I like quiet things. Just the peaceful sounds of birds chirping and the wind blowing always calm my mind. Like a sweet dream that warms you up.
But this silence?
Yeah, this one's a bit too quiet for my taste...
Kristina and Elio have been awkwardly chewing their lunches for the past ten minutes, and I'm stuck in the middle like the filling of a very tense sandwich.
Neither of them have spoken a word. Just chewing. With the occasional cough to break the silence.
I still have no idea why Kristina followed me up here. And I'm starting to lose it.
My brain's already halfway through five different explanations, ranging from "she just wants to hang out" to "this is some elaborate second layer of the prank and I'm the idiot again."
Meanwhile, Elio keeps glancing at her like she's a pop quiz in a subject he doesn't study.
I nibble my food quietly. I should say something. Anything.
But what do you even say when you're the only bridge between a girl who dragged you through the hallway and a guy who scares people with his eyes?
Answer: Nothing. You just sit there, slowly dissolving into dust like the insect you are, Aran!!!
Kristina poked at her lunch with a tiny fork, trying to look casual. Like she hadn't just marched me through a battlefield of social judgment an hour ago.
Elio, on the other hand, was chewing with slow, deliberate bites. Probably trying not to alarm Kristina.
Eventually, Kristina glanced my way. "Soo…"
Here we go.
"I was actually planning on us being alone," she said, attempting a light tone, but it sounded more like she was walking barefoot over broken glass.
Elio finally looked up. His gaze flicked from her to me.
"Oh. Why's that?" I asked, mid-bite.
She stuttered, hesitating before continuing. "I uh... wanted to talk."
Elio subtly scooted an inch away from us. Still silent.
"I figured," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. "It's not like you came here for nothing."
"Right…" She smiled sheepishly, then scratched her cheek. "I just thought it'd be good to clear the air. Y'know… after last time."
I scratched my head and looked at Elio.
"Hey dude. Can you watch my food for a bit?"
"Yeah sure."
"Thanks"
I stood up, brushing crumbs off my lap and giving Elio a look that said please don't judge me if I get emotionally destroyed again. He responded with a small, almost imperceptible nod and immediately started inspecting my sandwich like it contained ancient secrets.
Kristina followed me a few steps away, closer to the chain fence that overlooked the schoolyard. A warm breeze rustled through, tugging gently at her hair.
We stood there for a moment. Not speaking.
Then, finally, she took a breath.
"I thought about what you said."
I looked at her, unsure of how to respond. There were a lot of things I said. Some of them I meant and of them I didn't even understand until the words were already out.
I stayed quiet. Let the wind fill the silence instead.
She didn't look at me. Her eyes were fixed on something far away — the sky, the clouds, maybe just the idea of escape.
"Back at the restaurant, when you told me I should be kinder to myself, I didn't say anything. That was rude as hell, wasn't it?"
"Kinda...?"
She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. Like it was obvious. To be honest, I thought about it myself, but I ignored it."
I shifted slightly, arms crossed, still silent.
"Still, thank you..."
Kristina said, looking me in the eyes.
Her words echoed in my mind. A mix of warmth and confusion washed through me.
I stayed silent.
"Your words help snap myself out of the lie I built my social life on, and for that I'm grateful. And... I'm sorry..."
She bowed her head.
"I don't expect you to forgive me. I did something really lame and I won't deny that. I just wanted to get some peace of mind..."
She stayed bowing her head at me. Her expression was nervous. Anxiously awaiting my response.
The rooftop was silent for a few moments. Only the wind was breaking the silence.
"Pfft— Hahahaha!"
That was until I broke into a fit of gentle laughter.
I finally got why she was being so touchy earlier. She just wanted to apologize but didn't know the right time to tell me.
Just the thought of this made me lose it.
"Hahaha!"
"Wha- hey! Why are you laughing?"
I clutched my stomach, still grinning. "S-Sorry… I'm not laughing at you."
She narrowed her eyes, unconvinced.
"I swear," I said, catching my breath. "It's just… now it makes sense. You just didn't find the right opportunity to apologize!"
"H-hey! Cut me some slack here! I couldn't just let other people hear something that's between us!"
I chuckled again, softer this time, and let the laughter fade. "Sorry," I said, wiping the small tear from my eye. "Really. I'm not trying to make fun of you."
I looked at her — head still lowered, fists clenched at her sides like she wasn't sure if she wanted to scream or run away.
"…I get it," I said quietly.
Her head lifted slightly.
"You messed up. Yeah. But you owned it. That's more than most people would do."
She blinked, unsure.
"I'm still kind of sore about it," I admitted. "Not gonna lie."
Her face tensed, like she was bracing for the worst.
"But…" I exhaled, voice steady. "I'm also really happy."
Kristina blinked again — this time harder, like she wasn't sure if she'd heard me right.
"You went through this trouble to apologize. I can't stay mad anymore. Whaddya say? Let bygones be bygones?"
I held my hand out for a fist bump.
Kristina stared at it for a second, like she couldn't believe I was making this The Official Gesture of Forgiveness.
Then she snorted — a quiet, breathy laugh — and bumped it lightly with her own.
"Gosh, you're such a dork," she muttered, but there was no heat in her voice. Just the faintest smile tugging at her lips.
"I get that a lot," I replied.
She shook her head and looked up at the sky, like she'd just dropped a weight she'd been carrying.
"So…" she said after a moment. "We good?"
She asked me, returning my fist bump offer.
I nodded. "We're good."
A breeze passed between us, lighter now. Almost like the air itself had stopped holding its breath.
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