The evening sky turned golden orange, signaling that night was approaching. The Annual Summer Festival was reaching its peak, and the atmosphere grew livelier. Colorful lanterns adorned the streets, while traditional music blended with the cheerful laughter of festival-goers. The enticing aroma of various delicious foods filled the air, tempting anyone passing by.
Among the crowd, a young man named Zeyu strolled leisurely, enjoying the festive atmosphere. His eyes sparkled as he observed the many attractions—ring toss, mini boat racing, and balloon shooting. But what caught his attention the most was a curry noodle stall emitting a rich, savory aroma.
"Ah, this looks perfect," he thought, quickly joining the long queue.
As he waited, Zeyu observed the people around him. There were couples chatting happily, small children running around, and groups of teenagers laughing after winning stuffed animals from the games. This festival truly brought warmth and joy to everyone.
After ten minutes, it was finally his turn. Excitedly, Zeyu ordered a bowl of special curry noodles and reached into his pocket to pay. However, his face suddenly paled.
"Oh no... I left my money in the car!"
He swallowed nervously, feeling embarrassed in front of the vendor and the people behind him. Just as he was about to apologize and step back, the person behind him suddenly handed over a few bills.
"I'll cover the rest," the man said casually.
Zeyu turned around and saw a young man about his age, with golden-brown hair and a friendly smile. He wore a short-sleeved floral shirt, fitting the summer festival theme perfectly.
"Ah... I can't just accept this..." Zeyu hesitated.
The man chuckled lightly. "Don't worry about it. Think of it as part of the festival spirit."
Zeyu finally sighed in relief and bowed slightly. "Thank you so much! I'll definitely pay you back later!"
The young man shrugged. "No need. But if you really want to return the favor… how about we eat together?"
Zeyu smiled. "That sounds great!"
They walked toward the seating area near the main festival stage, where a cultural performance and fireworks show would soon begin. The crowd grew larger, and the lanterns hanging above them began to glow one by one.
While slurping his hot noodles, Zeyu turned to the young man beside him. "By the way, what's your name?"
The man set down his chopsticks for a moment and smiled. "My name is Kailu. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Zeyu! Nice to meet you too!"
They quickly fell into a natural conversation, talking about their favorite foods, places they had traveled to, and funny experiences from school. Kailu wasn't the quiet type—he had a lot of stories to tell, each one accompanied by expressive gestures and laughter.
Zeyu felt at ease. It wasn't every day he met someone he could connect with so easily.
When the main performance began, their attention shifted to the stage. A traditional dancer gracefully moved under the glow of the swaying lanterns. Soft music filled the air, adding a magical touch to the evening.
Suddenly, the sound of fireworks echoed through the sky, painting it with dazzling colors.
"Wow… this is amazing," Kailu said, eyes sparkling.
"Yeah, I never get tired of watching fireworks," Zeyu replied with a smile.
After the performance ended, they decided to explore more of the festival. They tried their luck at balloon shooting, where Kailu won a small fox plushie with ease.
"Looks like I have a natural talent for this," Kailu said proudly.
"Don't get too cocky. I'll challenge you in the next game!" Zeyu replied playfully.
They moved on to ring toss, mini fishing games, and even tried the festival's signature rainbow ice cream. That night, their laughter echoed through the festival streets, as if they had been friends for years.
As the festival started winding down and the night grew late, Zeyu offered to drive Kailu home as a thank-you for helping him earlier. Kailu initially refused, but seeing Zeyu's sincerity, he finally agreed.
Inside the car, their conversation continued, filled with occasional laughter as they reminisced about the funny moments at the festival.
After a short drive, they arrived in front of Kailu's house.
"Thanks again for today," Zeyu said before Kailu got out.
Kailu smiled. "I should be the one thanking you. If it weren't for that moment earlier, I probably would've spent this festival alone."
Zeyu chuckled. "Well then, let's come together next time!"
Kailu nodded before waving goodbye. "Definitely! See you later, Zeyu."
As Zeyu drove home, he realized something—today was the start of something new. Who would've thought that a chance encounter at a festival could be the beginning of a friendship that might last a lifetime?
---
To be continued...