The morning after Evana's surprise visit felt different. The air in my room was lighter, the sunlight brighter, as if the world had shifted overnight. I woke up with a smile on my face, the memory of her laugh and the warmth of her hand in mine still fresh in my mind. But as I lay there, the reality of the day ahead began to creep in.
College. Responsibilities. Money. The life I had momentarily escaped.
I dragged myself out of bed, the weight of routine settling back onto my shoulders. The coffee Evana had brought me yesterday was still sitting on my desk, half-finished and cold. I picked it up, staring at the cup as if it held some kind of answer.
*What now?*
The question lingered in my mind as I got ready. I couldn't shake the feeling that yesterday had been a turning point, but I wasn't sure what came next. Evana had opened a door, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to walk through it.
I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs, my footsteps echoing in the quiet house. As I stepped outside, the crisp morning air hit me, and I saw Evana waiting by the gate, her backpack slung over one shoulder. She looked up and smiled when she saw me.
"Morning, Benji!" she said, stepping in close beside me.
"Morning!" I replied, my voice still rough with sleep.
"You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep," she admitted, shrugging.
"Thought I'd make sure you didn't oversleep again."
Before I could respond, a deep voice came from behind me. "Good morning, Benji."I turned to see Evana's dad walking toward us, his hands in his coat pockets. He had a calm demeanor, but there was something about him that always made me uneasy. Maybe it was the way his eyes seemed to see right through me, or the way he carried himself with an air of authority.
"Good morning, sir," I said, forcing a polite smile.
He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. "How are you holding up, Benji? I heard about your situation. It must be tough, supporting yourself like this."
I shifted uncomfortably, unsure how much to share. "I'm managing, sir. It's not easy, but I'm getting by."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly expecting more. "And how exactly are you managing? If you don't mind me asking."
I hesitated, glancing at Evana. She gave me an encouraging nod, so I took a deep breath and explained. "When my dad left, he didn't take all the money. My mom and I had a small clothing business, but it failed. Still, there was some revenue coming in for a while. But my mom… she struggled with alcohol. Most of what we had left went to that. By the time she was gone, there wasn't much. Just enough to last me a month or so."
Evana's dad listened intently, his expression unreadable. When I finished, he sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder. "That's a heavy burden for someone your age to carry alone. Let me help you, Benji. I can offer you some financial support to get you through this."
I blinked, caught off guard. "I… I appreciate that, sir, but I can't accept—"
"Nonsense," he interrupted, his tone firm but kind. "You're important to Evana, and that makes you important to me. Besides, it's not right for you to struggle when there's help available."
I glanced at Evana again, and she gave me a small smile. "It's okay, Benji. I talked to him about it. He wants to help."
Her words eased some of the tension in my chest, but I still felt uneasy about accepting his aid. I didn't want to feel indebted to anyone, especially not Evana's dad. But the truth was, I didn't have much of a choice. My savings were running out, and I had no idea what I'd do once they were gone.
"Thank you, sir," I said finally, my voice quiet.
"I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," he replied, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Just focus on your studies and take care of yourself. That's all I ask."
With that, he nodded at Evana and walked back toward the house, leaving the two of us alone.
"Your dad's… really kind," I said, still processing what had just happened.
Evana smiled. "He can be intimidating at first, but he's got a big heart. He just wants to help."
"I guess I misjudged him," I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt.
"I always thought he didn't like me."
She laughed softly. "He's just protective. But he sees how much you mean to me, and that's all that matters."
We started walking to college, the rhythm of our footsteps matching the steady beat of my thoughts. The memory of yesterday—the laughter, the ice cream, the kiss—played on a loop in my mind, and I stole a glance at her, wondering if she was thinking about it too.
"You're quiet today," Evana said, breaking the silence. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," I said quickly, maybe too quickly.
"Just… thinking."
"About what?"
I hesitated, unsure how much to say. "About yesterday. About… us."
She glanced at me, her expression softening. "What about us?"
I shrugged, my hands stuffed into my pockets. "I don't know. It just feels like… something's changed. Like we're in this weird in-between place, and I'm not sure what to do next."
Evana was quiet for a moment, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. "Maybe you don't have to do anything," she said finally. "Maybe we just… see where it goes."
Her words were simple, but they carried a weight that made my chest tighten. "And if I mess it up?"
She stopped walking and turned to face me, her eyes searching mine. "You won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know you, Benji," she said, her voice steady. "And I trust you."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless. I wanted to say something—anything—to tell her how much that meant to me, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I just nodded, and we continued walking.When we arrived at college, the usual buzz of students filled the halls. Evana and I made our way to her locker, where she started unpacking her books. I leaned against the locker next to hers, watching her as she hummed softly under her breath.
"So," she said, glancing at me. "How'd you sleep?"
"Better than I have in a while," I admitted. "Thanks to you."
She tilted her head, her smile softening. "Good. You looked like you needed it."
There was a moment of silence between us, the kind that felt heavy with unspoken words. I wanted to say something—about yesterday, about the kiss, about how she made me feel like I could breathe again—but the words stuck in my throat.Before I could figure out what to say, a voice interrupted us.
"Evana!"
I turned to see Marcus, if I remembered correctly, one of my classmates, jogging toward us. He was out of breath, his face flushed. Marcus looked at me once and ignored me as if I was invisible. He started talking with Evana as if I wasn't there, like my presence didn't matter.
"You hear the news?" he asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
"What news?" Evana asked, her brow furrowing.
"There's a talent show next week," Marcus said, grinning. "The college is hosting it, and the winner gets a cash prize. I'm thinking of signing up. You should too!"
I blinked, caught off guard. A talent show?
Evana on the other hand looked ecstatic. Before she could provide any suggestions, i had to tell her directly.
"I'm not exactly… talented. So don't hope anything from me!" I explained before she got any devilish ideas.
Evana nudged me with her elbow. "Don't sell yourself short, Benji. You're great at volleyball, remember?"
"Yeah, but that's not exactly talent show material and I didnt say I was great. I just play it." I said, laughing nervously.
"You could always try something new," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Like… singing. Or poetry."
"Poetry?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think I'm the poetic type."
"You'd be surprised," she said, her voice soft. "Sometimes the quiet ones have the most to say."
Her words lingered in the air, and for a moment, it felt like she was talking about more than just a talent show. Then someone tapped my shoulder. "Think about it, man. It could be fun. And who knows? You might even win."
It was Marcus. I hadn't spoken to him a single time in my life. But he spoke to me out of his own volition. And with such a freidly tone. It seems making connections were far easier than breaking them
He walked off, leaving Evana and me alone again.
"So," she said, leaning closer. "What do you think?"
"I think Marcus is crazy," I said, shaking my head. "But… I don't know. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try something new."
Evana's smile widened. "That's the spirit. And if you need a partner, I'm always available."
Her words sent a jolt of warmth through me, and I couldn't help but smile back. "I'll keep that in mind."
The rest of the day passed in a blur, but my mind kept drifting back to the talent show. It felt like a crossroads—a chance to step out of my comfort zone and take a risk. But the thought of standing on a stage, in front of everyone, made my stomach twist.
After classes, I found myself walking to the park, the same one Evana and I had visited yesterday. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the grass. I sat on a bench, staring at the fountain where we'd taken photos, and tried to sort through my thoughts.
"Mind if I join you?" I looked up to see Evana standing there, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket.
"Sure," I said, scooting over to make room.
She sat down beside me, her shoulder brushing against mine. For a while, we just sat there, watching the water ripple in the fountain.
"You're thinking about the talent show, aren't you?" she asked finally.
I nodded. "Yeah. I don't know why, but it's got me… nervous."
"That's normal," she said. "But sometimes, the things that scare us the most are the ones worth doing."
I turned to look at her, her face bathed in the golden light of the sunset. "When did you get so wise?"
She laughed, the sound light and carefree.
"I've always been wise. You just never noticed."
Her words made me smile. And they made me feel something.
Maybe the talent show was a risk. Maybe I'd make a fool of myself. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had something—or someone—worth taking that risk for.
I have decided, I will take part in the next talent show.