The long night spent hanging out with the guys had finally come to an end. Now, it was just Sora and me, walking side by side down the dimly lit streets. The quiet hum of the city at night filled the air, and our footsteps echoed in sync.
As we walked, I couldn't help but wonder, why was Sora heading this way? His apartment was definitely in the opposite direction, the same way Anika and the others had gone.
"Isn't your apartment that way?" I asked, pointing over my shoulder. "The same direction as Anika and the others?"
"Yeah."
"Then why are you going this way?"
"I figured I'd walk you home since it's late," he said, his voice a little hesitant. "It's kind of dangerous at this hour."
I blinked at him, momentarily caught off guard. "But... can you even get home on your own after that?"
"I probably can," Sora replied with a small shrug. "So let me walk you to the station at least."
"Oh. Okay."
I agreed without giving it much thought. Maybe he really was just concerned, looking out for me like any decent person would. But still.
As we walked, I found my mind drifting back to the teasing from earlier. The others had been relentless, making little remarks and jokes that shifted my attention to Sora all day. And now, I couldn't help but notice him more than usual.
His slightly messy hair, the way he rubbed the back of his neck when he was shy, the quiet confidence in his steps, it was as if I'd been observing him all day without realizing it.
Which was strange.
I never really paid much attention to people before.
Yet, here I was.
Sora walked beside me, his pace steady, but I noticed him sneaking glances in my direction. It was as if he was working up the courage to say something.
Finally, he blurted it out.
"I'm sorry for earlier," he said, his voice breaking the stillness.
I tilted my head, confused. "Sorry for what?"
"The look you gave me earlier at the restaurant," he explained, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "I probably shouldn't have agreed to let them sit at our table. I thought it might've annoyed you or made you mad, so... I'm really sorry."
"Oh, that." I blinked, recalling the moment. "Yeah, I was a little annoyed at first. But then I realized it was kind of fun. Hanging around with people like that."
"Really?" His expression brightened slightly, but his tone was cautious.
"At first, I thought I couldn't match their energy," I admitted. "I've never been the type to keep up with loud, lively groups. But then I noticed something. Just like with you, I didn't have to match their energy at all. I could still have fun without trying so hard or feeling drained."
Sora's apologetic face melted into a warm smile, and the sight of it made something stir in my chest.
"That's great to hear," he said, his voice softer now. "Because I had fun, too. Honestly, I didn't think I'd blend in so well, but everyone was really welcoming."
He paused, glancing at me hesitantly before continuing. "Hey, I wonder, do you think we could go back to karaoke sometime? Just the two of us?"
I blinked. "Huh?"
"You could teach me to sing while the others aren't around," he explained, a shy grin creeping onto his face. "I was thinking maybe I could surprise them with my newly acquired skills. And, well, I bet it'd be fun. Just the two of us."
Wait... isn't that a date?
I froze for a moment, my thoughts spinning. Maybe I was overthinking it. It was probably just a friendly hangout. Nothing more, nothing less.
Still, I couldn't stop the faint warmth that spread through my chest.
"I'm really glad you had fun," I said quietly, breaking the silence. "I was a bit worried you'd feel overwhelmed or bored. But I guess it was the opposite, huh?"
Sora nodded, his smile lingering. "Yeah. Thanks for inviting me today. It really meant a lot."
I didn't really invite him though, it's more like I barged into his neighborhood without any consent. We kept walking, the silence between us now a little lighter, a little warmer.
We reached the train station, and a small, unexpected weight settled in my chest. The night had been so much fun, and now it was coming to an end. It felt bittersweet.
Sora and I stood near the entrance, exchanging a casual wave goodbye.
"Well, see you around," he said with a small smile.
"Yeah, see you," I replied, turning to climb the stairs.
But as I took my first few steps, something inside me hesitated. I paused mid-step, my heart beating faster than earlier.
Before I even realized it, my body moved on its own.
"Sora!" I called out, spinning on my heel and running back toward him.
He turned, startled. "Yes?"
"Shouldn't we at least exchange phone numbers?" I blurted out, my words spilling out in a rush. "I mean, just in case. Like, if you lose your way tonight or can't get home or something."
Sora blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, sure. But I think I'll be fine. I do know my way home, you know."
"Well, it's better to be safe than sorry!" I countered, trying to mask the slight embarrassment creeping into my voice.
He pulled out his phone, and we quickly exchanged contact information. As I saved his number, I realized this moment felt significant.
"Alright," he said, tucking his phone into his pocket. "Thanks. Now you can call me if you ever get lost, too."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the smile from forming. "Sure, sure."
This time, we really did part ways. I walked up the stairs to the platform, and Sora headed back the way we came.
As the train rumbled down the tracks, I sank into a seat, exhaustion finally catching up with me. It had been a long day wandering around his neighborhood to find his phone, the lively dinner at the restaurant, and the karaoke session with the others.
Yet, despite the tiredness weighing on me, I couldn't help but feel excited. Maybe I was looking forward to more days like this one.
Maybe... I was looking forward to more days with him.
When I got home, I didn't bother turning on the lights. I tossed my bag aside and collapsed face down onto my bed, letting out a groan into my pillow.
Sora hadn't texted me yet.
Is he home? Is he safe?
My chest felt tight, and my thoughts wouldn't stop swirling. Why was I this worried? Sure, I've worried about my best friend before, but this, this was different.
"AAAA!" I let out a scream into my pillow.
Why isn't he texting yet? It had been thirty minutes since we said goodbye. Thirty whole minutes.
Unable to take it any longer, I grabbed my phone and quickly typed out a message:
"Are you home?"
I pressed send and flopped back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling, my phone resting on my chest. Minutes ticked by. Each second felt like an eternity.
Finally, my phone dinged. I nearly dropped it in my haste to check the notification. It was him.
"Yeah, I'm home. Sorry for the late reply. My phone battery died haha."
A wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding. My body felt lighter, like I could finally relax.
But before I could stop myself, I typed out another message:
"That's good. Seems like you really do know the way back to your home. As it should be, of course. Goodnight!"
His reply came almost immediately.
"Haha! Goodnight! I'll see you tomorrow."
I stared at the screen, reading his message over and over.
He sure likes to send "haha"s over text.
And somehow, I could actually picture it, his smile, the way his laugh sounded.
I clutched my phone to my chest, my cheeks burning.
What is this feeling?