Day 3: The Promise of a Drawing

Brrrr... Brrrr... Brrrr... Brrrr... Brrrr...

The phone alarm rattled to life.

Zick pushed himself up slowly, eyes still half-closed, and silenced the annoying noise. As he glanced at the screen, he noticed several messages from Kori.

“My friend came to pick me up, so I’ll be going with her today. See you in class!”

He sighed. For a moment, he considered lying back down for five more minutes… but when he actually checked the time, his blood ran cold.

“—Oh, crap!” he muttered, launching himself out of bed.

He rushed to the bathroom, took the fastest shower humanly possible, threw on some clothes without a second thought, and without even saying goodbye to his mother, grabbed his bike and shot out the door.

The wind slapped against his face as he pedaled with everything he had. He kept checking the time over and over, anxiety pounding in his chest like a drum.

At last, he reached the school.

He parked his bike, took a deep breath, and headed to the classroom, his pulse still racing.

He sat at his usual spot at the back, near the window.

Kori waved at him from her seat with a bright, carefree smile.

Zick gave her a small nod in return.

Class began. Between yawns, Zick tried to take some notes, but sleep crept up on him little by little.

The teacher’s voice soon became a distant lull, soft and rhythmic.

Without realizing it, he rested his head on the desk—and drifted off.

The recess bell startled him awake.

Before he could even process what was happening, a cheerful voice snapped him back into reality:

“Wake up, sleepyhead!” Kori laughed, shaking his shoulder lightly.

“Huh…? Recess already?” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

“Obviously!” she said, amused. “Zick, I want to introduce you to a friend.”

From behind Kori stepped a girl with short hair and a gentle smile.

“Hi, Zick. I’m Zai,” she said shyly. “Kori told me you draw really well. Could you… maybe draw something for me?”

Zick froze for a moment. The surprise and nerves were painfully obvious on his face.

Even so, he tried to keep his cool.

“Sure…” he managed. “What would you like me to draw?”

“I’d like you to draw me,” Zai replied, eyes sparkling with excitement.

That answer hit him like a brick. He quickly lowered his gaze, trying—and failing—to hide the faint blush creeping up his cheeks.

“How about… tomorrow, after class?” he suggested, attempting to sound calm. “We can take our time with it.”

“Perfect!” Zai replied with a bright smile.

Kori hooked her arm around her friend’s.

“Come on, Zai—recess is almost over.”

As they walked away, Kori turned back, gave him a thumbs-up, and winked.

Zick couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“Kori… always so straightforward,” he murmured, exhaling softly. “She really is a good friend.”

He rested his head back on the desk.

Little by little, the noise of the classroom faded into the background.

Would things really change for him after all?