Evi walked slowly, her thoughts still tangled in confusion.
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and tried to walk past everything—
but suddenly—
Herry stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
His voice came out low, almost hesitant.
Herry (guilty): "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to do that."
Evi froze for a second.
She didn't reply.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her bag strap.
A few seconds passed.
Then she finally spoke—
Evi (cold): "But you did."
She looked at him properly now, her eyes steady.
Evi: "You crossed the line."
Herry lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze.
Herry (low): "I'm sorry…"
But Evi had already stepped past him.
She walked away.
Herry's hand lifted slightly—like he wanted to stop her—
but he couldn't.
He just stood there, frozen.
A few seconds passed.
"…Why did I do that…?"
His voice was barely a whisper.
"…Why…"
On the other side, Rex walked home, his thoughts heavy.
The same line kept repeating in his mind—
Was I just used?
His grip tightened slightly.
I don't even want to talk to her again…
As soon as he reached home, his mother looked at him.
Mother: "What happened?"
Rex didn't stop walking.
Rex (flat): "Nothing."
He went straight to his room and closed the door.
Hours passed.
The silence in his room slowly settled his mind.
His thoughts weren't as sharp anymore.
Then—
another memory surfaced.
She protected me once…
Rex stared at his phone for a moment.
Then picked it up.
He called her.
After a few rings, she answered.
Evi (normal): "Hello?"
Rex leaned back slightly.
Rex: "Do you still want to go play badminton?"
There was a small pause—
then her tone lifted.
Evi (light): "Yeah… but I don't have anyone to come with."
Rex: "I'll come."
Evi paused again, a bit surprised.
Evi: "Don't you have to study?"
Rex: "I'll do that later."
Evi (happy): "Okay! Let's meet at the bus stand at 1 p.m."
Rex: "Okay."
On the other side, Herry sat alone, still lost in his thoughts.
He kept thinking about the same thing—
how to make her talk to him again.
Then an idea came to him.
He walked toward his mother.
Herry: "Can you arrange dinner with Evi's family?"
His mother looked at him.
Mother: "Why?"
Herry hesitated for a second.
Herry: "It's been a long time since we had dinner together… so I thought we could."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
Mother: "Is everything okay between you and Evi?"
Herry paused.
Herry: "…Yeah. Everything's fine."
She watched him for a moment—then nodded.
Mother: "Alright. I'll ask her mother."
Later that evening—
Mother: "We're having dinner together on Tuesday night. At Waz Hotel."
Herry's expression lit up slightly.
Herry: "Really?"
Mother smiled faintly.
Mother: "Yes."
Then she added—
Mother: "Take some money. Buy yourself decent clothes… and get something for Evi too."
Herry froze for a second.
It felt like she knew.
But she didn't say anything.
Tuesday arrived.
Rex stood near the door, adjusting his clothes.
Mother (teasing): "Going out with a friend?"
Rex looked away slightly.
Rex: "Yeah."
Mother smiled.
Mother: "Friend… or classmate?"
Rex gave a small, embarrassed smile and left.
When he reached the bus stand—
he stopped.
Evi was already there.
He walked toward her.
Rex: "You came early?"
Evi turned and smiled.
Evi (playful): "Yeah. This time I'm first… and you're late, loser."
Rex let out a small laugh.
Rex: "Really?"
They both laughed lightly.
They got on the bus together.
After reaching their stop, they walked toward the badminton court.
After changing—
Evi spun the racket in her hand.
Evi (excited): "Whoever loses treats dinner."
Rex smirked slightly.
Rex: "Okay."
They started playing.
Rex kept winning again and again.
Evi frowned, clearly not satisfied.
Evi: "Rematch."
Rex chuckled softly.
Rex: "Okay."
Again—he won.
Evi: "Again."
Rex just smiled.
Rex: "Okay."
Time passed.
The sky slowly turned orange.
Rex lowered his racket slightly.
Rex: "We should go now."
Evi wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Evi: "Yeah… but first, let's eat something."
Rex smirked.
Rex: "As you wish… loser."
Evi glared at him.
Evi: "Don't call me that. You're just better than me."
Rex smiled faintly.
As they walked—
Evi looked at him.
Evi: "Why are you so good at everything? I've never even seen you play before."
Rex shrugged slightly.
Rex: "I just like badminton… but at school, I don't have friends to play with."
Evi slowed her steps.
Evi: "Why?"
Rex looked ahead.
Rex: "I don't know… I just don't talk to them."
Evi sighed lightly.
Evi: "That's the reason."
Rex: "Oh…"
Evi smiled a little.
Rex: "I always thought if someone talked to me first, I'd reply… but it never happened."
Evi (teasing): "Dummy."
They reached a small stall.
Evi pointed at it.
Evi: "Do you want to eat here?"
Rex looked at her.
Rex: "Do you?"
Evi nodded.
Evi: "Yeah."
They started eating.
Talking.
Laughing lightly.
And slowly—
they forgot about time…
and everything else.