Echoes Of The Unseen

EOTU -TRES

Aries's POV

"Man, I'm so exhausted after the event. Maybe I should take a break at the cafeteria," Aries muttered to himself, feeling the weariness in his legs. He slowly made his way toward the cafeteria, his mind wandering as he took in the surroundings.

Before entering, his eyes scanned the area, and that's when he noticed someone sitting by the window, gazing out with an expression he couldn't quite read.

"Erie..." He smiled to himself, recognizing her immediately. She didn't react much, her expression indifferent as she glanced in his direction. Aries's smile lingered, amused by her aloofness.

After a quick glance around, he remembered something. His bag. He had left it at the field earlier. With a sigh, he retraced his steps, grabbed his bag, and headed back to the cafeteria once more.

And there she was again.

This time, their eyes met. Aries couldn't help but grin to himself, a small chuckle escaping his lips as he slipped off his shoes before entering the cafeteria. He made his way toward her, noticing how tired she looked, her head resting on the table.

"Hey," he called out softly.

Reverie lifted her head slowly, her eyes bleary from exhaustion, meeting his gaze.

"Ari? what's up?" she asked, her voice heavy with fatigue.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask... What number were you in the race this morning?," Aries started, keeping his tone casual as he leaned against the table, trying to spark some conversation.

"Number 3." Reverie's face twisted in frustration, the exhaustion clear in her expression. Leaning back in the chair "I'm pretty wiped out"

Aries tilted his head slightly, his gaze lingering on her with concern. "I noticed you looked pretty exhausted. You sure you're okay?"

Reverie offered a small smile. "I'll survive."

He pulled out a Pepero stick and a cold bottle of iced tea from his bag, holding them out to her.

"What's this for?" Reverie asked, her brow furrowed.

"For you, obviously. Eat, drink. Why are you even asking?" Aries replied with a light laugh, pushing the snacks toward her.

Reverie hesitated for a moment before accepting them, her face a mix of confusion and something else, something she wasn't sure how to name.

"Just take it. No need to be shy," Aries said, giving her an encouraging nod.

"Thanks," she mumbled, her voice still unsure but appreciative.

"Anytime," Aries said. "Don't mention it." Aries flashed her his trademark smile before turning to leave, the warmth in his expression lingering even as he walked away.

As he crossed the field again, the smile remained on his face, a soft chuckle escaping him.

"Why did I come back to the field again?" He asked himself with a slight shake of his head.

"I can't just go back to the cafeteria now... What would she think? She'd definitely find it weird. Ugh, that would be embarrassing." He sighed and decided to sit under a large tree nearby, its shade providing a welcome relief from the midday sun.

"Ah, this isn't so bad," he thought, leaning back against the trunk. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves above, blowing through his hair, making him feel at ease.

As the wind caressed his face, the comfort of the moment seeped in. He felt his eyes grow heavy, the weight of the day catching up to him. Slowly, without meaning to, he drifted into a deep sleep, the peaceful rustling of the leaves his only lullaby.

-24DEC2002