Saturday evenings were slower.
No school pressure. No early alarms.
Ariana was sitting on her bed, hair open, physics book beside her but untouched.
Her phone buzzed.
UnknownUser: Free today?
She didn't pretend this time.
SilentStar15: Yes.
Pause.
Then—
UnknownUser: Good.
She smiled faintly.
SilentStar15: You say "good" a lot.
UnknownUser: Only when it matters.
Her heart reacted softly.
Not dramatic.
Just steady.
For the first time, she decided not to joke.
SilentStar15: What happened yesterday?
There was a longer pause than usual.
She almost thought he wouldn't answer.
Then—
UnknownUser: Family stuff.
Her fingers slowed.
He had never mentioned family before.
SilentStar15: Serious?
Another pause.
UnknownUser: Just complicated.
She sat up straighter.
Normally, he avoided talking about himself.
Today he wasn't.
SilentStar15: You don't talk about your life much.
Three dots appeared.
Stopped.
Then—
UnknownUser: I'm not used to it.
She stared at that.
SilentStar15: You can. If you want.
Silence.
Then—
UnknownUser: My father changes cities often. Work reasons.
Her breath caught slightly.
Cities.
Change.
Leaving.
It connected.
But she didn't say it out loud.
SilentStar15: So that's why you said leaving is easier?
Long pause.
Then—
UnknownUser: Maybe.
Her chest felt strangely soft.
He wasn't dramatic.
He wasn't asking for sympathy.
Just… sharing.
For the first time, she felt something shift.
Not attraction.
Not yet.
But closeness.
After a few minutes, she typed what had been sitting in her mind for days.
SilentStar15: How did you even know it was me on this app?
There it was.
The real question.
Pause.
Longer than any before.
Then—
UnknownUser: You type the same way you write.
Her eyes widened slightly.
SilentStar15: That makes no sense.
UnknownUser: It does.
She frowned at her screen.
SilentStar15: Explain.
Another pause.
UnknownUser: You leave space before important sentences.
Her fingers froze.
She did that.
Without noticing.
SilentStar15: That could be anyone.
UnknownUser: Not really.
Her heart beat a little faster.
He wasn't revealing everything.
But he was sure.
And that certainty made her curious.
Not scared.
Curious.
Before logging off, she typed lightly—
SilentStar15: That's creepy.
Pause.
UnknownUser: Or attentive.
She rolled her eyes… but smiled.