Amare

End of the Day

The golden hues of sunset stretched across the campus, softening the sharp lines of the buildings and casting long, stretching shadows on the pathways. 

I gripped my notebook tighter, its edges worn from the day's idle handling, as I stepped out of the classroom. 

The cool evening air brushed my face, carrying with it a hint of rain. After a day that felt endlessly slow, the thought of heading home was a small comfort.

Halfway down the steps, a familiar voice called out behind me.

"Guess I'll see you tomorrow," Sol said, his tone easy and casual, a lazy wave accompanying the words.

"Yeah, take care," I replied, offering a small smile without thinking. There was something magnetic about his effortless confidence, like it hung in the air even after he was gone. Shaking my head at the thought, I turned and made my way toward the main gate.

The campus had begun to quiet, the bustling crowd of students thinning out as everyone dispersed to their evening plans. 

I slowed my pace, letting the sound of distant footsteps and faint chatter fade into the background. 

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I glanced at the screen, scrolling through a handful of unimportant notifications. Nothing required my attention, and I pocketed it again, savoring the cool evening breeze as it brushed past me, tinged with the earthy scent of rain that lingered just out of reach.

By the time I reached the bus stop, twilight had deepened into soft shades of blue and purple. The streets were quieter now, the golden glow of streetlights flickering on. 

I sank onto the bench, scrolling absently through a group chat about tomorrow's class. My focus was elsewhere, though, lost in the rhythm of the evening.

"Ai?"

The sound of my name startled me, and I looked up to see Sol standing there, his expression as surprised as mine.

"Sol? I thought you were heading the other way."

He shrugged, smirking as he adjusted the strap of his bag. "I could say the same about you. Looks like we're on the same route."

I chuckled, slipping my phone into my pocket. "Guess so." The unexpected encounter should've felt awkward, but somehow it didn't.

The bus arrived with a hiss of brakes, and we boarded together, sliding into seats near the middle. I leaned against the window, watching the city's glow blur past as the bus rumbled forward.

"So, undeclared major, huh?" I asked after a moment, breaking the comfortable silence. I glanced sideways at him, my tone casual but my curiosity evident. "What's the deal with that?"

He unscrewed the cap of his iced tea, taking a slow sip before answering. "Oh, you know. Keeping my options open. Why rush to pick one thing when there's so much to explore?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a convenient excuse for avoiding the question."

He grinned, unbothered by the jab. "Maybe. Or maybe it's the truth. What's with the sudden curiosity?"

I shrugged, leaning back in my seat. "It's just interesting. Most people act like they need a master plan for their lives, like not having it all figured out is the end of the world."

"Guess I'm not 'most people,'" he said, his tone mockingly smug. "I'm just built different."

I rolled my eyes, but his ridiculous confidence pulled a laugh from me. "Sure, Sol. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

From there, the conversation drifted naturally—an easy back-and-forth about professors, campus quirks, and the eternal struggle to find decent coffee. It wasn't profound, but it didn't need to be. It was comfortable.

When the bus slowed to a stop, Sol stood, reaching for the signal cord. "Guess this is where I disappear into the mysterious depths of my undecided destiny," he said, his grin still annoyingly charming.

I smirked. "Have fun with that. Don't get lost in the chaos of all your options."

He hesitated for just a moment, his gaze lingering on mine as though searching for something unsaid. "See you around, Ai," he said finally, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

The doors closed behind him, and for a brief second, our eyes met through the glass. It was nothing—just a fleeting exchange—but it stuck with me as the bus pulled away.

Leaning back in my seat, I watched the city roll past in streaks of neon and shadow, the hum of the engine and the faint scent of rain filling the air. My thoughts wandered back to that small, quiet moment, replaying it like a scene from a movie.