Naira went back to reading her book, trying to ignore Arka's presence beside her. However, a few minutes passed before the man started another conversation.
"Do you come here often?"
Naira shook her head. "Not really."
"Then why did you come?"
Naira closed her book, then turned her gaze toward the park, which was beginning to fill with people.
"I needed somewhere quiet."
Arka nodded slowly. "Then we're the same."
Naira turned to him. "How are we the same?"
"I come here too when I want to be alone."
"Then why are you trying to talk to me now?"
Arka chuckled softly. "Because you looked like you didn't like it when I was quiet."
Naira frowned. "I never said that."
"But your face did."
Naira merely rolled her eyes. She opened her book again, hoping Arka would stop trying to talk to her. Unfortunately, a few seconds later, his voice sounded again.
"Do you like to read?"
"Yeah."
"What kind of books?"
"Novels."
Arka nodded. "Do you like romance stories?"
Naira looked at him suspiciously. She couldn't see why Arka's question mattered so much.
"Why do you ask?" Naira said.
"Just curious."
Naira rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "Why does it have to be romance?" she asked.
"Because you look like someone who likes love stories."
Naira laughed softly. "You sure think you know me, don't you?"
"So I'm wrong?"
"Maybe."
Arka gave her a faint smile. "Then I'll make another guess next time."
Naira slowly shook her head. It was strange. They had only met twice, yet the man had already managed to make her talk more than she wanted to.
"There doesn't need to be a next time. Hopefully, we'll never meet again, Arka."
Arka fell silent as he processed Naira's words, but then he merely gave her a faint smile. Naira was confused when she saw it.
"What a shame," he said softly. "I was actually hoping we'd meet again."
Naira stared at Arka fearfully, afraid the man might be a stalker. She slowly edged a little farther away from him.
"Why are you looking at me like I'm a ghost?"
Naira stammered, unsure what to say.
"Uh, um... Why are you hoping we'll meet again?" she asked.
Arka merely shrugged. "I don't know. It just seems like it would be fun."
"What's so fun about it?"
"Something always happens whenever I meet you."
Naira fell silent, remembering the empty bottle that had hit Arka in the head. From that memory, she concluded that the man couldn't possibly be a stalker, could he?
"I'm sorry, Arka, but let's not remember that."
Arka chuckled. "That's exactly what made me remember you."
Naira sighed. "Forget it."
Arka then stood up from the bench. "I'll get going," he said before leaving.
Naira merely nodded. "Okay."
Arka had only walked a few steps when he suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Naira."
"Hm?"
"Don't get your hopes up about us never meeting again."
Naira furrowed her brow. "Why not?"
Arka gave her a faint smile.
"Because it's a small world."
After saying that, Arka left the park. Naira kept watching his back until he disappeared into the crowd.
"What a weirdo," she muttered.
She opened her book again, trying to forget their conversation. But the harder she tried to forget it, the more she remembered it, and the harder it became to forget.
"Ugh, calm down, Naira. There's no way I'll ever see him again. Please, God, don't let me run into him again," she said to herself.