Transcending To You

Chapter 10: THE FOURTH DATE

As the afternoon descended, Bright trudged back to his apartment, the weight of solitude palpable with every step. The conversation with his mother and Win had left him with a curious mix of emotions, none of which seemed to fit quite right.

Unlocking the door, he stepped into his apartment, which was echoing with a silence that seemed to amplify its emptiness. Without Myra's laughter or Win's banter, the place felt empty, each corner a reminder of his loneliness.

Bright wandered into the kitchen realizing he has to cook for himself one again which made him miss his mother's comforting meals.

With a heavy heart, he reached for a beer from the fridge, sinking into the worn cushions of the sofa. The quiet of the room enveloped him, wrapping him in a cocoon of solitude. "I never knew I was so lonely," he murmured to the empty space, the words hanging in the air like a lament.

As he took a sip from the bottle, his phone buzzed to life, breaking the silence with its insistent chirp. With a flicker of hope, Bright glanced at the screen, a message from Win illuminating the darkness of his solitude. "Let's meet at 6 at the theatre," it read.

A rush of relief washed over him. Eager to connect, he hastily typed out a reply, his fingers dancing across the screen. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I came to shop with Shyle after you left," came the response.

"What? What did you shop?" Bright's curiosity sparked, his fingers tapping away on his phone.

"Just some home stuff and something for you," Win replied, his message carrying a hint of mystery.

"What? What did you get for me?" Bright typed eagerly.

In response, Win sent a cute picture of himself holding a monkey soft toy. Bright's heart skipped a beat as he opened the image, a sudden warmth flooding his chest. In that moment, it was as if all his sadness had melted away, replaced by a sense of joy and comfort.

With a smile spreading across his face, Bright quickly composed a reply, a smiling emoji conveying his delight.

Earlier in the day, excitement bubbled within Win as he eagerly anticipated the evening's movie outing with Bright.

As the appointed time drew near, Bright and Win rendezvoused at the theater, each clad in their own casual attire—Bright in a black hoodie and jeans, and Win in a white t-shirt paired with black jeans.

Spotting Bright near the popcorn station, Win's face lit up with excitement as he waved enthusiastically. Little did he know, their reunion would be interrupted by an unexpected encounter.

"Win!" Blue, one of Win's classmates, called out, surprising Win with his presence, "I didn't know you'd be here for the movie too!"

Win let out a forced chuckle, quickly composing himself. "Oh, yeah," he replied, trying to gauge Blue's plans, "So, which movie are you watching?"

"The love story one," Blue confirmed.

Win was relieved, realizing they wouldn't be watching the same film. "Ah, I am going for the action-packed one," he responded with a forced grin, concealing his happiness.

"This one's boring. Sleep well," Blue teased, chuckling.

Bright watched them from afar and figured out that Win was in a bit of a pickle.

"Are you going alone?" Blue asked.

"Yeah, just me. Needed a break," Win replied.

"Great, see you around then," Blue spoke and left.

As Blue disappeared into the crowd, Win breathed a sigh of relief, motioning for Bright to follow him into the movie hall. Finding their seats tucked away in a corner, Win left an empty spot for Bright, a silent invitation to join him. Bright settled in beside him, a tub of popcorn in hand.