The gentle hum of life at the university seemed to slow as summer gave way to autumn. The once-vibrant trees were now awash in fiery reds and golden hues, their leaves falling like memories scattered by the wind. The campus felt quieter than usual as if the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to shift.
Liam sat on the steps of the courtyard, his eyes scanning the horizon as he absently tossed a small stone between his hands. The familiar weight of his thoughts pressed against his chest, the conversation with Eva from a few nights ago still lingering in the back of his mind. They had parted ways amicably, but something inside him felt unresolved as if a chapter of his life hadn't fully closed.
"Hey, you're going to break your wrist if you keep that up," a voice teased from behind him.
Liam turned to see Max strolling toward him, his usual grin in place, hands casually tucked into his pockets. "You look deep in thought, my friend. What's going on?"
Max dropped down beside him, the cool stone steps a stark contrast to the warmth of his presence. Max always had a way of lightening the mood, but today, even his playful energy couldn't pull Liam from his thoughts.
"Just thinking," Liam replied, shrugging. "About the future… about everything."
Max raised an eyebrow. "Everything? That's a lot for one guy to carry. Anything specific? You look like you've been battling ghosts."
Liam chuckled lightly, appreciating Max's candour. "I don't know, man. It feels like everything's changing. You and Mei are planning your wedding, Eva and I are figuring things out, and I'm still here, wondering where I fit into all of this."
Max leaned back, gazing up at the sky. "You know, change isn't always a bad thing. Look at me and Mei—did you think I'd ever be the type to settle down?"
"Honestly?" Liam grinned. "Not in a million years."
Max laughed. "Exactly. But then Mei happened, and suddenly, the future didn't seem so scary anymore. It's the same for you. You'll figure it out. It just takes time."
Liam nodded, though his mind wandered back to Mei. She and Max had been inseparable lately, their love story unfolding like a novel he hadn't been allowed to read. He was genuinely happy for them, but a small part of him couldn't shake the feeling of what could have been.
Before he could get lost in his thoughts again, Max nudged him with his elbow. "Speaking of Mei, she and Eva are probably wondering where we are. We're supposed to meet them for dinner, remember?"
Liam blinked. "Right. I almost forgot."
As they stood up, Max slung an arm around Liam's shoulders. "Listen, man, whatever's going on in that head of yours, you've got to stop overthinking it. Life has a funny way of working itself out. Just go with the flow."
Liam offered a half-smile, appreciating Max's unwavering optimism. They walked together toward the restaurant where Mei and Eva were waiting, the evening air crisp with the scent of fallen leaves and distant laughter from other students.
When they arrived, the girls were already seated outside, their faces glowing under the soft light of lanterns hanging above. Mei waved them over-enthusiastically, her usual energy infectious.
"You're late!" Mei teased as they sat down, but there was no real edge to her words. She was beaming, her happiness radiating through her every movement. Eva sat beside her, more reserved but smiling just as brightly.
"We got caught up talking about deep stuff," Max said with a dramatic sigh, winking at Liam. "You know how it is."
Mei laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Max and deep conversations? That's something I'd pay to see."
As the conversation flowed, the four of them fell into an easy rhythm, the kind of comfort that only comes with years of friendship. They talked about the wedding, reminisced about university life, and joked about the future. But beneath the surface, Liam could feel the subtle shifts in their dynamic. Max and Mei were moving forward, Eva was still by his side, and yet there was something intangible that tugged at him, like the tide pulling at the shore.
As the night wore on, Liam found himself stealing glances at Eva. She was laughing with Mei, her eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made his heart skip a beat. She caught him looking and smiled softly, her gaze holding his for just a moment longer than usual.
Later, as they walked back to their dorms, Liam and Eva lagged while Max and Mei strolled ahead, hand in hand. The silence between them was comfortable, but Liam could feel the weight of unspoken words between them.
"I've been thinking," Eva said quietly, breaking the silence. "About us. About what we talked about the other night."
Liam's heart tightened. "Yeah? What are you thinking?"
Eva stopped walking and turned to face him. The soft glow of the streetlights illuminated her face, and at that moment, she looked more vulnerable than he had ever seen her.
"I don't want to pressure you, Liam," she said softly. "But I need to know… are you in this with me? Or are you still holding onto something that isn't there anymore?"
Liam's breath caught in his throat. He had been wrestling with this for so long, the question he had been avoiding now staring him in the face. Eva deserved an answer, and he owed it to her to be honest.
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I care about you, Eva. I do. But I think I'm still trying to figure out what I want."
Eva's expression softened, and she reached out to take his hand. "It's okay, Liam. I just needed to hear it from you. We can take our time, and figure things out together. But whatever happens, I want you to be happy."
Liam looked into her eyes, seeing nothing but understanding and patience. He squeezed her hand, grateful for her steady presence in his life. "I want that too. For both of us."
As they continued walking, the cool breeze wrapped around them, carrying with it the promise of change. And for the first time in a long while, Liam felt like maybe, just maybe, he was ready to embrace whatever the future had in store.