Spend and Shock

The hallway was dark and quiet.

Only the small yellow light near the stairs was open.

Eron slowly opened the guest room door.

Creeeak…!

He froze.

“Did that make noise...?”

No response and so he slowly peeked outside.

Then he saw her.

Mika’s mother.

Sleeping on the chair in the hallway with her arms crossed.

“She really guarded the hallway,” he whispered.

He carefully stepped out while carrying his laptop close to his chest.

Step…

Step…

Step…

Step...

Step...

He moved slowly like a thief.

As he passed by her chair, he held his breath.

“Please don’t wake up…”

But she only move a little in her sleep.

Eron quickly descended the stairs.

The moment he reached the first floor, he let out a long breath.

“Haaa…”

He placed his hand on his chest.

“That was scary…”

The rain outside was still loud.

The living room was dim because only the kitchen light was open.

Eron walked toward the dining table and sat down quietly.

He opened his laptop.

Click.

The screen lit up for his chapter 3 and chapter 4.

She still remember the advise from Mika's mother earlier.

“I need to fix it…”

He sighed.

“This will not be easy for sure.”

Still, he started typing.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

The sound of the keyboard mixed with the rain.

Minutes passed quietly then he heard a steps from someone who's going descending down from the stairs.

He slowly looked up.

“Mika...?”

She stood near the stairs wearing oversized pajamas.

Her short brown hair was messy.

“What are you doing here?” they both asked at the same time.

Silence.

Then Mika pointed awkwardly toward the kitchen.

“I-I was getting water.”

Eron nodded quickly.

“Ah… yeah. Water is important.”

Mika stared at him for a second.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

She walked toward the kitchen while trying not to laugh

Eron rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“That sounded stupid…”

A few moments later, Mika returned with a glass of water.

Instead of going back upstairs, she slowly sat beside him.

Not too close but close enough. The rain became louder outside.

“You’re still working?”

“Yeah.”

Mika looked at the laptop screen.

“Chapter 3 and 4?”

“Unfortunately.”

She smiled a little.

“Mom scared you that much?”

“A little?”

Mika laughed softly.

“That means yes.”

Eron sighed dramatically.

“She destroyed my confidence in five minutes.”

“She does that.”

“Your mom is scary.”

“She’ll be happy to hear that.”

Eron immediately shook his head.

“Please don’t tell her I said that.”

Mika laughed again.

The atmosphere became quieter and comfortable after that Eron stared at the blinking cursor on the screen.

“I used to hate unfinished work like this.”

Mika tilted her head slightly.

“Why?”

He leaned back in his chair.

“Because it reminds me of first year engineering.”

Mika stayed quiet and listened.

Then Eron smiled weakly.

“Did you know I almost shifted too?”

Mika blinked. “You…? Really?”

“Yeah.”

He nodded slowly.

“Differential Calculus.”

“That bad?”

“I got seventy-two point two.”

Mika frowned slightly.

“Is it a passing grade?”

“It is.”

Eron lowered his eyes.

“But I was the only one who passed among my friends.”

"...."

The rain outside sounded heavier and noisier.

"They were my classmates since Grade 11.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“We entered engineering together. We thought everything would be easy as long as we helped each other.”

Mika quietly looked at him.

“But after Differential Calculus…” His smile became smaller. “Everything changed.”

The rain kept falling outside.

“They shifted courses and transferred to another university. The remaining grade 11 classmates that for me also they are my friends also became irregular students.”

He looked down at his hands.

“I kept thinking… they probably hated me.”

Mika quietly held her glass tighter.

“That must’ve hurt.”

Eron laughed softly.

“Yeah.”

He looked down at his hands.

“And me… I passed.”

Mika quietly listened.

“I thought I’d feel happy but I didin’t”

He leaned back and closed his eyes.

“I still remember that rainy painful day. The same rain who couldn't hide my tears back then.”

Mika’s chest tightened hearing that.

“They told me…”

Eron smiled painfully.

“‘Eron… Thank you for everything.”

Silence filled the room again.

“I hated hearing that.”

“Why?”

“Because it sounded like goodbye."

Mika looked at him quietly.

Eron laughed softly.

“And eventually… it was.”

Mika quietly stared at him.

“We stopped talking after that. It didn't start immediately. It was just day by day it's killing me slowly.”

He smiled sadly.

“Less chats and fewer replies as days passed by until one day, my friends just became strangers.”

Mika slowly lowered her eyes.

“But they weren’t bad people,” Eron continued quietly. “I know they tried their best.”

He stared blankly at the right side.

“And that’s why I kept thinking…”

He smiled bitterly.

“Why me?”

Mika slowly moved closer.

Eron continued talking quietly.

“I know it sounds stupid.”

“It doesn’t.”

He looked at her.

“Really?”

Mika nodded.

“It just means you cared about them.”

Eron stared at her for a moment before smiling softly.

“You’re kind.”

Mika immediately looked away.

“I-I’m just telling the truth.”

Eron laughed quietly.

Then he looked back at the laptop screen.

“That’s why I started writing.”

“Hm?”

“When I write…”

He tapped the keyboard lightly.

“I think less. Less guilty and less empty to myself.”

He shrugged weakly.

“Even if my writing is just average.”

“It’s good.”

“Your mom would say no.”

Mika laughed softly.

“That’s normal. Mom’s just doing her job.”

“She really is.”

“But even now…” he added

His voice became softer.

“But even now… every time it rains like this, I still remember that day.”

He smiled weakly.

“Sometimes I still wake up feeling guilty.”

Mika quietly stared at him.

Eron smiled.

“But I’m trying to move forward.”

He pointed at himself.

“This is me now.”

“A second year engineering student. An average novelist and a sys dev member yet I’m still here meeting my junior.”

Before Eron could move, Mika suddenly hugged him from behind.

Eron froze.

“Mika…?”

Her arms tightened slightly around him.

“You’re not alone anymore.”

Eron blinked slowly.

“Mika…”

“You won’t lose a friend again.”

His eyes widened slightly.

Then silence. Only the sound of heavy raining outside could be heard.

Eron smiled softly.

“Thanks...”

Mika rested her forehead lightly on his back.

“I mean it and If I fail subjects…”

Eron sighed.

“You need to pass, idiot.”

She laughed quietly.

“But even if I retake some subjects for ten times…”

She hugged him tighter.

“I’ll still be here. Your friend.”

Eron looked down.

His chest felt warm.

“You really are confident.”

“I always am.”

Eron smiled then he slowly turned his head toward her.

“Thank you, Mika.”

Mika smiled softly back.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

They were very close.

Eron’s face slowly turned red.

Mika’s face did too.

The atmosphere became strangely awkward.

“Mika…”

“Yeah?”

“You’re still hugging me.”

“I-I know.”

“And you’re really close right now.”

“Ah…”

She froze.

Neither of them moved.

Then suddenly…

Click!

The lights turned on.

Both of them widened their eyes.

Mika’s mother stood there with crossed arms.

“Wow...”

Eron immediately panicked.

“M-Ma’am! It’s not what it looks like!”

Her mother slowly raised one eyebrow.

“It literally looks exactly like what it looks like.”

“MOM!”

Mika quickly let go and stood up.

But her mother pointed immediately.

“Don’t let go.”

Mika froze.

“Huh?”

“You're already caught in the act anyway.” She said with a teasing grin.

“MOM!!!”

Eron sat completely straight.

Like a soldier being inspected.

“M-Ma’am I swear we were just talking!”

Her mother slowly walked toward them.

“Oh?”

She looked at Mika.

“And then?”

Mika looked away.

“I hugged him...”

Her mother nodded seriously.

“I can see that.”

Eron looked like he wanted to disappear.

“M-Ma’am I really didn’t do anything weird!”

Her mother looked at him.

“Eron.”

He flinched immediately.

“Yes ma’am!”

Mika almost laughed seeing him react like that.

Her mother sat down across from them.

“Relax first.”

Eron slowly relaxed a little.

Then her mother looked at the laptop.

“Working on revisions at one in the morning?”

“Yes.”

“You’re hardworking.”

“Thank you.”

Then she suddenly smiled.

“Still not hardworking enough to avoid my daughter.”

Eron froze again.

“M-Ma’am…”

Mika covered her face.

“Mom please…”

Her mother laughed softly.

“Alright. I’ll stop teasing. For now.”

Eron sighed in relief too early.

Then her mother suddenly asked.

“So who confessed first?”

“MOM!!”

“No one confessed!” Eron immediately answered.

Her mother looked at him suspiciously.

“Really…?”

“Yes!”

Mika nodded quickly too.

“Yes!”

Her mother leaned back.

“Hmmm…”

Then she smiled again.

“Okay. I’ll believe you.”

Neither of them believed that she believed them.

Then her mother looked at Eron more seriously.

“You really care about your friends, huh?”

Eron blinked.

“Yeah.”

“You still think about them?”

“Everyday.”

Her mother nodded slowly.

“That just means your old self is still there.”

Eron looked surprised.

“You didn’t become selfish after surviving.”

“I don’t think I deserved their thank you.”

“Kind people usually say things like that.”

Mika quietly nodded.

“Yeah.”

Eron scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“This is kind of embarrassing…”

Her mother laughed.

“Good. That means you’re okay.”

Then she looked at the clock.

“One thirty in the morning.”

She stood up.

“Both of you sleep.”

“Mooom…”

“No excuses.”

She pointed upstairs.

“You.”

Then pointed at Eron.

“Guest room.”

“Yes ma’am...”

Then pointed at Mika.

“Your room.”

“Okay.”

“And from now on, no more emotional hugging sessions downstairs.”

“MOM!!!”

Eron looked like he was dying inside.

Her mother laughed loudly this time.

“Go already.”

Mika sighed helplessly then before leaving she looked back at Eron.

“Goodnight, Eron."

Eron smiled softly.

“Goodnight too, Mika."

Her mother watched both of them quietly.

Then she smiled to herself.

“These young kids…”

Morning sunlight entered through the curtains.

Mika slowly opened her eyes.

“It's morning…”

She grabbed her phone.

8:03 AM.

She stretched a little and sat up.

Then she remembered last night.

The hug.

The talk downstairs.

And her mother catching them.

“Moooom…” she groaned while covering her face with a pillow.

Her face slowly became red again.

Then she quickly got up.

“I need water…”

She fixed her hair a little and walked out of her room.

The smell of breakfast immediately reached her.

“Oh…”

She went downstairs and saw her mother in the kitchen wearing an apron again.

Pandesal, eggs, bacon and hotdog were already on the table.

“Morning,” her mother said while getting plates from the cabinet.

“Morning…”

Mika sat down quietly.

Then two arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind.

“Good morning.”

Mika froze completely.

“What...?”

She slowly looked behind her.

“E-Eron?!”

Eron blinked too.

Only now realizing what he just did.

“Ah...”

Silence.

He was still hugging her.

His brain finally started working.

“Wait...”

Mika’s face instantly turned red.

Her mother slowly turned around holding plates.

Then she saw them.

Tik... Tok.... Tok...

The only sound could be heard is the tick of the clock.

Eron slowly removed his arms.

“G-good morning, ma’am..."

Her mother stared at him.

Then she smiled.

“So you can sneak hugs now.”

“M-MA’AM NO—!”

“But you still can’t sneak past my editing.”

Eron immediately straightened up.

“Yes ma’am.”

Mika covered her face.

“What is happening this morning…”

Eron awkwardly sat down beside her.

“I’m sorry…”

“You hugged me out of nowhere!”

“I forgot…”

“How do you forget that?!”

“I usually greet my friends like that.”

Mika blinked.

“So you hug your friends...?”

“The guy ones.” He said and it was clearly a lie he just wanted to hug her behind since he felt attached to her after their moment earlier.

“That doesn’t make it better!”

Her mother laughed while placing the plates down.

“This is entertaining.”

“Moooom…”

Eron looked completely embarrassed.

Then while Mika’s mother went back to the kitchen Eron slowly leaned closer to Mika.

“Mika...”

“Hm?”

He whispered quietly.

“Do you want to go out later?”

Mika blinked.

“Where?"

“To the mall.”

Her face slowly became red again.

“I-I mean… I wanted to spend time with you.”

Mika’s heart suddenly beat faster.

Dob... Dob... Dob dob...

“W-why...?”

“To fix yesterday.”

He smiled a little.

“And also… because I want to.”

Mika looked away immediately.

“A-as friends?”

“Yeah. As friends.”

For some reason, hearing that made her chest feel weird.

Still…

“O-okay.”

Eron smiled softly.

“Really?”

She nodded quickly while still red.

“Y-yeah…”

Then...

“Ahem.”

They were interrupted by her mother and both of them froze.

Her mother was standing there smiling while holding juice.

“I can still hear both of you.”

“MOM!”

Eron looked like his soul left his body.

Her mother placed the juice down calmly.

“Eron.”

“Yes ma’am?”

“We need to talk after breakfast.”

Eron froze completely.

“T-talk?”

“Just a talk.”

Mika quickly stood up.

“M-Mom! We’re not dating!”

Her mother nodded seriously.

“I know.”

Then she smiled again.

“It’s just a talk between a mother and her daughter’s so-called friend.”

The way she said “so-called friend” made it worse.

Eron looked down slowly.

“I’m dead...”

Mika immediately shook her head.

“No you’re not!”

Her mother sat down across from them.

“Relax, Eron.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“I’m not angry.”

“Really?”

“No.”

“That somehow feels scarier.”

Her mother laughed loudly.

Mika sighed.

“Mom, stop scaring him…”

“But it’s fun.”

Eron looked like he wanted to disappear.

Then suddenly Mika quietly moved her foot under the table and lightly kicked Eron’s shoe.

He looked at her.

She whispered softly.

“Good luck.”

Eron stared at her for a few seconds.

Then he sighed.

“Thank you. I think I need it.”

After breakfast…

Mika’s mother wiped her hands with a towel and looked at the two of them.

“Mika.”

“Hm?

“Go to your room first.”

Mika blinked.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Then her mother slowly looked at Eron.

“We need to talk.”

Eron straightened immediately.

“Yes ma’am.”

Mika looked worried then she quietly looked at Eron.

“Good luck.”

Eron gave a weak smile.

“Thanks.”

Mika slowly walked upstairs.

Step…

Step…

Step…

Step...

Step...

When they heard the door closed in her room finally it was their time to talk.

Eron sat properly on the chair. Very properly like a student waiting outside the principal’s office.

Mika’s mother sat across from him while holding her coffee.

She took one sip first.

“Relax.”

“I am relaxed, ma'am...”

“You look like you’re about to defend your thesis.”

“Ah....”

She laughed softly.

“You’re easy to read.”

Eron scratched the back of his head nervously.

Her mother looked at him carefully this time.

“You really like my daughter, huh?”

“M-Ma’am!”

“What?”

“I-I mean... It's not something to be...”

She smiled while drinking coffee again.

“I’m just asking.”

Eron looked down.

“I care about her.”

“That’s not the same answer.”

“It's because I don’t know the answer yet.”

Her mother quietly stared at him.

Then she nodded slowly.

“That’s more honest.”

Eron sighed quietly in relief.

Then her mother leaned back slightly.

“You know…”

Her voice became softer.

“Mika changed.”

Eron looked up.

“She changed?”

She nodded.

“A lot.”

The morning light entered through the window quietly.

“Mika before…”

She smiled weakly.

“Was way too serious on her academics that she studied almost all the time.”

Eron listened quietly.

“She's always focused on maintaining her grades and keeping it organized and not just that but she also thinks ahead than me back then."

She laughed softly.

“Sometimes I even had to force her to rest by turning off the wifi or confiscating her laptop and her phone."

Eron blinked.

“Was she angry about it?"

“No... She just followed my order and slept in her bed, even though there was a time when the quiz bowl was near and she was suffering from staying up too late. So I had no choice but to confiscate her things by force, and she just obeyed and rested. After that day, she ended up winning the quiz bowl contest.”

Her mother looked at the stairs for a moment.

“She barely opened up on anyone except to her father who she was trying to follow his shadow to become the next software engineer that she always looked up to be.”

"..."

"Also, back then, she didn’t really care about boys.”

“R-Really? But back then, shouldn’t she have had, like, a partner in quiz bowl or something at school?”

“She didn’t, and she had classmates confess to her before. It was always like that, from elementary school to grade 12.”

“What did she say, ma’am?”

“‘I need to study first.’”

“Woah... I can’t believe that’s her now.”

“Yeah, but now...”

Her mother slowly smiled again.

“She smiles more. She went to the mall yesterday and even got jealous.”

“M-Ma’am....”

Her mother laughed seeing his reaction.

“She came home very jealous after seeing you with another girl.”

Eron immediately shook his head.

“Leira is just my friend!”

“Mhm.”

“We were just studying Differential Equations.”

"Mhm."

“She asked for help.”

“I know.”

Her mother smiled again.

“But you know what scared me the most?”

Eron looked at her quietly.

“The new evolution of my daughter.”

“At first...” she continued, “I was scared. She didn’t feel like the Mika I knew.”

“...”

“But...”

Her mother smiled softly.

“It made me feel relieved that she’s acting normal instead of obsessively trying to follow her father’s job.”

“Y-yeah.”

“And also, you’re the first boy she willingly hugged.”

Eron’s brain stopped for a second.

“Huh... I mean, what about her father?”

“That doesn’t count. What counts is a stranger.”

"B-but I think she's just trying to—"

Comfort you? It’s still the same. She hugged you first.”

Eron quietly looked down.

His ears and face slowly turned red.

Her mother noticed immediately.

“You’re blushing too...”

“Please don’t point it out. We’re in real life, not in a novel, ma’am.”

Eron sighed then her mother suddenly spoke again.

“Eron.”

“Yes ma’am?”

“If one day you realize you truly like her… Then protect her properly.”

He looked at her seriously now.

Her mother held her coffee cup tighter.

And yesterday... when she saw you with another girl, she was jealous and deeply hurt by it.”

Eron slowly lowered his eyes.

“I’m sorry....”

“I’m not blaming you. I know you did nothing wrong, but because she’s trying to explore more of what she missed, she’s experiencing emotions she never felt before.”

Her mother stared at him.

“So if you become someone important to her... please don’t hurt her carelessly.”

“I can’t promise what our relationship will become, ma’am, but...”

He smiled softly.

“She’s my friend, and that’s a fact. I already lost my friends before, and I don’t want to mess things up again.”

Her mother looked at him carefully.

Eron continued slowly.

“So even if nothing happens between us... I still want to stay. I still want to support her. I still want to see her succeed because, at the end of the day, as her friend, I believe she deserves that.”

His smile became smaller but honest.

“And this time too... I want to do better. I’ll help her with anything.”

Silence for a few moments and her mother stared at him for a few long seconds then suddenly she smiled. A real warm smile.

“That reminds me of someone....”

Eron blinked.

“Huh?”

She shook her head lightly.

“Nothing.”

But in her mind…

She remembered another boy years ago.

A nervous young man standing in front of her family.

Saying almost the same words Eron had said.

And that young man eventually became her husband.

Her eyes softened a little from at the memory.

"I really do miss him though."

“Ma’am...?”

“Nothing.”

She smiled again.

“Forget it.”

Eron scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“Okay?”

Then her mother sighed softly.

“You know… I actually like you.”

Eron widened his eyes.

“Really?”

“Mhm.”

“You’re awkward.”

“That sounds like an insult.”

“But you’re honest and you care about her.”

Her mother placed her coffee down.

“That matters more. So…”

Eron straightened immediately.

“Yes ma’am?”

Her mother crossed her arms.

“About the mall later.”

Eron froze.

“Ah....”

“You asked my daughter out very confidently earlier.”

“M-Ma’am it’s not a date!”

Her mother smiled.

“Mhm.”

“It’s a friendship mall bonding trip.”

“Yes.”

“Friendship with getting close to dating?

“Ma’am…”

“Whispering.”

“Ma’am please…”

“And inviting her to come to the mall during breakfast earlier."

Eron covered his face.

“I’m sorry…”

Her mother laughed loudly this time.

“You’re really easy to tease.”

Then after calming down a little she looked at him properly.

“Take care of her.”

Eron slowly lowered his hands.

“…I will.”

“And bring her home safely.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“And no funny business.”

“M-MA’AM!”

“I’m serious.”

“I KNOW!”

She laughed again.

Then after a few more seconds…

Her expression softened once more.

“Okay... So now you can take my daughter out.”

Eron stared at her.

“Really...?”

“Yes.”

“Is it a final?"

“Don’t make me change my mind.”

Eron immediately stood up slightly.

“No ma’am!”

She smiled.

“But.”

Eron froze again.

“You still need to finish revising Chapters 3 and 4.”

Eron looked defeated immediately.

“I knew it.”

“And I want it tonight before 11:30 pm."

“M-Ma’am that’s cruel..."

“You hugged my daughter in my house.”

“Fair point....”

She nodded proudly.

“Exactly.”

Eron sighed dramatically.

“I’ll do my best.”

“That’s what I want to hear.”

Then suddenly...

“MOM!”

Both of them looked upstairs.

Mika was peeking from the second floor with a red face.

“What are you guys even talking about for this long?!”

Her mother smirked immediately.

“About your future.”

“MOOOM!!”

Eron immediately panicked.

“M-Ma’am!”

Her mother laughed loudly while Mika quickly disappeared upstairs again in embarrassment.

Eron sat back down while covering his face.

“I think she hates me now.”

“No.”

Her mother smiled softly.

“She likes you too much right now to hate you.”

“Ma’am please stop teasing me."

She laughed again then after a while.

“Go upstairs.”

Eron blinked.

“…Huh?”

“Go ask her out properly this time.”

Eron froze.

“Properly?”

“Yes.”

“You already survived me anyway.”

“Barely...”

“That’s enough.”

Eron slowly stood up.

Then he bowed slightly.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Her mother smiled softly while watching him.

“Take care of each other, okay?”

Eron nodded quietly.

“I will.”

Step.!

Step!

Step!

Step!

Eron went up the stairs and he stopped in front of Mika’s room and knocked.

Knock!

Knock!

The door opened a bit.

Mika peeked out.

“Oh… you’re back.”

“Yeah.” Eron scratched his head. “I’m done talking to your mom.”

“How did it go?”

“It’s fine.” he said quickly. “Nothing scary.”

Mika blinked. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

There was a short silence.

Then Eron spoke again.

“Do you want to go to the mall later?”

Mika froze a bit. “Huh?”

“I mean…” he looked away. “To fix yesterday. And… just hang out. As friends.”

Mika’s face slowly turned red.

“Y-you’re asking so suddenly…”

“Sorry.” Eron waved his hands a bit. “Forget it if you don’t want—”

“I didn’t say no.” she said fast.

“So yes?”

“Yes...” she said softer.

Eron nodded. “Okay. Later around 10?”

Mika nodded again but didn’t look at him.

“Okay…”

Behind them, Mika’s mother was watching from the kitchen and just smiled.

“Ohhh…” she whispered to herself.

Later at 10.

Mika came out first from her room.

“Uhm… I’ll take a shower first.”

“Okay. I’ll use the guest room CR,” Eron said.

“Don’t take too long.” she said.

“I won’t.”

After a while Eron came out first. He wore a simple white shirt and brown shorts.

He fixed his hair a bit and waited near Mika’s door.

“Still not ready…” he muttered.

Then the door opened.

Eron looked up and froze as Mika stood there.

Short brown hair, straight and neat. Gold glasses. Simple polo and shorts.

For a second, Eron didn’t speak.

Mika tilted her head.

“What? I look weird?”

“No.” Eron said immediately. “You just… Look pretty.”

Mika blinked.

“W-what?”

Eron scratched his cheek. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

Mika covered her face a bit. “Don’t say that randomly…”

They both walked out.

Inside Eron’s mind, he went quiet.

“Why does she look like that…”

It reminded him of someone.

Leira.

Not the same hair. Not the same face but the same feeling.

The calm, smart and her she shines so brightly like a sun

Back then, he only saw people like that as classmates.

Nothing more. Just study. Just pass. Just survive engineering.

No distractions. He shook his head a little.

“No… I have to forget it.”

At the mall.

“Where do you want to go first?” Mika asked.

“I don’t know. Just walk around.”

“Okay…”

They walked side by side.

At first it was quiet.

Then Mika pointed.

“Oh! There’s a computer showcase over there.”

“Let’s go.” Eron said.

They entered.

There were computers, setups, gaming stations, and tech displays.

Mika looked around.

“Wow…”

Eron nodded. “Pretty normal for engineering students.”

Mika smiled a bit. “But still cool.”

They walked around together.

Mika leaned closer to a setup.

“This one looks cool…”

“Yeah. That’s a good build.” Eron said.

“You know a lot.”

“A bit.”

Mika looked at him.

“You sound different when you talk about this.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Eron scratched the back of his head. “I guess it’s just normal for me.”

They walked again.

After the showcase, they went out.

Mika pointed again.

“Tacos?”

Eron nodded. “Sure.”

After eating.

They walked again, slower this time.

Mika looked more relaxed now.

“Today is… nice.”

“Yeah.” Eron said.

“You’re not like yesterday.” she added.

“What do you mean?”

“You feel calmer.”

Eron thought for a second. “Maybe because I'm not teaching someone."

Mika laughed a little. “That makes sense.”

They reached the second floor.

Phone shops everywhere.

“Let’s just look.” Mika said.

“Okay.”

But as they walked, salespeople started calling.

“Ma’am! Sir! Come here!”

“Best phone deals!”

“Free charger!”

“Over here!”

Mika stopped a bit.

“Uh…”

Too many people talking at once.

Eron immediately stepped slightly in front of her.

“Let’s go this way.”

He gently grabbed her hand and guided her.

“Ah…” Mika froze. “O-okay…”

They walked out of the crowd.

After that, he let go.

“Sorry. Too many people.”

“It’s okay…” Mika said quietly.

But her face was a bit red.

They went down to the ground floor.

There was a bench.

“Sit here.” Eron said.

Mika sat down.

Eron sat beside her.

For a moment, they were quiet.

Then Mika spoke.

“Thank you… for today.”

“For what?”

“For… hanging out with me.”

Eron shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

Mika looked down a bit.

“I feel like I’m always… confused about things.”

Eron glanced at her. “Like what?”

“I don’t really know what I feel yet.”

Eron stayed quiet for a second.

Then he said, “It’s okay. You don’t need to rush that.”

Mika looked at him.

“Really...?”

“Yeah.”

Silence again.

Eron reached out and gently fixed a small strand of hair falling near Mika’s face. He brushed it aside with his fingers and tucked it behind her ear.

“Here.”

Mika froze, her face turned red.

“E-eron?”

He also froze a bit.

“Ah… sorry. I just think that you might need help."

But Mika didn’t move away.

She just stayed still.

“Eron…” she said softly.

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad I met you.”

Eron blinked.

Then smiled a little. “Me too.”

Mika looked at him for a moment.

Then Eron suddenly moved closer.

“H-Huh…?”

Before Mika could even react...

Mwuah.

He kissed her forehead softly.

Mika froze completely.

“…!”

Eron also froze right after doing it.

His ears instantly turned red.

“A-Ah…”

Mika slowly touched her forehead.

Her face was becoming red so fast.

“W-What…?”

Eron looked away quickly.

“I-I just felt like doing it…”

“Y-You kissed my forehead!”

“Y-Yeah…”

“W-Why would you do that?!”

Eron scratched his cheek nervously.

“I don’t know…”

“You don’t know?!”

“I just…”

He avoided eye contact.

“…wanted to.”

Mika’s whole face became even redder.

“W-Wh-What kind of reason is that?!”

Eron looked embarrassed too now.

“S-Sorry… But it’s just as a friend.”

Mika immediately looked at him again.

“Huh?”

“I like you as a friend,” he said shyly. “So I just felt like doing it.”

“That doesn’t explain anything!”

“It makes sense in my head…”

“It absolutely does not!”

Eron laughed awkwardly.

“I'm sorry…”

Mika covered her face with both hands.

She was completely red now.

Even her ears.

“T-This is so weird…”

Eron looked at her carefully.

“Are you mad...?”

Mika slowly peeked through her fingers.

“No...”

“Really?”

“I don’t know anymore.”

Eron smiled a little after hearing that.

“But we’re still friends.”

Mika’s face somehow got even redder.

“Y-Yeah...”

“As friends?”

She looked away quickly.

“A-As friends.”

Eron nodded happily.

“Okay. Good.”

Mika stared at him in disbelief.

“How are you saying that so normally after kissing my forehead?!”

Eron looked shy again.

“I-I’m not saying it normally…”

“Your face is red too!”

“That’s because you’re looking at me like that.”

“What do you expect?!”

Mika realized something important.

She really just accepted the forehead kiss as friends.

On the second floor near the railing, Ken wore a face mask to hide part of his face as he lazily walked around with both hands in his pockets.

He looked bored out of his mind.

He already finished eating earlier and now he had nothing to do.

So he was just wandering around the mall to kill time.

“Should I just go home…?"

He then stopped at the railing and looked down toward the ground floor.

People were everywhere.

Families of four, groups of students laughing together, couples walking side by side.

Nothing interesting for him until his eyes suddenly stopped on a beautiful familiar girl sitting on a bench below.

“Mika...?”

Ken stayed leaning on the railing quietly while watching her from above.

At first she and Eron just looked like they were talking normally.

Then Eron just suddenly reached out and fixed Mika’s hair gently.

Mika froze immediately.

Even from the second floor, Ken could already tell her face was turning red.

“Oh...”

Then a few seconds later...

Eron leaned closer.

Mwuah.

A soft forehead kiss.

Ken’s eyes widened slightly.

Below him, Mika completely froze.

Her whole face instantly became red even her ears.

She looked so flustered that Ken could tell even from where he was standing.

Then he turned away.

“I see...”

He continued to walk away with hands in pockets.

[>>>>>>>>>>>]

Even at 2 PM, the bar was already open.

Not that crowded yet just a few people sitting around quietly.

Some drinking.

Some talking.

Some alone.

Ken walked straight to the counter and sat down on one of the stools.

The bartender in his forties looked at him.

“The usual, sir?”

Ken nodded once.

“Yeah.”

The bartender prepared the drink while Ken rested his elbow on the counter.

His black eyes looked empty.

Calm and somehow upset.

Something inside him felt annoying.

A few moments later, the bartender placed the cold drink in front of him.

“Here.”

Ken grabbed the glass.

Ice clinked softly.

“Thanks.”

He slowly shook the glass in circles.

Again.

And again.

The ice moved around while the cold juice swayed inside.

His eyes stayed on it.

The bartender looked at him for a second.

“You seem more tired than usual today.”

Ken shrugged.

“Maybe.”

“Problem?”

“No.”

But even he knew that answer wasn’t true.

He kept shaking the glass lightly.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Then he stopped.

“Annoying.”

“Hm?” the bartender asked.

“Nothing.”

He took a sip.

Cold and sweet still not enough to calm his head.

His mind kept replaying it.

That bench scene where Mika sitting there, and some random boy kissing her forehead.

Ken leaned back against the stool slowly.

“Why am I even thinking about that?”

He clicked his tongue softly.

“Tssk…”

The bartender wiped another glass nearby.

“Girl problem?”

Ken looked at him.

“No.”

The bartender laughed quietly.

“That fast answer means yes.”

Ken ignored him.

He looked down at his drink again.

The ice already started melting.

He grabbed the glass again and shook it lightly.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

“This is stupid.”

He wasn’t even dating her.

He barely knew her.

Only a few talks.

A few moments like spending time with her in the arcade, that hug in the mall while she was crying.

That was all.

So why did seeing that forehead kiss earlier feel so annoying?

Ken sighed softly.

“I hate this feeling.”

The bartender raised an eyebrow.

“That serious?”

Ken stayed quiet. Then finally speak.

“I just wanted peaceful life.”

“Hm.”

“No problems. No complicated things.”

He took another sip.

“No wars and useless deaths."

His eyes looked at the counter quietly.

“I just wanted a boring life.”

The bartender nodded slowly.

“And now?”

Ken looked away.

“Now there’s this girl suddenly appearing everywhere.”

The bartender chuckled.

“So it is a girl problem.”

Ken ignored him again.

But this time he didn’t deny it.

He leaned his head onto his hand.

“I don’t even understand her.”

One moment she was crying in his arms.

Then today she found someone else.

Ken closed his eyes for a second.

“Why does it feel annoying?”

Not anger.

Not exactly jealousy too.

Just… Heavy feeling that kept bothering him always.

The door behind opened.

Some loud men entered laughing.

Ken didn’t even look back.

He just kept staring at his drink.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

Clink.

“…You’re gonna break the ice if you keep doing that,” the bartender joked.

Ken finally stopped shaking the glass.

“Sorry.”

“You really like her huh?”

Ken immediately answered.

“No.”

Too fast which the bartender smirked slightly.

“Sure.”

Ken sighed and drank the rest in one go.

Cold and sweet still not enough again.

He placed the empty glass down.

“Another.”

The bartender blinked.

“Juice again?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re in a bar drinking juice while looking heartbroken.”

Ken looked at him blankly.

“I don't want alcohol."

Even in his previous life he wasn't a fan of it.

“Okay.”

The bartender prepared another one.

Ken rested his head back again.

His eyes looked toward the ceiling now.

“Maybe I should just stop thinking about her.”

Simple.

That should’ve been simple.

Just ignore it, move on, and live peacefully.

But somehow, he remembered her face and how beautiful she looked earlier at the mal which only made him more annoyed.

“Tssk…”

The bartender placed the second drink in front of him.

“You can’t get her out of your mind, sir.”

Ken grabbed the glass.

“Shut up.”

[>>>>>>>>>>>]

1 year ago.

Leira sat near the auditorium, waiting for the 10:15 class.

“Understanding the Self…”

A minor subject, but still required for first year Chem Eng.

She leaned back on the bench and scrolled on her phone.

“Still early…” she muttered.

Students were passing by. Some were already talking about quizzes for precalculus and college algebra. Others were just sleeping on the benches like accepting their future fate that they'll be cooked no matter what they will do.

Leira sighed.

“Second week already and…”

She checked the time again.

10:05.

“Ten more minutes…”

She stretched a bit and looked around.

“Same faces… same place…”

Then...

“Uhm… hey…”

Leira looked up.

A boy with a black hair was standing in front of her.

He looked nervous. Hands slightly shaking.

“I… my name is Eron. First year Computer Engineer.”

Leira blinked.

“Oh… hi.”

She gave a small smile.

“My name is Leira."

Eron nodded fast.

“Are you from A161 class, Leira?”

“Yeah, only for this subject."

“Oh… I thought you were from the other section.”

“There are two sections, right?”

“Yeah… A161 and A162.”

Leira chuckled lightly.

“Yeah, I know.”

Eron scratched his head.

“Ah… okay. Y-yeah.”

Then he went quiet.

Leira glanced at him.

He looked like he wanted to say more but didn’t know how.

She thought to herself,

“He’s shy… but trying.”

She gave a small polite smile and went back to her phone.

Eron stayed there for a few seconds. Ruining up his moment completely.

“Ah… okay....I’ll just… umm..."

He slowly stepped back.

“Ho now.”

Leira looked up again.

“Okay.”

He gave a small nod and walked away quickly.

Leira smiled a little.

“That guy…”

Then she whispered to herself,

“Not bad. Just shy."

The professor arrived a few minutes later.

“Good morning class.”

Eron was already gone into his seat far away from her on the right side and that was the last time she saw him like that.

One week passed then another.

Leira noticed something.

Eron didn’t talk to her anymore.

Not even a glance just sitting there and listening like she wasn’t even there.

Leira rested her chin on her hand.

“Did I do something wrong...?”

But she shook her head.

“No… he’s just focused I guess.”

Still to her it felt different like he changed so suddenly.

First semester passed.

Leira stayed consistent.

“1.0 again…”

“1.25…”

“1.5…”

Her classmates would always say.

“Leira, you’re so smart."

“Teach me, please.”

"We should group study next time, Leira!"

She would just laugh.

“I was only lucky though.” She said that with a smile.

"You're too humble again!"

"You never said you're smart!"

She's always friendly with her gold glasses and Short black hair. The “good student” type everyone liked but second semester changed everything.

At home.

Leira’s mother was cooking.

“Leira, dinner!”

“Coming, mom!”

Her phone suddenly rang.

It was her father.

“Hey, Leira.”

“Hi, dad.”

“You still at work?”

“Yeah…”

"...."

Leira frowned a little.

“Dad?”

“Is your mom there?”

“Yeah, she’s cooking. Why?”

“Leira...."

He sounded so serious.

“What is it dad?"

"..."

"Did something happened to you, dad?"

Now she was sitting up straight.

“What is it, dad?"

“It’s about your brother.”

A small smile appeared on her face.

“Kuya? Is he finally coming home?”

"..."

“He didn’t even tell me anything.” She laughed softly. “I was literally gonna complain because he still doesn’t know what university I enrolled in.”

"..."

"But I forgot to tell him which university I enrolled but this time I'll really tell him!"

"..."

“Dad?”

“He was supposed to surprise you by coming home without informing us.”

Leira laughed softly.

“See? He always does that kind of thing like last year. Surprising us then with a gif—!"

“Leira.” His voice cracked.

“Dad...?”

“He’s gone.”

The smile disappeared from her face.

“What?”

He… died during an operation.”

“No.” She stood up too fast, nearly dropping her phone. “No, no, wait... what are you saying?”

“I’m sorry, Leira…”

“No, because kuya literally texted me last week!”

Her breathing became uneven.

“He said he was coming home soon and he wanted to surprise us again like last time so must be lying right, dad?"

Her father began crying quietly on the other end.

And that scared her more than the words because her father never cried.

“Dad…”

"The government called me earlier."

Leira’s knees weakened.

“No…”

“He died protecting his squad.”

“No!”

“He saved three rookies before—”

“I DON’T CARE!”

Her voice was heard through the house.

Her mother looked toward her from the kitchen.

Confused at what's happening between their call.

Leira was shaking now.

“You’re lying! Kuya promised me!”

“I know.”

“He promised he’d come home!”

“I know, Leira…”

“You tell him to stop joking around right now!”

"..."

Then her father spoke again, barely holding himself together.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t bring your brother home alive.”

And that was the moment she broke.

The phone slipped from her hand.

“Leira?” her mother called out nervously. “What happened?”

Leira looked at her mother with trembling lips.

“K-kuya’s dead, mom."

The plate in her mother’s hands shattered on the floor.

At the funeral.

Everything felt cold.

White flowers, white lights, black clothes and a coffin wrapped with the Philippine flag.

Leira stood frozen beside it.

People were talking and soldiers saluting.

Prayers being spoken but none of it sounded real.

Her mother sobbed beside her father.

“My son… my son…”

Her father kept one arm around her while staring silently at the coffin.

His eyes were red very tired.

Leira slowly walked closer.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Each step felt heavy.

Then she finally saw him.

Her brother.

Lying still inside the coffin.

“Kuya...?”

"...."

She grabbed the edge of the coffin tightly.

“Hey…”

Her voice trembled.

“Stop sleeping already.”

"..."

“This isn’t funny anymore.”

A tear started to fell down from her cheek.

“You said you’d come home.”

"...."

“You liar…”

Her shoulders shook violently.

“You promised me…”

The young soldier stepped forward slowly.

He looked nervous, like he didn’t even know if he should approach her.

“M-Ma’am…”

"...." Leira didn’t answer.

Her eyes remained staring on the coffin.

The soldier swallowed hard before reaching into his pocket.

“I… I think this belongs to you.”

He carefully handed her a silver watch.

Old and scratched but familiar.

Leira froze the moment she saw it.

“Kuya’s…”

Her fingers trembled as she took it carefully.

“He always wore that during operations,” the soldier said quietly. “He said it was his lucky charm."

Leira stared at the watch silently.

For a few seconds, nobody spoke.

Then the soldier lowered his head.

“Your brother saved us, ma’am.”

Leira’s grip tightened.

“There was an ambush during the operation,” he continued. “We almost got trapped.”

His voice started shaking.

“He pushed me away when the firing started.”

Another soldier beside him looked down.

“If he didn’t react first… we probably wouldn’t be here.”

The first soldier wiped his eyes quickly with his sleeve.

“We tried to get him out with us.”

He paused for a moment.

“But he kept telling us to move already because more enemies were coming.”

Leira bit her lip hard.

The second soldier spoke softly.

“He was still worried about us even after getting hit.”

"...."

Then the first soldier forced himself to speak.

“He kept saying he needed to go home because his sister was waiting for him.”

Leira covered her mouth.

Her shoulders started shaking again.

“But he still told us to leave first.”

The soldiers lowered their heads.

“We’re very sorry, ma’am.”

Leira clutched the watch tightly against her chest.

Tears finally fell down her face again.

“You idiot…”

Her voice cracked badly.

“You said you’d come home…”

Behind her, even her father started crying again.

Starting that night.

Leira sat alone in her room.

Her grades started dropping.

“1.0…”

“1.5…”

Then...

“2.75…”

“3.0…”

One day, her mother knocked.

“Leira, are you studying?”

"Yes… Just leave the tray by the door, ma’am. I’ll get it later.”

But she wasn’t.

She just stared at her notebook and isolated herself in the room.

“I can’t focus…”

She whispered.

“I can’t…”

Weeks passed.

She stopped smiling as much.

Stopped talking as much.

She became more quieter.

At school, her classmates noticed the sudden change of her attitude.

“Leira? You okay?”

“I’m okay.”

But she wasn’t.

One afternoon. She sat near the window in her room with a canned coffee in her hand as she looked outside.

Green trees with the wind moving slowly.

“It’s quiet..."

She opened her notebook.

Unfinished notes from her integral class.

She smiled softly.

“Kuya...”

She leaned back.

“I miss you.”

Silence...

Then her phone turned on accidentally.

A message from her brother’s old number appeared. Her breathing stopped for a second before opening it slowly.

She opened it.

“Leira.”

She covered her mouth.

They were his old messages from before.

“Study hard.”

“Don’t give up.”

“Engineering, right?”

“You’ll do fine. You’re way smarter than me.”

“I want to see you wearing a toga with your diploma.”

“I’ll be there. I promise.”

Leira’s hands trembled.

“Kuya…”

Tears fell again.

“I’m trying… I’m really trying…”

Now in second year.

Leira sat in her room.

Same canned coffee.

Same window but different now it was her trying to go back to her old self.

She smiled a little.

“I’m better now…” She whispered. "I think…”

She stood up and grabbed her bag.

“I’ll just go to the mall again. Freshen up a bit because it’s Monday again tomorrow.”

In her first three weeks as second year at the university she was back to smiling again.

“Hi!”

“Good morning!”

“Do you understand the lesson?”

Always friendly to everyone but when she was alone… She still remembered her brother.

She sat back down near the window later in the evening.

“Kuya... I’m still here.”

She looked at her notes.

“I’m still trying.”