The bus moved forward with a low, steady hum.
No one spoke.
Not this time.
The earlier noise—the rush, the panic, the sudden chaos—had faded, leaving behind a strange, heavy silence.
Evi stood near the window, one hand lightly holding the back of a seat for balance.
Her fingers curled slightly around the edge of her sleeve.
Her breathing had slowed…
but not completely.
Every now and then, her grip tightened—just a little.
As if her body still hadn't caught up with what had happened.
She glanced down for a second.
That exact spot.
Where he had held her.
Her fingers brushed over it unconsciously—
—and then she quickly looked away.
Herry stood a few steps ahead, facing the window, one hand holding the overhead rail.
His reflection blurred against the glass as the city lights passed by.
He didn't turn.
Didn't move.
Didn't look back.
The other hand stayed inside his pocket—slightly stiff.
Rex stood near the aisle, one hand loosely gripping the pole.
His gaze shifted between the two.
Something felt off.
Not obvious.
Not loud.
But there.
He frowned slightly.
The bus slowed as it approached the next stop.
A few people got off.
New ones stepped in.
Life continued around them—
unaffected.
Unaware.
The person sitting beside the window stood up and got off.
The seat beside Evi was now empty.
Evi noticed.
After a small pause—
she stepped forward and sat down on the empty seat.
A second later—
she shifted slightly and slid toward the window, settling there quietly.
Her hands rested in her lap for a moment—
then tightened faintly again.
Her eyes drifted toward Herry.
Just for a second.
He still hadn't looked at her.
Not once.
She hesitated.
As if she wanted to say something.
Anything.
But the words never came.
Herry's jaw tightened slightly.
His grip on the rail firmed.
He had noticed.
He just didn't respond.
On the other side
Rex's gaze drifted back toward Evi—
almost without thinking.
That's when he noticed the empty space beside her.
He reacted immediately.
Stepping forward quickly—
almost rushing—
trying to take the seat beside her.
But someone else got there first.
And sat down.
Rex stopped mid-step.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed his face—
quickly replaced by irritation.
He kept staring at the man.
The man shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze.
At the next stop—
he got off.
Rex moved again—
this time faster.
More determined.
But just as he was about to sit—
an old lady stepped forward.
Old Lady: "Can I sit here?"
Rex paused…
then stepped back.
Rex: "Yeah… sure."
A few stops later—
she got off.
Rex tried again.
Almost immediately.
But a pregnant woman stood nearby, holding the rail.
Rex exhaled quietly.
Rex (low): "…You can sit."
Again—
he gave up the seat.
Finally—
the seat was empty again.
No one around.
No interruption.
Rex quickly sat down beside Evi.
A quiet breath leaving him—
relief.
But the moment he sat—
Evi stood up.
Evi: "This is our stop, dummy. Why are you sitting?"
Rex froze for a second.
Then blinked.
His shoulders dropped slightly.
All that effort—
gone.
They stepped off the bus.
The cool air brushed past them.
Evi looked ahead—
and saw Herry already walking away.
Evi (calling out): "Herry—"
No response.
He didn't slow down.
Didn't turn.
Headphones already in.
As if nothing behind him existed.
Evi's voice faded.
Her lips pressed together slightly.
For a moment—
she just stood there.
Then she looked away…
trying to ignore the strange feeling in her chest.
Rex watched her quietly.
Something had changed.
Not clearly.
But enough.
A small silence settled between them.
Evi shifted slightly, then spoke—
almost too casually.
Evi: "Do you want to go for dinner tomorrow?"
Rex blinked, caught off guard.
Rex: "Huh?"
A second passed—
then he understood.
Rex: "Yeah… yeah, sure."
A small smile appeared on his face.
They stood there for a moment longer—
then parted ways.
On the way home, Rex couldn't stop thinking.
Tomorrow.
Dinner.
With her.
His thoughts kept drifting—
what to wear tomorrow…
what to say…
how it would go…
His phone buzzed.
A message from Evi.
The location.
The time.
He replied quickly—
"okk 🙂"
After reaching home—
Rex: "Mom, can I get some money?"
Mother: "Why do you need money?"
Rex hesitated for a second.
Rex: "I just… don't have enough clothes."
She didn't ask anything else.
She simply handed him the money.
Rex smiled, taking it.
He went to his room, dropped his bag—
then paused.
A sudden thought crossed his mind.
He had never gone to buy clothes on his own before.
He stood there for a moment…
then turned back.
Rex (awkward): "Can you come with me?"
His mother sighed.
Mother: "You're not a kid anymore."
After some convincing—
she finally agreed.
They went together.
Time passed.
Evening came.
The next day—
Rex reached the restaurant early.
He sat at his table, glancing toward the entrance again…
and again.
Waiting.
A few minutes later—
the door opened.
Evi walked in.
Rex froze.
His breath caught slightly.
For a moment—
he just stared.