The Weight of Silence

Chapter 3

19. September, 1997
London, England

The first time we went for a walk together, it had felt so awkward. We barely knew each other, and every word seemed forced, like we were both trying too hard to find something to talk about. But tonight was different. There was still a slight tension in the air, but it wasn't as heavy as before. We were both more comfortable, even though I couldn't quite figure out why. It was like we were starting to find a rhythm, a way of being around each other that wasn't so strained.

We walked down the quiet street, the sounds of the city distant in the background. The air was crisp, and the sky was overcast, hiding the stars. The streetlights cast long shadows, and the cold wind made me pull my coat tighter around me. I glanced over at Sayjan, who was walking beside me, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. He looked more relaxed tonight, his shoulders less tense.

"So, do you ever walk around here at night?" I asked, trying to break the silence.

He looked over at me, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Not really," he said. "I usually just stick to the gym or home, but I don't know... I thought it might be nice tonight."

I nodded, glancing around. "Yeah, it is nice. It's peaceful."

He looked at me, his expression softening. "Yeah, it's quiet. Sometimes, that's all you need."

We walked for a few moments in comfortable silence before I asked,.

"Do you ever think about trying something else, like...football for fun or something?"

He raised an eyebrow, looking at me in surprise.

"Football? Well, I mean, I guess I could. I don't know if I'd be any good at it, though."

I laughed lightly.

"I was just thinking it might be fun to try something new, you know?"

He chuckled. "Well, yeah, I guess."

I smiled, feeling a little more at ease.

He grinned at the thought. "If you want to try something new, I'll take you to the gym sometime and teach you boxing. You'll probably kick my ass, though."

I smiled, feeling the conversation flow more easily now. We had found something to bond over, and it felt good to be talking about things we were both interested in, even if they were completely different.

But then, suddenly, I felt a chill run through me. I shivered, pulling my coat tighter around me, but it didn't seem to help much. The cold wind had picked up, and it was starting to feel uncomfortable.

Sayjan noticed immediately. "You okay?" he asked, his tone soft, concerned. "You look cold."

I nodded, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little chilly."

He stopped walking, looking at me with a thoughtful expression.

"You sure? It's getting pretty cold out here. If you want, you can come to my place. My parents are out tonight, so we'll have the place to ourselves. We could hang out, maybe watch something or just talk."

The offer surprised me, but it also felt like a relief. I hadn't expected him to suggest it, but the thought of getting out of the cold and having somewhere warm to go was appealing.

"Are you sure?" I asked, hesitating for a moment. "I don't want to impose."

He smiled, his eyes softening. "No, not at all. I'd like it if you came. It'll be warmer than walking around out here."