Horizon: Ballad Of Zero

Chapter 6 - Exalted Ballad From Afar

The next morning, I slipped into my uniform, my fingers lingering on the collar. Something about the neatness didn’t sit right with me; maybe it was Trista’s influence from last night or maybe it was just something new stirring inside of me. Either way, I loosened my tie a bit, left the top button undone, and ruffled my hair slightly. The subtle rebellion felt freeing, and I caught myself smiling faintly in the mirror. It was a small change, but it felt good.

The day started out calm. During my free period, I found a bench under a large tree on campus, surrounded by the bustling energy of students passing by. I’d brought a book with me, one of the few I had picked up from the library. Losing myself in the pages, I felt like I could relax in my own little world amid the crowd. But then, out of nowhere, Trista appeared beside me with that bright, mischievous energy she always carried, as if the universe had summoned her just when my day needed a spark.

“Hey!” I greeted her with a smile, closing the book as she grinned down at me.

Without a word, Trista planted her knee beside me on the bench, leaned in close, and before I could react, her hands were on my cheeks, her lips brushing against mine. It was soft, unexpected, and utterly disarming. My eyes widened, heart racing, and I could feel my cheeks heating up as she pulled back, looking at me with a playful, satisfied smirk.

“Did you like that?” she asked, her voice teasing as she watched my reaction.

I blinked, trying to gather my thoughts, my mouth opening but no words coming out. She laughed, clearly amused by the state of shock I must have looked like I was in. Trista had a way of throwing surprises at me that no one else would ever dare, and somehow, she always managed to keep me on my toes.

Finally, I found my voice. “I—um—well…”

She laughed, her laughter light and infectious, filling the space around us with warmth. “You looked so serious, Z. I thought you might enjoy a surprise to loosen you up a little.”

Her smile softened. “I’ve been thinking about it all night. Why search for a random girl to kiss when I can help you figure things out myself? We’re friends, right?” She shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I finally managed a smile, shaking my head in disbelief. “You… are something else, Trista.”

“Now,” she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement, “we just need to find you a guy to kiss.” She clapped her hands, her expression showing that she was already thinking of the possibilities. Her enthusiasm made me laugh, and she sat down beside me, leaning in to whisper a few names of people she thought might be interesting for me to meet. I laughed, shaking my head at her list of potential ‘candidates.’

A few students passing by had seen the whole scene, and I noticed some glances our way, surprised expressions mingling with murmurs as people whispered among themselves. I couldn’t blame them; it must have been a sight—me, the quiet, mysterious new guy, caught off guard by a girl like Trista. But I didn’t mind. The moment had been so out of the ordinary that it left me feeling strangely happy, a spark I hadn’t realized I needed.

As we sat there, Trista and I just laughed, the awkwardness melting away as if we’d known each other for years. Despite the kiss, neither of us felt compelled to add meaning to it beyond that instant. It was a gesture of friendship, of trust, and of that familiar warmth that had grown between us. But we both knew it didn’t mean we were in love, and that understanding somehow made it even more special.

We spent the rest of the period together, talking and joking around as the time drifted by. Trista shared stories about her family and her passion for music, her voice lighting up when she talked about a new song she’d been working on. I told her a few things about Anthem, about the training that had shaped me, and she listened with a quiet focus that made me feel seen, like she genuinely wanted to know more.