While sitting in class, Alya found herself thinking about what had happened that morning again.
Not because of Arka.
But because she had just realized something. She didn't know who that guy was. She'd never seen him before. Or maybe she was just too oblivious to her surroundings.
She didn't even know what major Arka was in at school. She didn't know what grade he was in.
She didn't even know why he could be so relaxed after getting run into by someone. Normally, Alya would've been furious because she wouldn't have let it slide.
Break time had arrived.
She was sitting alone on a bench near the school garden when someone walked past her.
Alya recognized him. The guy she'd run into that morning.
"Arka," Alya called.
The boy stopped and turned around. His lips curved into a smile when he saw who had just called him.
"Alya?" he murmured softly. But Alya could tell what he was saying from the movement of his lips.
Alya smiled. "We meet again," she said, waving at him.
"Looks like it."
Arka pointed at the empty bench beside Alya. "Can I sit there?"
Alya nodded. "Sure. Why not?" she replied.
Arka sat down. For a while, they were silent. It wasn't awkward. They just weren't used to each other yet. This was only the second time they'd met.
Alya gazed at the garden in front of them.
"Do you come here often?" Alya asked.
"Sometimes," Arka answered, still looking straight ahead.
"Why?" Alya asked again.
"It's quiet," Arka replied curtly.
Alya let out a small laugh. "This is the school garden. How could it be quiet?"
"During break like this, it's pretty quiet. Everyone's busy eating in the cafeteria."
Alya nodded. She agreed.
"I like quiet places too," Alya said.
Arka turned to her. "You?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Who else would I mean?" Alya replied.
"I thought you liked crowded places," Arka said, making Alya furrow her brow in confusion.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because this morning, you looked like you were chasing down the entire school."
Alya laughed. "Don't bring that up."
"Why?"
"It's embarrassing."
Arka laughed along with her.
Their conversation was simple. They talked about school and all their teachers. They talked about the food in the cafeteria. They talked about assignments that had been piling up lately and never seemed to get finished. Nothing major. Just the kind of ordinary conversation schoolkids had.
But for the first time, Alya felt comfortable talking to Arka. She didn't have to think too hard. Arka didn't ask many questions, either. He just listened.
When Alya told a story, the boy laughed every now and then. When Alya complained, Arka only offered brief comments. He didn't overdo it, but he didn't dismiss her, either.
The bell rang. It was time for them to return to their respective classes.
"I have to get to class," Alya said, raising her index finger to remind Arka that the bell had rung.
Arka nodded. "We have school again tomorrow?"
"Unfortunately, yeah. I really don't feel like it anymore."
Arka laughed. "Then we'll see each other again."
Alya stood up.
"Maybe," she replied.
"Why maybe?" Arka asked, puzzled.
"Who knows? Maybe I'll accidentally run into someone else," she answered with a teasing smile.
Arka smiled. "Don't."
"Why?" Alya asked, puzzled.
"The next victim might not be as patient as I am," he replied as casually as possible.
Alya gave him a faint smile.
"Pretty confident, aren't you?" she said.
She walked away from the garden.
After a few steps, Alya turned around.
"Arka," she called.
"Hm?"
"It was nice meeting you."
Arka was silent for a moment. Then he smiled.
"Nice meeting you too, Alya," he replied. His smile grew wider.
Alya left.
Arka remained seated on the garden bench.
He didn't know that this brief conversation that afternoon would become the beginning of a long friendship.
There was no love. No promises. No feelings that needed to be hidden. Just two people who had only just met. Trying to open themselves up to a new friendship. And a simple meeting that would slowly change their lives.
"Alya," Arka murmured.
Arka stood up. He left the garden, leaving behind the last traces of the warmth that had just passed between them.
When he got back to class, the boy was greeted by his best friend's sour expression.
"Where the hell have you been?" his friend asked sharply.
He'd been waiting alone in the cafeteria. Arka had said he was just stepping away for a bit. But in the end, by the time his order had gone cold, Arka still hadn't returned.
"Something came up," he answered, not wanting to be honest.
"What kind of something? Was it so important you couldn't even text me?" his best friend asked.
"Yeah."
The boy clicked his tongue. Arka's answer did not satisfy him in the slightest.
"The teacher still hasn't come?" Arka asked.
"Not yet. But I heard Mr. Seno got permission to miss school today. His wife's sick."
Arka turned to him, his brow furrowing. "He was here this morning."
"Yeah. He got permission during the second period. He was on the phone with his family," the other boy explained.
"Oh. You sure know a lot."
"I heard it, idiot!"
Arka smiled.
"What's with that face? You've been grinning nonstop, I swear."
"I'll tell you later, when the time is right."