After Katrina left the park, Ethan also stood up from the bench. He still had plans to meet one of his friends, so he began walking toward the main street.
Meanwhile, Katrina was walking toward a café nearby while talking on the phone with Ella.
"Hey Katrina, where are you?" Ella asked from the other side of the call. "Arice and I are already waiting for you at the café."
"Yes, I'm coming," Katrina replied. "I just got stuck with something on the way."
"Alright, hurry up," Ella said before ending the call.
As Katrina continued walking, her mind kept replaying the moment that had happened earlier.
Ethan pulling her away from the speeding car.
The way he had held her tightly.
And how worried he looked.
Why was he so concerned about me? she wondered quietly.
Soon, she reached the café.
Through the glass window, she could see Ella and Arice already sitting at a table, waiting for her.
Katrina walked inside.
"Hi Katrina!" Ella and Arice said together.
Katrina smiled and sat down.
Ella immediately asked, "By the way… are you okay?"
Katrina nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."
Ella picked up the menu. "Let's order something. I'm starving."
She looked at Katrina. "I'm getting a burger and fries. What about you?"
"The same," Katrina replied.
Arice, however, was sitting quietly, staring at Katrina with a strange, curious expression.
Ella noticed and nudged her.
"Arice… what do you want?"
Arice blinked. "Oh… right. I'll just have whatever you guys ordered."
Soon their food arrived.
Katrina quietly began eating.
But Arice still kept staring at her.
Finally, she spoke.
"Oh, by the way, Katrina… do you have something to tell us?"
Katrina looked confused. "No… nothing."
Arice raised an eyebrow.
Katrina sighed.
"Arice, I've noticed you've been staring at me this whole time."
Arice leaned forward slightly.
"Why didn't you tell us that Ethan saved you?"
Katrina choked on her drink.
Ella quickly pushed a glass of water toward her.
"Here! Drink some water."
After a moment, Katrina recovered.
She looked shocked.
"How did you know?"
Arice smiled proudly.
"Because I was in a car at the next stop when Ethan pulled you away from that car."
Ella's eyes widened.
"Oh my God, Katrina! Are you okay?"
Katrina nodded quickly.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Ella sighed in relief.
"But that was really sweet of him," she said. "I'm actually grateful to Ethan for saving you."
Katrina smiled slightly.
"Arice… nothing can stay hidden from you."
Arice grinned.
"Oh please. But honestly… he looked really heroic."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Ella laughed.
"I think Ethan really likes you."
Katrina looked unsure.
"I'm not sure about that."
Arice shook her head confidently.
"I'm telling you, he definitely likes you."
Then she added another interesting detail.
"And do you know something? He has never dated anyone."
Katrina looked surprised.
"Really?"
Ella nodded.
"Yes. His mother is very strict about his studies. And Ethan doesn't talk to people very easily either. He only has a few friends."
"I see…" Katrina murmured thoughtfully.
Arice leaned closer again.
"By the way, Katrina… have you ever actually talked to him before?"
Katrina suddenly went quiet.
Both Ella and Arice leaned forward excitedly, waiting for her answer.
Finally Katrina said softly,
"Yes… I talked to him this evening."
Arice's eyes widened.
"What did you say?"
Katrina smiled slightly.
"I just thanked him for saving me."
Ella nodded approvingly.
"That's good."
Arice leaned back in her chair with a slightly disappointed tone.
"Oh… that's it?"
The three girls laughed lightly.
After spending some more time together talking and joking, they finally left the café and went home.
Ethan's House
After meeting his friend, Ethan returned home.
He went straight to his room and sat down on his chair.
He leaned back and stared at the ceiling.
"I can't believe she talked to me," he whispered to himself.
A small smile appeared on his face.
But then the memory of Eric's words returned to his mind.
Someone like Katrina would never like someone like me.
The smile slowly faded.
Ethan sighed.
"It's not a big deal," he muttered.
"She was just thanking me."
Later that night, after dinner and finishing her studies, Katrina stood up from her desk and walked toward the balcony.
The night air was cool and peaceful.
Her eyes immediately drifted toward Ethan's house.
His window was open.
He was sitting at his desk, studying quietly under the light.
Katrina leaned slightly against the railing and watched him from a distance.
For some reason, every time she saw him, she felt something different inside her.
Something she couldn't explain.
Meanwhile, Ethan remained focused on his books.
After a few minutes, Katrina quietly returned to her room.
A little later, Ethan finally looked up from his studies.
He glanced toward the street.
Then toward Katrina's balcony.
But it was empty.
Ethan looked around for a moment before sighing.
"If life were this simple…" he whispered.
"I wish I could just tell her how much I love her."
He stared at the quiet night sky outside his window.
"I wish I were someone she could like."
The night remained silent.
The cold wind slowly moved through the streets.
And somewhere in that quiet night…
both of them were thinking about each other.