The train

Ch. 1 [Z]

I started to become closer to the red and white-colored train while walking through people that were saying their goodbyes to their loved ones. Even though I hugged my mom before I left, I still got that feeling of loneliness when walking through these people.

Really? A train trip?.. It sounds silly, but I didn't want to waste the money that I spent on these tickets. I was supposed to go with my friends, but things got messy, and I ended up alone. Again.

While walking through the cabins on the train, I raised my hand a little bit to see my ticket and my cabin number. I slid the door of the cabin that I was supposed to be in, placed my belongings on the blue seat, and got myself comfortable. I was here on time. Not even a stranger here. Trains are usually empty because you know, it's old. I think they're pretty, that's why I came up with a plan like this. To go on a train trip with friends and favorite snacks. We even planned what movie to watch together.

I took out my earbuds that were connected to my phone and looped my favorite song at the moment. Music is one of the things that make life beautiful. It's always there for you when you are happy or sad, or even numb.

The train was about to move. I will be in Toronto tomorrow. Out of all the places, why Toronto? I don't even know, honestly. It's a familiar place since I used to live there for some time in my life. New York will always be better, though. That's just me.

I flinched a little bit when I felt a wind enter the cabin. I always flinch when I'm focused for a long time. Maybe it's just the music. I helped my ears get rid of the earbuds and turned my head to the cabin's door. The person and I made eye contact at the same time and reacted the same way.

"Ivan?!" I said as I raised my eyebrows.

"Lyra?" He questioned while he was putting his backpack on a seat that was across from me.

We called each other's names at the same time, still staring at each other trying to process what just happened.

"I thought you and Rose weren't coming," I said while fixing my facial expression back to my resting face.

"Who said that I wasn't coming?" He sat near his backpack.

"Rose." I paused the ongoing song on my phone.

"Oh, God. She's impossible."

"What? She was lying?"

"Of course she was, you know how jealous she can get."

"This trip was supposed to be for all of us, though. I don't understand how she can get jealous."

"It doesn't matter anymore. She always does this, it's her problem." He sighed.

His words made me smile. I started to bite the inside of my mouth to stop myself from smiling. We both stared at each other without any words being spoken. It was silent until the train started moving.

"Choo-choo!" He joked.

He made me chuckle. I never thought I would be alone on this trip with him. I mean, what can go wrong when it's only me and him?

"Did you and Rose argue?" I asked, breaking the silence.

I was curious. You see, Rose had been acting weird and distant for some reason. I didn't bother to talk about it because the whole thing was just too awkward to deal with.

"Maybe," He paused. "Yes. She is a fucking adult, Lyra. Yet she acts like a child every time. I am glad she is not here, seriously." He hissed and connected his arms, looking at the trees passing by through the window.

It was rare when he talked about Rose like that. It must've been a big argument. I barely saw him mad, so I didn't know what to say or do.

"Hey, it's okay. You both get to have space now and think about what happened between you two." I tried to comfort him.

I didn't even get a response. He shrugged his shoulders and looked up, revealing his neck.

Ivan is one of the finest men out there, yet he is always single. It makes me wonder why.

I got on my phone to distract myself and scrolled through social media. I didn't want to start another conversation since he didn't say a thing after my last sentence. It was still in my head. Maybe I shouldn't have said that. You know?

"Sorry if I was rude when I arrived here." He said with his deep yet soft voice.

I looked up and saw him staring at me. My heart warmed after his little apology.

"You weren't rude, don't worry." I smiled.

"It's just that...Rose got mad at me because I like some girl."

"Who?!"

"Can't tell."

"Wow, since when are we keeping secrets from each other?"

"Don't worry, you don't know her, Lyra."

"Fine, whatever. Why did she get mad?"

I knew the answer. Rose liked Ivan so much. She talked to me about him every single day. It must be heartbreaking to know that Ivan likes someone else now. Maybe that's why she was being distant. Maybe it wasn't towards me, it was just a way of her coping with the pain. Who knows?

"She confessed her feelings for me."

I slapped my hand over my mouth, shocked. I felt excluded because if she was going to do something like that, she would tell me every single detail.

"What did you say to her?" I asked, interested in the topic.

"I just tried to reject her politely, but it turned into a massive argument. For fuck's sake, Lyra. You know I see Rose as my little sister, it was weird."

I couldn't help but laugh. I was mad at Rose for not telling me anything about her plan for confessing her feelings towards Ivan. It felt a little nice knowing she got rejected. She was obsessed with Ivan. And well, he wasn't.

"Did you know that she liked me?" He asked, placing his hands in his pockets.

"Me? Maybe, yeah."

"That's embarrassing." He looked away, laughing.

"I don't know if it's embarrassing or not, but she was obsessed with you. Like a lot."

"Let's not talk about this, and focus on the trip instead." He smiled, revealing his dimples.

I smiled back at him and we both chuckled for no reason at all. Ivan barely gets mad, and it's scary when he gets mad like this. I like him when he's not mad. He looks happy.

"So Toronto, huh?" He said, questioning.

"Yeah, you will love it there if you know where to go," I said while getting a container of baby carrots out of my backpack.

"What if I don't know where to go?" He asked.

"I will let you know where to go, Ivan. You are with me!" I cheered and placed the little snack container I brought with me on the small desk.

I smiled and waited for him to get a baby carrot from the container. He smiled back and got his veiny hands out of his coat's pocket just to get a carrot.

"It's so good, thanks Lyra." He said, chewing.

"You're welcome, Ivan. I got these because Rose loved carrots. Guess we will eat them." I said and got another piece to eat.

We talked a lot and caught up with each other's lives. We all have been distant because of this Rose situation. Maybe I should check on her, but I'm not sure because she would come to me asking for help since she got rejected. She's been texting dry and it makes me sick.