You Know

Chapter 4: A date?

After finishing my last revision for the Mathematical Club, I made my way to the meeting place. I found Kenji waiting there, but Yeji was nowhere in sight.

“Hey, have you been busy here?” I asked, giving Kenji a light tap on the shoulder. “Oh, not too much. I finished the proposal—here are the drafts. I’m just working on the macros now,” he said, handing me the proposal.

As I examined the documents, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Kenji seemed familiar, though I couldn’t quite place where I had seen him before.

“Your proposal is impressive. I feel a bit embarrassed for joining late,” I said, returning the papers. “Let me handle the macros; I can finish them quickly,” I offered.

Kenji smiled at me. “I’ve already finished those too,” he said.

“What? Did you finish it with Yeji?” I asked, feeling a bit uneasy. Though his work was excellent, I felt uncomfortable not having contributed to the revision myself. “Yeji’s out practicing for the volleyball tryouts,” he explained. “The coach called her when we arrived. It’s important to her, so I let her go. Working alone has its own charm too,” he said reassuringly. “You know, you could still do something to make yourself feel better about this situation,” he added with a comforting smile.

Before I knew it, I found myself sitting at his kitchen counter, watching him prepare a meal. Kenji had invited me to dinner, and although I thought I’d get to choose the place and pay, it turned out that we were dining at his place with food he had prepared.

“Why the helmet?” I asked, noticing it from earlier. “Ah, I was riding a bike earlier,” he said while focusing on the kitchen and glancing at me occasionally. “Did you leave it at school?” I inquired, and he nodded gently.

He set the food on the table, and I was impressed by his cooking skills. I usually rely on convenience store meals since I study late and can’t cook to save my life.

“I think we’re even now,” he said while cleaning up. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow. What time do you usually leave for school?” I felt a strong sense of wanting to repay him. He had left his motorbike and cooked dinner for me, and I didn’t want to feel like I owed him.

He insisted on seeing me out. The evening air was crisp as the sun set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The soft glow of street lamps cast a warm light on the cobblestone streets, adding a touch of magic to the night.

As we walked side by side, the buzz of the city faded into the background, replaced by the intimate atmosphere of our surroundings.

As we talked, I noticed how the soft light accentuated his features, making each smile and gesture seem more meaningful. The way he spoke and laughed felt effortless and genuine, as if we had known each other for much longer than just one evening.

Each moment of the night lingered, rich with new discoveries and shared laughter. The food, though delightful, felt secondary to the experience of being with him. Every word exchanged and every glance felt like it was adding to something special, something new.

The night concluded with us stepping back into the cool evening air, both of us carrying the warmth of the evening and the promise of what might come next. The city lights and the sound of our footsteps felt like a perfect ending to a night that had unexpectedly turned into something truly memorable.

As I drove home, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was too much to feel so enchanted by meeting him and spending such a long time together. Surprisingly, I wasn’t annoyed by our casual conversation; instead, I enjoyed the atmosphere when I was with him. I felt genuinely happy, and the thought of meeting him again tomorrow excited me.

That night, as I settled in, I prayed that I would remember exactly where we first met. He seemed so familiar, and I was confident that our paths had crossed before.

I got a message from him, he’s sending me a reminder that I’ll be picking him up tomorrow and that he will be preparing something for me in return.