Hidden Hearts

12 - Broken Heart

Josh

It was a pretty uneventful morning. Went to class like usual, sat down and listened to the lecture given by the professor while also jotting down notes for later revision. All in all nothing too different. Honestly, I'm still in that high school mindset of worrying what classes I have next and then remembering that I'm in college.

It's a pain having to just wake up and suddenly having that burst of fear surge through your veins before remembering where you're at. I'll get used to it sooner or later.

In any case, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. Max said he wanted to be alone for the rest of the week so hanging out with him is out of the options. I could try calling up my friends but I'm not sure if they're still in a class or not and I kinda don't want to get them in trouble. Going out by myself would be nice but I'm still not familiar with the layout of the city and I forgot to renew my mobile data so I can't use a GPS to help me find my way.

I've only dared to venture out to places near the college but not further. What am I even gonna do?

"Oh! Hey, Josh!", a familiar voice greeted me. It was none other than the stallion I have a crush on.

"Oh, Maverick! What's up?"

"Nothing much. What are you doing over here?"

"Nothing really. Just thinking about what I want to do right now."

"Well, if you're free, I can take you to the mall. I need to repair my phone but the nearest phone repair shop is there."

"Oh, what happened to it?"

"I don't know. Maybe the battery got fried or something. So, you coming?"

"Sure. Saves me the time to think."

"Cool."

And so, I followed Maverick as we went off campus and headed to the bus stop. Luckily, the bus arrived just as we had gotten to the bus stop. The bus was surprisingly empty despite the college being situated in a pretty busy area. We took a seat near the front and waited as the bus drove us off to our destination.

The view of the area was quite nice but also rather bland, to say the least. Despite the college being built near the coast, the surrounding city that surrounded the college did not match the atmosphere at all. It felt more bleak in the city rather than inside the college.

Soon enough, we arrived at the mall. I stared at the place but not really in awe. It's pretty much any generic mall really. All big and packed filled with different kind of stores that don't have a set theme to it at all. The only entertaining thing at the mall were the shows they held every once in a while for kids that my parents brought me to. After that, they brought my siblings. Besides that, there really wasn't anything all that interesting.

"So, we'll have to take the elevator to the fourth floor and I'll just guide us to where we're going. If you see anything that interests you, just tell me. We'll meet up at the food court if we get separated, it's on the first floor", Maverick explained to me.

I only nodded as there really wasn't anything I felt would catch my eye in here. It's just stuff that are useless to me or I simply can't afford.

We stood in front of the elevator as Maverick pressed the button to call it. The door opens instantly to our surprise but we recover quickly as we enter. I took the liberty of pressing the 4th floor button, watching as the elevator doors close.

We stood there in silence, nothing too really say. Maybe I should try making small talk with him? Too late, as the doors open but instead of the 4th floor, we were at the third as some shoppers entered the elevator.

It took about another minute or so before the doors open to the correct floor and we had to make our way out as some furs blocked the exit. Once we were out, I followed behind Maverick silently, regretting not saying anything in the elevator when I had the chance. How does anyone talk to their crush?

As I mull over the situation in my head, surprisingly, something had caught my eye. In a shop that looked more like a thrift store, there was this glowing sign. It had that synthwave motif, something I remembered that Max liked. It required electricity to constantly glow but it looked nice.

Funnily enough, the words on the sign spelled, "Forever Falling".

"Hey, Maverick! I'll stay here for a bit. You go on ahead!"

"Okay! Stay safe! Remember, food court at the first floor!"

I watch as he leaves to the phone repair shop before I focus my attention back on the sign. I looked for the price and saw that it was about $30. Hmm, I debate on whether I should even buy it. I'm no expert on this stuff and I don't even know the original price of this thing before this price had been placed.

Well, if I get a job soon and also not spend my money unnecessarily, then I think this won't make too much of a dent in my pocket.

As I was about to go ask for a worker, someone appeared before me, scaring the life out of me again. First, it was Max and now this?!

"Oh my god! Sir, are you okay", the man asks me.

"I'm fine but please, don't sneak up on someone like that."

"I'm sorry, sir. Do you require assistance?"

"Y-yes. I want to buy this", I say as I point to the sign I had been looking at.

He smiles apologetically as he unplugs the sign and brings it to the register. I head over to it to pay and opted to have it bagged since I don't want to carry around a sign with my hands. After that, I decided to go down to the first floor to find the food court. As I say that, I spotted the food court from the 4th floor as it was pretty obvious.

I decided to go down the escalators instead of the elevators cause I don't want to be packed in again by other shoppers. It took a bit time to get to the first floor and a bit more time to find the food court. Surprisingly, seeing it from the 4th floor is not the same as finding it on the first floor.

Soon, I do reach the food court and scanned the area for any sign of Maverick. It was difficult with all the different furs crowding the area. Soon though, I found him.

And he wasn't alone.

Sitting across from him was a small lizard guy. They looked to be talking but from further looks, I could see them both getting pretty touchy with each other. Maverick seems to be a bit into it while the lizard guy looks flustered but responds just the same. The real icing here was when I saw he lizard pull out a piece of paper, a coquettish look plastered on his face, as Maverick takes it and returns his look with a confident grin.

Oh...

Haven't even tried yet and I've already gotten my heart broken...

Well, good for him. Yeah, good for him...

I think I'll just go back to my dorm.