Train Car Meet Cute

“Is that him?”

“It totally is!”

“You should go say something.”

“Shh, he might hear us.”

But he, Oto Hildebrand, heard it all as he casually lazed in his seat. The girls were close enough to him that even with the cacophony of the train station, their voices carried to his ears.

From the corner of his eye, he could even see them as they ogled him. They withdrew their phones and carefully preened themselves, or at least appeared to be as they adjusted the lenses to snap his photo.

Adjusting his posture, he slyly unbuttoned the coat of his school uniform. The jet-black silk opened to reveal the pristine, white dress shirt beneath. With one hand, he loosened his school’s signature ruby red tie and ran the other hand through his shaggy black hair. Finally, kicking one leg up over the other, he stretched his arms across the bench and stared his piercing blue eyes off into the distance at nothing in particular.

That’s it… He thought to himself, revealing a coy smile. Get your pictures in, ladies.

Oto was an influencer of sorts. While never trying too hard, he took advantage of his family’s money and notoriety to always have the best of everything. Clothes. Cars. Tutors. Etiquette coaches. He had them all. And, right now, he was doing what his brand manager had recommended.

Instead of taking the family helicopter to the villa, he would ride the train with the rest of the commoners. After all, it was important to be seen as accessible by his fanbase, which was mostly sixteen to thirty-two-year-olds. If he were always out of reach, eventually they may get tired of him. So, instead, he would suck it up and slum it for a few hours, relishing in the free publicity.

“Oh. My. God. He is so hot!” He listened to the girls squeal with excitement.

“I’m going to post this right now.”

“Do you think he’s on our train?”

“Let me get another picture while—"

By the time they looked up from their phones, ready to snap another shot and post it to the internet, he was gone. Oto only wanted to give a few freebies. For everything else, they would need to like and subscribe. But, by their responses, they already had.

Slipping into a carriage midway down the train, as recommended for visibility, he found an open compartment. Waiting outside for a moment, he caught glimpses of passengers staring at him and fiddling with their phones. He posed, staring down the length of the train car as though he was longingly searching for someone to keep him company.

Silent shutters snapped stills of his expression as he could already imagine the posts and comments that would follow. Women and men alike would want to be his companion for this trip, longing to keep him company for the five-hour trek to Costa Bellissima.

With the second impromptu photoshoot now completed, he entered the compartment, closing himself in.

This is annoying. He thought to himself. I wish I were on the heli. Could have already been home and enjoying a bath.

From his window seat, Oto could see his frown in the reflection. Dozens of figures passed outside, while others from within the train stopped and snapped pictures of him through the glass of the compartment door.

He adjusted himself, turning that displeased frown into a forlorn look. Better to have them see him lonely and longing than disgruntled.

Listening to the girls in the reflection as they murmured and took pictures, he watched as they quickly scattered the moment the train began to move. Or that was what he thought had happened.

Within moments of their dispersal, the door to his compartment opened.

“Wha—?!” Oto gasped, turning to look at the newcomer with a photogenic look of excitement, expecting a paparazzi.

What he found was a ragged-looking figure. They wore baggy harem pants and an oversized sweatshirt with the hood up over their head. He stared at the mismatched grey palette that conflicted with the like-coloured running shoes. Trying to get a look at the intruder’s face, Oto was thwarted by the pale blue medical mask that hid all features aside from the radiant amber eyes that scrutinized his existence.

“C-Can I help you?” He asked, suddenly fearful he was about to get mugged by the unfashionable hoodlum.

“Everywhere else is full.” A gender-ambiguous voice replied.

The figure entered the compartment, closing the door behind them and sitting on the bench across from Oto.

“I, uh—this space is taken.”

“That’s nice. I’ve got enough room right here.”

Oto wasn’t sure what to say or do in this moment. People often stayed away from him in public, keeping a safe distance from his unapproachable beauty. Those who did talk with him at school respected the things he said and never overstepped or went against his wishes.

“I’m kind of in the middle of something.” He tried again.

“Cool. Don’t let me bother you.”

The grey blob pulled their feet up onto the seat as they got comfortable. Sliding a pair of headphones from their hoodie, Oto watched as they slipped them into their ears.

“Um, excuse me…” He tried again, hesitantly reaching over. “You can’t sit there, I’m—”

Their hand slapped at his with vicious precision, causing him to withdraw it quickly.

“Ow! Hey!”

But the figure said nothing. Instead, they further adjusted themselves, resting their hooded head away from Oto as faint tunes from the headphones filled the space between them.

Looking to the door, he debated for a moment whether he should find another compartment. That moment stretched on for several minutes before, with a resigned sigh, he glanced back out the window at the passing countryside.

At least they’re not a stalker. He thought to himself, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. It could be worse. I think I can swing a few hours of them. Maybe if I look a certain way, it’ll seem like I’m giving charity to a pauper. Yeah…I can swing this.

Oto adjusted his seating position to provide the most charitable look in case fans wanted to snap a picture of him. And he would sit this way for a long while.

An hour went by and then two, as he drifted into a sleepy state. The rhythmic clacking of the train against the rails lulling him in a way the hum of the helicopter never could. It wasn’t until the journey had hit the three-hour mark that a particularly loud clatter stirred him from his sleep.

“Huh?” Oto gasped softly, stretching his arms and yawning. “What?”

He first looked over at the empty passenger seat where the grey hoodlum had once been. Now vacant, he quickly checked his person, breathing a sigh of relief that his phone and wallet were still on him.

Pop! Pop! Pop! A distant sound met his ears.

One he had only heard in movies and shows.

The door to the compartment quickly opened as the grey figure returned to the room. With a flurry of motion, they began to draw down two of the three curtains.

“W-Were those gunshots?” Oto began to panic.

“Shh!” The figure hissed, turning to the panicked boy and pointing to the seat closest to the curtained window. “Get up there, quick.”

“Uh—n-no.” He stammered in reply. “Wh-what’s happening? Were those—”

Pop! Pop! Pop! Screams could be heard as footfalls thudded beyond the compartment.

“Police! I need to call—”

Oto reached for his phone only to have the grey figure yank it from his hand and toss it away.

“On top of the seat, now!” They insisted, their voice rising an octave.

“You can’t tell me—”

Pop! Pop! Pop! The gunfire was closer, now within his train car and moving closer.

With a racing heart and trembling hands, he began to reach into his other pocket. Withdrawing his wallet, he reached for the three thousand in pocket change he carried.

“Do-do they want money? I can pay. I can pay whatever—”

“Shh!” The figure insisted, pushing him down into the seat they had been directing him towards. “Stop talking.”

“But-but-but-I-I-I—”

I don’t want to die. He thought to himself, the anxiety of the situation overwhelming him. Not for a stupid photo-op!

“Shhh!” The figure turned towards him, their amber eyes staring deeply into his. “Stop. Talking.”

“Stop telling me—” He began, only to be cut off by a pair of lips pressing to his.

The figure had slipped down their mask, revealing a flawless porcelain face. Rosy pink lips had puckered before leaning in and pressing to his. In an instant, his panicked heart ceased to beat, and his fears melted away.

For Oto, with all his beauty and fame, this was his first kiss. And as he felt the warmth of the soft lips against his, he wondered if it would also be his last.