cool.
Calm.
David: "You should eat properly."
Luisa looked at him.
A little surprised.
David: "You look tired."
Luisa gave a small, faint smile.
Luisa: "I will."
—
They reached her house.
Luisa: "Okay… I'll go now."
David nodded.
David: "Take care."
Luisa: "You too."
She turned—
And walked inside.
David stood there for a moment.
Watching the door close.
Then slowly—
He left.
—
Inside—
Her landlady was standing in the hallway.
Looking at her.
With curiosity.
Landlady: "Luisa…"
Luisa: "Yes?"
Landlady: "Who was that boy… who came last night?"
Luisa froze for a second.
Then composed herself.
Luisa: "He's just a friend."
Landlady raised her brows slightly.
Landlady: "Hmm… he looked very caring."
Luisa forced a small smile.
Luisa: "He's just a friend."
She didn't wait for more questions.
And went to her room.
—
She placed her bag down.
Sat on the bed.
And let out a tired sigh.
—
Her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Mom calling…
Luisa hesitated.
Then picked up.
Luisa: "Hello, mom…"
Mother: "How are you, honey?"
Luisa: "I'm fine…"
Mother: "I talked to your landlady today…"
Luisa's heart skipped slightly.
Mother: "She said a boy came to meet you?"
Luisa closed her eyes briefly.
Luisa: "He's just a friend, mom."
Mother: "Only friend?"
Luisa: "Yes."
Her voice was calm.
But firm.
Mother: "Hmm… okay then. focus on your studies dear."
Luisa: "I will."
Mother: "Take care of yourself."
Luisa: "You too…"
The call ended.
—
Luisa stared at her phone.
Then placed it aside.
Luisa (thinking):
Everyone keeps asking the same thing…
She lay back on the bed.
Luisa (thinking):
But no one knows what I'm actually feeling…
—
In Aves
The evening was bright.
Warm.
Different from Himmer.
Ben walked down the street.
His hands in his pockets.
His mind still heavy—
But slightly distracted by being back.
—
"Ben?"
A familiar voice.
Ben turned.
And froze for a moment.
Ryan.
His high school friend.
Standing there.
Looking surprised.
Ryan: "It's really you?"
Ben gave a faint smile.
Ben: "Yeah…"
Ryan walked toward him quickly.
Ryan: "Man! After so long—where have you been?"
Ben: "Himmer…"
They both stood there for a moment.
Then Ryan lightly hit his shoulder.
Ryan: "You disappeared."
Ben: "Yeah… life happened."
Ryan studied his face.
Ryan: "You don't look okay."
Ben chuckled slightly.
Ben: "Do I look that bad?"
Ryan: "Worse."
A small silence.
Ryan: "Still with Charlotte?"
That question—
Hit.
Ben's expression changed slightly.
Ben: "…No."
Ryan frowned.
Ryan: "What? You guys were… serious."
Ben looked away.
Ben: "We broke up."
Ryan: "Damn…"
A pause.
Ryan: "You okay?"
Ben forced a small smile.
Ben: "Yeah… I'll be fine."
Ryan looked him for a moment but didn't say anything
Ryan: "Come on… let's sit somewhere."
Ben hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…Okay."
—
And as they walked—
Ben didn't notice—
The past he was walking back into…
Was not as simple as he thought.