The cool night air helped clear my mind, but not enough. I needed to distract myself, to get away from everything, even if it was for a while. Lindsay and Megan were walking a little further back, talking to each other. Without thinking too much, I turned around and walked over.
"Do you have plans for dinner?" I asked.
They both looked at me, surprised. Megan was the first to react.
"Are you inviting, Sack?" she asked, with a smile.
"Yes," I replied, shrugging my shoulders. I know a place nearby. It's not bad.
Lindsay looked at me curiously, as if she was trying to decipher my intentions. I don't blame her. I wasn't the kind of person who invited others over for dinner, but at the time, the thought of being alone was unbearable to me.
"What kind of place?" Lindsay asked, cautiously.
"A good one," I said simply. Come on, if you want.
Megan seemed hesitant, looking at Lindsay as if seeking approval. Finally, she nodded with a small smile.
"Okay, let's go.
The place I took them was one of those expensive restaurants my father used to frequent to close deals. It wasn't my style, but I knew the food was good, and at the time, that was all that mattered. The restaurant was half empty, which was lucky. I didn't want to deal with crowds.
We sat at a table near the window, with a decent view of the street. Megan watched everything with a mixture of amazement and nervousness.
"Wow," she murmured. I had never been to a place like this.
Lindsay, on the other hand, was more relaxed. She knew that, like me, she had accompanied her father to business dinners, so these places were not alien to her. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"So this is 'not bad' for you," she said with a hint of mockery.
I shrugged.
The waiter came over and took our orders. Megan flipped through the menu carefully, as if it all seemed too much. Finally, she chose something simple. Lindsay asked without hesitation, and I opted for the first thing I saw. I wasn't hungry, but I needed something to do with my hands.
As we waited for food, Megan broke the silence.
—Have you already thought about which clubs you are going to join? She asked, looking at us alternately. There are many options.
"I haven't thought much about it," Lindsay said, shrugging her shoulders. Perhaps something of general interest, but nothing decided.
"And you, Sack?" Any club that catches your eye?
I wasn't sure how to respond. I'd never been someone to join clubs, but I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere either.
"I don't know," I said finally. Maybe something related to photography.
Megan raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds... strange.
Lindsay looked at me with a sideways smile.
I didn't answer, but I noticed the way Megan looked around, a little overwhelmed. Lindsay noticed as well, and with a casual gesture, shifted the conversation to something lighter.
The food arrived at that moment, and for a while, we concentrated on eating. The conversation flowed more lightly, talking about classes, professors, and plans for the year. Lindsay seemed more relaxed, and Megan, though still a little shy, slowly perked up.
At one point, Lindsay looked at me and smiled.
"Thank you for having us," she said softly. This is... pleasant.
I nodded, not quite knowing how to respond.
When we left the restaurant, the night was still cool and pleasant. We stopped on the sidewalk while Megan checked her phone, probably to hail a taxi back to college. But before I could do so, Lindsay spoke.
"What if we walk back?" she suggested. The city looks good at this hour.
Megan hesitated for a moment, but seeing that I didn't reject the idea, she put the phone away and nodded.
"Okay. It's not every day that you have the opportunity to tour a city like this at night.
We began to walk leisurely, letting the city lights guide us. The breeze was pleasant, and the streets, though not entirely empty, had a calm air. We passed cafes still open, with groups of people laughing on the terraces, through illuminated shop windows that reflected the colors of neon on the wet pavement.
"It's pretty," Megan said quietly, hugging herself as if trying to catch the warmth of the moment.
"Yes," Lindsay replied. I like it when the city is like this, without the chaos of the day.
I just listened, watching around. I wasn't used to doing this kind of thing, but I had to admit that there was something relaxing about it.
We arrived at a small park with iron benches and antique lanterns that emitted a warm light. We sat for a moment, just enjoying the tranquility of the place.
"I didn't think we'd end the night like this," I said, breaking the silence.
Lindsay smiled.
"For better or for worse?"
"For the better, I suppose.
Megan laughed softly.
"Definitely better than being in my bedroom."
We stayed a while longer, before resuming the path to university.
When we finally arrived, we stopped in front of the main building. We said goodbye with a simple gesture and each one went their own way. I made my way to my bedroom, where I found my companion still organizing his things.
"Busy night?" He asked without taking his eyes off his backpack.
"Something like that," I replied, dropping down on the bed.
He nodded and stretched, as if he had just finished a grueling task.
"I talked to the football team today," he said. It seems that there is room for new players. I could try.
"That sounds good," I commented half-heartedly, but with some curiosity.
"Yes. We'll see how it goes. Tomorrow I have to go to a meeting with them.
I nodded, feeling the tiredness begin to weigh me down. My companion went on talking for a while longer, but my answers became shorter and shorter until sleep overcame me.