Fin was sleeping, resting his head on the desk.
The room was quiet, untouched—until
Golden sunlight streamed through the window, gently spilling across his face as if trying to wake him without disturbing his peace.
The warmth reached his eyes, and slowly, he stirred.
He blinked awake, rubbing his eyes lazily.
"When did I fall asleep?" he murmured to himself.
His gaze drifted to the desk—and there it was.
A sketch.
The girl with red hair, drawn with careful strokes and quiet emotion.
The moment his eyes met the drawing, a faint smile formed on his lips.
There was something about her… something he couldn't quite explain.
Without another thought, he stood up, headed to the bathroom, and let the cold water wash away the remnants of sleep.
Moments later, he stepped out, dressed in a white shirt layered under a blue jacket, paired with baggy blue jeans.
His damp hair clung lightly to his forehead as he picked up his bag and walked out of his room.
"Good morning, Fin," his mother greeted warmly.
"Yeah… good morning, Mom," he replied with a small smile.
"Come, have your breakfast," she said.
Fin paused.
"I'll eat outside," he muttered.
Her expression changed instantly. "What? Why?!"
He didn't answer.
"I made breakfast for you, and you're not eating? I know you—you won't eat outside either!" she shouted, her voice filled with frustration and concern.
Still, he said nothing.
He simply walked away.
Behind him, his mother stood silently, her eyes clouded with worry.
"Why are you doing this to your body?" She asked by knowing that he would never answer this question.
A question that won't reach to him.
Outside, the world was already alive.
Fin stopped by a small store, bought a coffee, and continued walking along the footpath.
His attention, however, wasn't on the road—it was on his phone.
And that's when it happened.
"Thudd..."
He bumped into someone.
A woman fell to the ground.
Startled, Fin quickly pocketed his phone and stepped forward. "Are you okay?" he asked.
The woman appeared older than Fin.
Her long, jet-black hair flowed freely, catching the light with a soft, natural shine. It framed her face effortlessly, giving her a calm yet striking presence.
Her lips, tinted a deep red like freshly bloomed roses.
She was dressed entirely in black—a fitted shirt layered beneath a loose jacket, paired with baggy jeans that gave her an easy, unbothered style.
There was something confident in the way she carried herself, as if she didn't need to try to stand out.
Fin extended his hands in order to help her.
But she didn't take it.
Instead, she stood up on her own.
"I'm fine," she said calmly, brushing herself off. "But you should buy me a coffee. Mine just fell."
Fin hesitated.
"…Okay."
They walked together in silence toward a nearby store.
Then suddenly—
"Are you single?"
Fin froze, caught off guard.
"Yeah… I am. Why?"
She smiled. "Because you're good-looking."
He didn't know how to respond.
Moments later, they reached entered a store.
"Go get your coffee. I'll wait here," he said standing at the counter.
"You better stay here!" She smirked before walking off.
As Fin stood there, the cashier leaned slightly forward. "Is she your girlfriend?"
He blinked. "No. She's not."
"Oh!... Sorry for asking something personal" the cashier apologised.
Just then, the woman returned, holding her coffee.
"Pay for this," she said casually.
"…Okay." Fin responded.
Once outside, she turned to him with a bright smile.
"By the way, my name is Anjulie."
She said.
"So?" Fin replied.
She laughed softly. "It means I want to be your friend."
He stared at her, confused. "We don't even know each other."
"That's the point," she said, her eyes gleaming. "People usually don't know eachother right?..."
"We have to know eachother"
While in present.
"So, did you become friends?" The man asked.
Fin smiled. "What do you think?"
"I guess you two became friends..." The man said.
"The thing she told me that day completely changed me" he said.
"There was something about her confidence… her ease."
Fin sighed.
In past
"…Okay."
Her smile widened.
"So... Are you free today?" She asked.
He looked at her "yeahh... Kind of" he replied.
"So... Let's hang out together if you're free" she said. Fin just stared at her. "But I'm going to a Library" he said.
"Oh!... Then take me with you" she said.
He didn't say anything but he simply walked away.
And she followed him, eventually entering a quiet library.
The atmosphere was calm, almost sacred. Rows of bookshelves stood tall, and people were lost in their own worlds of reading and writing.
"What are you going to do here?" Anjulie asked softly.
"I'm going to write."
"What?"
"A novel."
They found a seat near a window. Outside, a breathtaking view unfolded—a shimmering lake reflecting sunlight like liquid gold, trees swaying gently, birds gliding freely across the blue sky.
It was peaceful.
"Are you in love with someone?" she suddenly asked.
The question hit him like a whisper he wasn't ready to hear.
The red haired girl came to his mind.
But how was he even suppose to call her his love afterall he knew nothing about her.
His grip tightened slightly.
"I… don't know," he replied.
She studied him carefully. "That means you do. You're just not accepting it."
He didn't respond.
Instead, he opened his notebook and began to write.
Time passed.
Anjulie watched him, then turned her gaze to the window.
"Beautiful…" she whispered unconsciously.
"What?" Fin asked.
"Nothing."
An hour later, she spoke again. "You should take a break."
He ignored her.
"What did you eat for breakfast?"
"…Nothing."
Her eyes widened. "What? Why?"
No answer.
She sighed, then suddenly stood up. "Let's go eat."
"I'm not going."
She grabbed his hand.
"Hey—what are you doing?!"
People turned to stare.
"…Fine. I'll come."
At the restaurant, they sat across from each other.
"I'm not eating," Fin said.
"I don't care," she replied, ordering for both of them.
"You should take care of your health."
"Who are you to care?" he asked.
She met his eyes.
"Your friend."
He smirked.
"Yeah… right."
Still, when the food arrived, he gave in.
He ate.
And for the first time that day—
"It's tasty," he admitted quietly.
She smiled.
After lunch, they stepped outside.
The sky stretched endlessly above them, clear and vast.
"So, where will you go now?" she asked.
Fin looked up… then remembered the girl with red hair.
"I have something to do."
"Secret?"
"Yeah."
She grinned. "Then give me your number. I'll text you tonight."
He hesitated… then nodded.
They exchanged numbers.
"Bye. Take care," she said.
"Yeah… bye."
They walked away in opposite directions.
Later—
"So? Did she become your friend?" someone asked.
Fin smiled softly.
"She changed something in me that day."
A pause.
"We became really good friends."
His smile deepened, touched with something more.
"And after that…"
"We never left each other."
To be continued…