They walked home together, their steps in sync beneath the golden hues of the evening sky. The setting sun cast its fading light through the gaps in the leaves, creating long shadows on the sidewalk blanketed with fallen, crisp leaves. A gentle breeze carried the warm, earthy scent of the ground, mingling with the dry foliage's fragrance, bringing a sense of tranquility to their journey.
Earlier, at the school gate, Rendra had clapped Navies on the shoulder with his signature grin.
"I'm heading out first. Don't forget to come to Mike's place this week," he said casually. Then, his gaze shifted to the girl standing beside Navies. With a teasing smile, he added, "Heading home with your new girlfriend?"
Mei froze, feeling slightly awkward at the remark. Navies simply let out a light sigh, already accustomed to his friend's antics. Instead of responding, he just gave a small smile and a brief nod.
Rendra chuckled before waving his hand. "Oh, almost forgot," Navies suddenly said. "You can take my bike today."
Rendra raised his hand in agreement before heading toward the parking lot. Not long after, Navies turned his attention to Mei, who had been silent the whole time. He walked toward his black bicycle parked near the gate. However, instead of riding it, he chose to push it leisurely, keeping his pace aligned with Mei's.
Silence enveloped them, the only sounds were their footsteps and the rustling wind. Finally, Navies broke the quiet with a curious tone.
"Hey, Mei," he said suddenly. "I often see you carrying a small notebook and writing something in it. You seem really into fruits and vegetables."
He glanced at her, his expression serious yet relaxed. "Why?"
Mei halted for a moment, her eyes widening slightly as she looked at Navies, as if surprised that someone had actually noticed her habit. Her lips hesitated, biting the corner as if weighing something, before she finally let out a slow breath.
"It all started when I lost my father and brother..." Her voice softened, as if each word carried a burden she had kept hidden for so long.
Navies didn't interrupt. He just stood there, silent, patiently waiting.
"My father had leukemia, and my brother was obese," Mei continued. "My dad never really took care of his health. He drank too much, stayed up late, ate recklessly... My brother was the same. My mom always tried so hard to prepare healthy meals for them, hoping they would change. But instead, they always ended up arguing."
She let out a small laugh, but it sounded bitter, like an old wound reopening.
Navies kept his gaze on her, allowing Mei to continue without interruption.
"In the end... I lost them both," she said, her voice trembling. "My dad went first. His illness worsened. And before I could even fully accept that reality, my brother followed not long after..."
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. The memories she had buried resurfaced vividly, as if they had just happened yesterday.
"My mom was devastated," she went on, her voice barely above a whisper. "And so was I. She even fell ill and had to be hospitalized. At that time, I thought I was going to lose her too..."
For a moment, the wind blew colder. Mei quickly wiped her eyes, refusing to appear vulnerable in front of Navies.
"But thankfully, she recovered," she said, her voice quieter. "Though she was never really the same. From that moment on, I started paying more attention to our diet, taking care of her at home, making sure only healthy food was on our table."
Navies was still looking at her, but there was something different in his eyes now. A softer, deeper expression. Something in Mei's story had touched him more than he had expected something that reminded him of the wounds he, too, had kept hidden all this time.
A moment of silence. Mei gazed at the sky, watching as its colors began to shift. She took a deep breath and let out a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.
"You know? I have a little garden at home," she said suddenly, her voice carrying a lighter tone.
Without waiting for a response, she dashed forward, twirling once in the middle of the sidewalk. Her skirt swayed gently, her hair lifted by the evening breeze, casting a beautiful silhouette under the fading sunlight.
Navies offered only a faint smile, his pace steady as he watched her. He didn't say a word, but in his heart, this moment carried a meaning far deeper than words could ever express.
After hearing Mei's story, Navies fell silent. Something about it stirred old memories, awakening a sense of loss he had kept buried for so long. He wasn't the type to easily show emotions, but this time, there was a pull within him a need to do something more than just remain silent.
"Alright," he finally said, his voice softer than usual. "As a thank you... how about we go to my place? There's a fruit and vegetable farm near my house. I think you'd like it."
Mei blinked, hesitating. "Your place?"
Navies nodded, offering another one of his meaningful smiles. "Think of it as a gift from me to you, for helping me before."
Mei looked unsure. Her gaze flickered from Navies' face to the now quiet evening streets. But before she could refuse, Navies casually took her hand and started walking. The surprise was evident on Mei's face her cheeks flushed, her fingers tensing slightly. The touch felt unfamiliar, yet strangely, she didn't feel the need to pull away.
Curiosity eventually won over her hesitation. "Where do you live?" she asked spontaneously, her voice softer than before.
Navies glanced at her briefly, his expression calm but with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I live on the outskirts of town. Quite far from here. If we walked, it'd take us about a week."
Mei scoffed, then without hesitation, smacked his shoulder. "You're joking! Annoying!"
Navies chuckled, enjoying how Mei was slowly letting her true self show. Her laughter was crisp, carrying lightly between them, warming the atmosphere.
They eventually arrived at a bus stop not far from school. However, Navies suddenly remembered that there were no longer any bus routes to his house since the incident a while back. He let out a quiet sigh, then, without saying much, pulled out his phone. His fingers moved swiftly across the screen, and within minutes, a sleek black taxi pulled up right in front of them.
Mei eyed him uncertainly, her brows furrowing slightly. "Navies... do you have enough money for a taxi? I… I didn't bring…"
Navies turned to her, meeting her gaze briefly before replying in a calm tone, "Don't worry. I have enough savings. I work part-time regularly."
Mei fell silent for a moment, her expression softening. Then, unable to hold back, she let out a small laugh. "Alright then."
She climbed into the taxi, settling beside Navies. Throughout the ride, her voice carried a newfound lightness. She talked about many things about the book she had just read, about the stray cat that often followed her home, about the dreams she had once forgotten. Things she rarely shared before.
Navies listened in quiet amusement, his faint smile never fading. Perhaps, without realizing it, they had grown just a little closer.