Evion and Lucas headed to the university café, choosing a table near the window overlooking the campus. The soft sunlight illuminated the space, lending a sense of calm. They sat down and ordered coffee with light snacks.
Lucas raised his cup with a playful grin.
"You know my dream is to become a psychologist, and I think I'll be amazing at helping beautiful women."
Evion smirked lightly, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Still clinging to your bad habits, huh? Don't worry, though—I'm sure you'll excel in the field."
Lucas laughed heartily.
"Haha, thanks for the vote of confidence. But what about you, Evion? We've talked about my dreams plenty. Have you decided whether to open a psychological clinic or a dessert shop?"
Evion sighed, his tone turning more serious.
"It's not that simple, Lucas. Opening a clinic would be deeply meaningful, but I also love cooking, especially desserts. Both options bring me joy in different ways, and I don't know which to choose."
Lucas nodded with mock wisdom.
"In the end, you'll have to pick. Time flies, and we all grow old."
Evion groaned.
"You sound so wise all of a sudden! Okay, Mr. Philosopher, what do I do then?"
Lucas leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"You're 22 years old now, so you've got time to think. But if time passes and you still don't find a girlfriend to share your life with, I'll pity you… because I'll be the only one stuck with you!"
At those words, a shadow flickered across Evion's expression, as if Lucas's jest had touched on an old wound. He gripped his cup tightly before raising his gaze slowly, speaking in a low voice laden with emotion.
"A girlfriend?... I don't think I'll need one now. Relationships… they look beautiful from the outside, but they're just temporary experiences. Everything passes, Lucas—even people. Happiness? It doesn't come from someone else. Maybe it's something you need to find within yourself… before looking for it in others."
Lucas noticed the subtle shift in Evion's demeanor; these weren't just idle words. There was a weight behind them, something deeper. Raising his eyebrows in mild surprise, he asked:
"What do you mean by that?"
Evion seemed to collect himself quickly, masking any vulnerability. His reply was calm yet composed, as if it were a casual philosophical musing.
"Nothing… It's just that we're born alone, and we die alone. Relationships seem to add color and meaning to life, but they're not the foundation. The foundation is understanding yourself… finding peace within, because people might come and go."
Lucas felt there was more to his friend's words than he let on but chose to lighten the mood instead.
"Oh, my! It seems you've turned into a wise sage overnight. Or maybe… Plato himself has been reborn in modern times!"
Evion forced a smile, laughing along with Lucas, trying to suppress the longing that had momentarily surfaced.
Evion grinned.
"Haha, it seems you've been reading too many novels to come to that conclusion."
As they shared a laugh, faint whispers from nearby tables reached their ears.
"Look at him, Evion looks so charming with that smile of his," one girl murmured.
"I know, he's so handsome. I can't help but adore him," another replied, unable to take her eyes off him.
Evion was aware of their chatter but chose to ignore it entirely, focusing instead on his conversation with Lucas.
After finishing their talk, the two decided to head to the lecture hall for their next class. On the way, they ran into Sára, a well-known student renowned for her academic and social energy.
"Hello, Evion. Hi, Lucas. How are you both today?" Sára greeted them with a bright smile.
Lucas quickly replied.
"Hi, Sára. We're good, thanks for asking. What can we do for you?"
Sára spoke with a formal tone.
"I just wanted to remind you both about our club meeting tomorrow after classes. It's important that everyone attends."
Lucas waved reassuringly.
"Thanks for the reminder. We'll be there."
Sára turned to Evion, her gaze serious.
"I hope you make it this time, Eivion. Your presence is important."
As she left, Lucas nudged Evion playfully.
"You should go this time. You can't skip all the meetings."
Evion replied nonchalantly.
"I'm not interested in those gatherings."
Shaking his head with a laugh, Lucas teased.
"Stubborn as always. But trust me, you'll feel better if you attend."
Evion's mind wandered to the memory of how he had joined the club during his first year. Sitting in a lecture hall, isolated from others, the dim lights and focus on the book in his hands were his solace. Back then, Sára had approached him with her characteristic enthusiasm.
"Hi! I'm Sára. How are you?" she had asked cheerfully.
Without looking up, Evion responded.
"Hi."
Her tone remained persistent.
"Would you like to join the student club? We need new members to get it started."
Evion had displayed clear indifference.
"I don't think it's for me."
Undeterred, Sára smiled firmly.
"Then I'll take that as a yes. Your presence will be a great addition."
That was how Evion found himself in the club, despite his initial reluctance. Now, reflecting on it, he felt a mix of amusement and irony.
As he walked alongside Lucas, he commented lightly.
"Looks like I became a club member against my will."
Lucas chuckled.
"Exactly, and that's why you should show up tomorrow. You can't always escape."
The day ended, and the two friends headed back to their respective homes. As they walked through the quiet streets, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. To lighten the mood, their conversation shifted.
"Have you heard about the new game Journey of the Wilderness King?" Evion asked with growing enthusiasm.
"Yeah," Lucas said, matching his excitement. "They say it's a tactical adventure with diverse environments. The difficulty ramps up with each level."
"Exactly," Evion agreed. "The technology behind it is cutting-edge. Players can explore entire worlds with near-realistic characters. It uses AI to adapt uniquely to each player."
"That sounds amazing," Lucas said, clearly intrigued. "I can't wait to try it."
As their paths diverged, Lucas waved. "Alright, see you later, Evion. I'm heading home to prep for the game!"
Evion smiled. "Take care. Let me know how it goes!"
He continued toward his small rented apartment near the university.
Upon reaching his rented apartment, Eivion felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. The place was quiet, just as he liked it—simple, tidy, and reflective of his introverted nature, with only the essentials present. The apartment walls were a faint, dull color, with a single window overlooking a calm street. Slowly, he took off his shoes, as if shedding the burdens of the day, and dropped onto the couch standing at the center of the room.
He lay there for a while, trying to shake off the exhaustion of the long day, and closed his eyes momentarily to savor a brief moment of silence. Yet, he couldn't stay still for long—he never could. Picking up his phone, he dialed his mother, as he did almost every evening. That daily call served as a reminder that someone out there still cared for him.
"Hi Mom, how are you?" Evion spoke softly.
His mother replied with warmth in her voice, "Hello, dear. I'm fine. How was your day?"
As he answered her, Eivion's gaze drifted toward the books scattered on the side table—some were about psychology, others were fantasy novels.
Eivion shared details about his day, packed with lectures, and mentioned his conversation with Lucas, including their talk about the new game. His mother always listened intently, caring about even the smallest details in his life, something that gave him a deep sense of connection with her.
With a slight note of concern, his mother asked, "Have you eaten anything yet?"
Smiling, Evion replied, "Not yet. I was planning to fix something light after this call."
"Make sure it's something nutritious, sweetheart. Don't neglect your health," she said gently.
"I will, Mom, don't worry. How was your day?" he asked.
His mother spoke briefly about her day and some family activities before ending the call with wishes for him to rest well.
After hanging up, Evion felt a bit more at ease, though his mind still lingered on how to manage his evening. He decided to start with preparing a meal. Heading to the kitchen, he made a light sandwich with grilled chicken slices and some vegetables, pairing it with a glass of fresh juice.
"This looks delicious and nutritious—just what I need," he said to himself.
He sat at the table, savoring each bite of his meal. Once finished, he cleaned the kitchen and tidied up.
After eating, he changed into comfortable sleepwear and lay down on his bed. On the bedside table lay a book he had been reading a few pages from each night before falling asleep. He tried to focus on the words before him, but his thoughts kept drifting—sometimes to old memories, sometimes to the worries occupying his mind.
Following several minutes of futile attempts to concentrate, his eyes slowly closed, and he succumbed to sleep.