Our beloved youth

20: Kevin and Jason's quarrel

Elina was walking through the corridors when the faint strains of a piano reached her ears. Despite not being musically inclined, the music evoked a myriad of emotions within her—frustration, anger, sadness. Intrigued, she followed the sound until she found Hana, tears streaming down her face as she sat at the piano.

"Hana?" Elina's voice cut through the music, and Hana looked up, startled. Elina wasted no time and went straight to her, wrapping her in a comforting hug. "It's okay," she murmured softly as she stroked Hana's back, letting her cry it out.

After a while, Hana's sobs quieted down, but Elina maintained the embrace. "Feeling better now?" she asked gently as they parted slightly. Hana nodded, wiping her tears with a grateful smile.

"It's my friend," Hana began haltingly, explaining her friend's struggles with a demanding father who abuses her mother and her, and a helpless mother. Elina listened intently, nodding in understanding. "Tell her she's not alone," Elina advised softly, "and she has to stand up for herself and her mom. It's her fight, and she can't let anyone else fight it for her."

Hana was surprised by how much Elina understood despite her disjointed explanation "How did you know what-" Elina simply smiled warmly. "Because I'm your friend," she said simply, "-and that's what friends do."

They shared a moment of understanding, and Hana felt a sense of warmth and security she hadn't expected. As they parted from the hug, "Tell your friend she's not alone, even at times she thinks so" Elina said as she offered a sympathetic smile as she thought by herself.

I know it's not about your friend, Hana....

Hana nodded silently, touched by Elina's empathy.

-Time skip-

Elina scanned her ID and entered the bus, feeling a bit tired. With Jiya no longer accompanying her, she found herself traveling alone, scanning the bus for a seat. 

An: Jiya was accompanying Elina these days so that Elina would adapt, and now that Elina is fine, so Jiya goes back through her old her which is why Elina would've to travel alone by bus. 

Elina was about to take a seat but then spotted Kevin "Uh?"

"You?" she exclaimed softly as she approached him. "Do you take the bus too?" she inquired, but just then someone urged her to take a seat as the bus was about to depart. Without hesitation, she settled down in the empty seat next to Kevin.

 She then asked the same question, while Kevin touched the nape of his neck as he nodded his head. 

"Strange," Elina remarked with a small pout, "I've never seen you here before." Kevin simply nodded, avoiding eye contact as he glanced out the window. As they sat in silence, Elina let out a tired yawn, causing Kevin to frown slightly "Are you sleepy—" he began to ask, only to feel something warm and heavy against his shoulder. He turned to see Elina peacefully asleep beside him.

At first Kevin was surprised, but then he couldn't help but smile softly at the sight of her resting so comfortably on his shoulder. 

-Time skip to Elina's point of view at home-

Hours later, Elina stretched in her seat as she closed her book, prompting a notification on her phone. It was a message from Jiya.

[Jiya: Did you feel lonely today? 🥺❤️]

[Elina: No, I met Kevin on the bus, so I wasn't alone.]

[Jiya: Kevin?]

[Elina: Yeah, he takes the bus too, surprisingly.]