all she ever wanted...

...ʷᵃˢ ᵃⁿ ᵘⁿᵉˣᵖᵉᶜᵗᵉᵈ ᵉⁿᶜᵒᵘⁿᵗᵉʳ

In the weeks that followed Blake's heart-to-heart with Joshua, both he and Melody found themselves lost in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Their unspoken feelings lingered in the air, woven into the tapestry of their daily lives. Unbeknownst to each other, their thoughts often drifted to the memories they had shared, wondering if they were destined to cross paths once more.

Blake's days in the army camp were filled with training and camaraderie, but in the quiet moments of solitude, his mind inevitably wandered to Melody. He recalled their playful banter, the stolen glances, and the warmth of her laughter. Each memory brought a mix of excitement and trepidation, as he wondered if their connection could withstand the test of time.

Similarly, Melody's days studying were packed with lectures and assignments. Yet, even amid the rigors of academia, her thoughts would occasionally drift to Blake. She remembered their walks together, the teasing, and the moments when they simply enjoyed each other's company. Those memories tugged at her heart, making her wonder if their paths would ever converge again.

One evening, fate seemed to take the reins, setting into motion a series of events that would lead them closer to each other. Melody found herself finishing a late-night dinner with her friends, and as she bid them farewell at the train station, she made her way to the platform.

Unbeknownst to her, Blake was on the same train, a few stops ahead of her. He was on his way back home from the camp, his mind consumed by thoughts of the past and the possibility of the future.

The train rumbled to a stop, and Melody stepped inside, her gaze drifting aimlessly across the carriage. She hadn't noticed the person seated a few rows ahead, his head slightly turned away.

Blake, on the other hand, found himself looking around the train as well, his thoughts a mixture of anticipation and nostalgia. It felt like the universe was guiding him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something extraordinary was about to happen.

As the train pulled away from the station, both Blake and Melody's eyes continued scanning the crowd of commuters aimlessly while looking at their phones at the same time. Unbeknownst to them, their paths were about to intersect once more.

In that serendipitous moment, Melody and Blake looked up from their phones, and as if compelled by an unseen force, they took a double take.

And then, their eyes met, in mutual surprise and recognition.

It was as if time stood still in that fleeting moment. Amidst the sea of strangers, Blake and Melody's eyes locked, and it felt as if they were the only two people on the train. There was an undeniable spark, a connection that transcended time and space.

For a moment, they squinted their eyes, trying to process the familiar faces before them. The resemblance to their past selves was uncanny, and yet, they couldn't quite believe that it was each other.

As their eyes locked in the train, a rush of memories flooded their minds. Blake couldn't help but notice how Melody had blossomed over the years, her beauty enhanced by the confidence that radiated from within. Her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, their warm brown depths drawing him in like a magnetic force. Her smile, once shy and reserved, now beamed with an infectious glow that could light up the entire world.

Melody, on the other hand, found herself swooning over how handsome Blake had become. His eyes, which had always held a mischievous glint, now bore a depth and maturity that tugged at her heartstrings. Even with his hair shaved off due to his army service, he looked more dashing than ever, his strong jawline and chiseled features accentuated by the army cap he wore.

As they continued to gaze at each other, they couldn't help but marvel at the journey that had led them to this moment. It was as if time had transformed them, making them both more alluring and enchanting than they had ever been before.

In that train, surrounded by strangers, it felt like a "love at first sight" moment, even though they were not strangers at all. Their souls recognized each other, as if they were two halves of the same whole, destined to find their way back to each other.

In that fleeting moment, as their eyes met, the world around them faded into insignificance. All that mattered was the connection they felt, the unspoken emotions that swirled in the air like a gentle breeze.

Melody's heart quickened as she continued to stare, her mind unable to comprehend the coincidence. Could it really be him, after all these years?

Blake's breath caught in his throat as he looked into Melody's eyes, his heart pounding with the intensity of their gaze. He couldn't believe that fate had brought them together again, on the same train, heading in the same direction, but with different destinations in mind.

And then, as if by some unspoken agreement, they both smiled.

It was a smile that held a thousand memories, a thousand unspoken words. It was a smile that bridged the gap between their past and their present, a testament to the connection that had never truly faded.

As the train carried them further on their separate journeys, Blake and Melody continued to gaze at each other, the world around them fading into the background. In that moment of pure surprise and shock, they couldn't find the right words to express the whirlwind of emotions that surged within them. Their smiles, awkward yet genuine, bridged the gap between the years that had separated them. It was as if time stood still, and they were transported back to that canteen in secondary school, where stolen glances and unspoken feelings filled the air.

As their magical staring moment hung in the air, a soft chime broke the spell. Blake's phone buzzed, and he fumbled to answer the call. It was his older brother, inquiring about his whereabouts. With a hushed reply, he assured his brother that he was almost home. Melody watched curiously, her brow furrowing in slight confusion. Assuming it was something personal, she discreetly looked away, giving Blake the space he needed to attend to his call. But even in the interruption, their eyes kept finding each other, and the connection between them remained, whispering of the serendipity that brought them together once more.