Set My Heart On Fire (UPDATED AND CONTINUING!)

8. Three Years Into the Future

The azure sky glittered with shining stars. It was a magnificent night, but it was soured by the sight of a pretty girl drowned in tears. The young girl stood at the station ticket booth, handing the little money she had to the clerk across the counter. Her hands were trembling; she dropped a few of the coins she held.

As she bought her ticket, she blankly watched the small television to her right to find her train arrival time. The girl blinked back a few more tears. She endlessly contemplated her decision. To leave her parents, her school friends, everything she had grown to love for a dream that could give her close to nothing. If her judgement was flawed, she was going to ruin her whole life by stepping onto that train and leaving behind everything she had ever known.

Zuko was sitting on a frail wooden bench by himself, not far from the booth. He was watching the pale-skinned girl intently, observing her hesitation and tearful eyes. When her coins fell from her delicate hand, he had felt the urge to help her, but stopped himself. He wondered if the coins had been part of her piggy bank, just as the ones he had used only a few moments earlier.

The boy was content to observe the girl from a distance. He wasn’t one to get involved in someone else’s problems; he had enough of his own. Thus, he was surprised and slightly irritated when she walked towards him and sat on the same bench, her newly bought ticket tightly clutched in her fist. Zuko glared at her, hoping to shoo her away. However, Mai hadn’t even noticed his presence. She was so caught up in the swirl of her thoughts that she sat down without thinking.

Once Zuko realized this, he calmed down and looked her way, surprised with himself when he spoke up.

“You’re going to rip your ticket if you hold it so tightly,” he deadpanned, his amber eyes watching her.

Mai’s eyes widened as she looked around her, wondering who was speaking. When her eyes set on Zuko, the boy felt his breath hitch slightly.

She really is beautiful.

The girl loosened her fist. “Yeah… you’re right,” she replied, her voice moony.

The two 15-year olds sat in silence for a while. Tears threatened to fall from Mai’s eyes, so she directed her attention to the boy sitting beside her. Her dark orbs fell upon the brown string bracelet around the boy’s wrist. The thin string was tied to the ends of a rusty silver charm that piqued the young girl’s interest.

“What’s that charm on your bracelet?” she spoke without thinking. “If… you don’t mind telling me,” Mai quickly added, feeling slightly guilty for disturbing the boy.

Zuko looked at her, his brows furrowed, as if to say, “Why are you even talking to me?”

For some reason, his exasperated face caused Mai to giggle softly, forgetting for a small moment the troubles in her mind.

The boy looked away at her laugh, feeling secretly glad for making her happy.

“It’s a turtle duck,” he spoke, trying to keep his voice emotionless. “It… it was a gift from my mom.”