It was around 3:45 PM, and a girl had just finished college for the day. It had started raining lightly, and when her bus arrived, she hesitated for a moment, seeing how crowded it was. She turned to her friend and said, "Let's go, we don't have an umbrella, so we might as well." They squeezed onto the bus, but there were no seats left, so they stood, the girl feeling a bit down and lost in thought, her face partially hidden behind a mask.
At the next stop, a boy boarded the bus. She didn’t notice him at first, lost in her daydreams, but he caught sight of her and thought she was looking at him. He nudged his friend and mentioned the girl, who came forward and raised his eyebrows playfully at her. The boy was good-looking, and though she briefly mimicked his gesture, it didn’t mean much to her. She was just passing the time.
Eventually, a seat opened up, and she sat down. The boy came closer, trying to strike up a conversation. At first, she felt nervous—after all, he was a stranger—but she responded cautiously, her mask still in place. He asked about her college, where she lived, and they exchanged names. Soon, her bus stop was coming up, and she told him goodbye.
Before she could leave, the boy asked for her phone number. She hesitated and said she didn’t have a phone yet. He then asked for her parents’ number, but she refused, saying her parents were strict. Undeterred, he gave her his number instead, telling her to call or text when she had the chance. She shrugged and took the number, not thinking much of it.
As she was about to get off the bus, he blurted out, “I love you.”
She froze for a moment, surprised. "How is that even possible? You just met me today. Isn’t it too soon to say something like that?"
The boy smiled and said, "I just know."
She replied, "I can't make a decision so quickly. I need time."
As they both got off at the same stop, she gave him one last look, said goodbye, and walked away, unsure of what to make of the encounter.
To be continued....
