Male Lead - POV
Sitting beside her brother, Ryaan, we were both drinking together. He had sneaked out without telling his parents.
"Can I share something?" Ryaan asked, seeking permission to let the words spill out of his mouth.
I didn't respond, but he took my silence as a yes.
"So… the thing is— the girl I fell for... she's fallen for my best friend. Today, I saw them together, holding hands. They went to the theater together… and I was the one who bought popcorn for them."
He screamed in frustration—loud enough to pull my attention.
I glanced at him. He quickly apologized.
"I'm… sorry. I couldn't control myself."
"What would you do if you were in my place?" he asked seriously.
My eyes shifted to the electric pole nearby. The lights were flickering—dim, yet enough to reveal the silhouette of someone standing beneath it.
"Tell me?" he asked again.
"I'd offer them Coke with the popcorn," I said, sighing, and drank the rest of my glass.
"Ahh—strange, but your idea is kinda cool," Ryaan said, sipping his drink.
Seems like he was going to apply it in real…
As time passed, we both grew closer. We spent time together. "I don't want it," I said, but he insisted I drink with him. He held my hand and dragged me along. I treated him like my little brother—the one who once ignored me, the one who hated me the most.
I was on my way to the office when I heard the phone ring. Her mother was talking to her. I stood there for a while. Aunty's marriage anniversary was coming soon. That means Aria will come back.
The thoughts about Aria never left my mind. I kept ignoring her in front of everyone, but inside, I wanted to give her all my attention. The one I left for another girl... but I know I'm not the best for her. She deserves a good guy. I'm not her type.
"Doesn't matter if our personalities match."
Who even cares about personality these days?
Everyone's running toward a better life.
A good, caring husband.
No girl wants a man like me.
Anyway, I entered the office. Today, I worked hard. It was a magazine company—not big, just small. Only a few employees worked there.
There's a girl who sat in front of my table. She kept looking at me. I avoided her, or at least pretended not to notice.
Her Smile
Uncle was packing up his farming produce—vegetables and all—when he walked toward me.
"Wanna drive the car?" he asked.
I took the keys from him. He was going to deliver the vegetables somewhere in the city, and I drove the car. In the back, all the vegetables were packed and loaded.
"Where are we delivering it?" I asked, one hand on the steering wheel.
"To the supermarket. It's a bit far," he said. "Earlier, they used to come here and pick up the vegetables themselves. But nowadays, they say if they have to come all the way, they'll pay less—because of fuel cost and their time. So, I decided to deliver it myself and take the full amount."
His face looked tense. He works so hard, even though his daughter already has a job. Men like him are rare—those who keep working until their last breath.
We reached the supermarket. I got out and grabbed a box, then delivered it inside the shop. Uncle was talking to the shop owner while I unloaded the vegetable boxes one by one.
When I came back to the car and opened the door to sit inside, I saw her in the rearview mirror.
She was walking with someone—I couldn't see his face clearly, he was on the other side, talking to her. She smiled while tucking her hair behind her ear, the strands flowing in the wind.
Just to be sure, I looked out of the window.
They both entered a coffee shop.
The man was wearing a blue shirt.
And for the first time, I saw her smile like that
From her heart. From deep within.
Maybe…
She found someone.