After a thirty-minute drive filled with nostalgic conversations and laughter about their teenage years, they finally arrived at their destination.
They exchanged a look, a mix of excitement and quiet anticipation at the promise of seeing each other again.
"...Well, this is my house. Thanks for bringing me," Hana murmured.
She lowered her gaze, visibly nervous.
"Yeah…" Ray pulled out the piece of paper with his number. "We'll see each other on Friday.We can talk during the week, figure out what to do… we have a lot to catch up on, right?"
Hana nodded, a small smile slipping through.
"Of course… it's been five long years.I want to know how you've been, and most of all…" —she paused briefly— "get to know you again. The Ray you are now."
Ray smiled.
"I guess I feel the same… I want to know the Hana you've become."
He moved to shake her hand, but Hana leaned in for a hug instead.
The moment was awkward—almost clumsy—but somehow, it turned into something warm. Neither of them felt uncomfortable.
"Oh… sorry. Is that how friends greet each other now?"
Hana extended her hand, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with the other.
"What if we do both?" Ray said with a light, playful tone.
He stepped closer, and for the first time in years, he felt something shift between them—something real—despite the fact that they were no longer the same people they once were.
Maybe for Hana, it was just a friendly gesture.
But for Ray…
Every second of that hug felt like it was tearing down the walls of a chapter he had convinced himself was already closed.
For a moment, his mind dragged him back to the day he confessed—that failed attempt, the one that made him decide he would never try again.
And yet, there she was, holding him in a way he had, deep down, waited for all these years.
As they pulled apart, Hana smiled.
"Bye, Ray. I'm really glad I saw you again… see you on Friday!"
She opened her door, then suddenly stopped.
"And you better text me. Otherwise, I'll just ask Sarah for your number."
She gave him one last smile before stepping inside.
Ray stood there for a moment, frozen on the street, trying to process what had just happened.
Memories from his teenage years hit him one after another, barely giving him time to think.A moment that should have felt simple… felt anything but.
Not because he didn't want it—but because he had always believed that if he ever saw her again, he wouldn't feel anything.
And yet… that couldn't have been further from the truth.
He let out a quiet, nervous laugh and got back into his car.
On the way home, his thoughts wandered aimlessly while the city lights filled the inside of the car—until his phone started ringing.
Cris.
Ray stared at the screen for a moment before answering. He exhaled and picked up.
"Hey, man… I'm sorry. Sarah was being really intense about the book.Hope you're not mad. I promise next time, drinks are on me."
"It's fine, don't worry… I get it," Ray replied calmly.
Cris went quiet for a second.
"Wait… it's fine? You get it?"
The Ray I know would be yelling through the phone right now.Do you have something you want to tell me?"
"Cris… I need to ask you something. And I want you to answer honestly."
There was a short pause.
"Yeah… of course. We're friends."
"Did you… know Hana was going to be at that bar?"
Silence.
"…What? Hana? Come on, Ray… you're probably imagining things from working too much.I haven't seen her in like five yea—"
Ray cut him off.
"Are you sure? Because she told me Sarah stood her up. Said she had writer's block.And what did you tell me? Why couldn't you make it?"
Cris suddenly started coughing.
"Oh man… I feel terrible. I think I need to go to the ER right now."
"Cris, don't run away.I don't get why you hid this from me. Was this your idea or Sarah's?"
He paused.
"I'm not mad, by the way. Actually… I think I should thank you."
On the other end, Cris let out a small cheer before trying to sound serious again.
"Wait—thank me? Did something happen between you two?Hold on—SARAH, GET IN HERE!"
"WHAT? Seriously? What happened? Tell me everything!" Sarah's voice shouted in the background."Hi, Ray! Don't leave out any details!"
Ray sighed.
"Bye, Cris. We'll talk during the week about the project.Make sure you send me the final chapter tomorrow… or the day after at the latest."
"Ray, wait—come on, tell me everything!" Cris insisted.
In the background, Sarah's voice could still be heard:
"See? I told you we should invite them to the same bar. I'm a genius…"
Ray hung up.
But his phone kept ringing—again and again. Cris… then Sarah.
He glanced out the window at the city lights and let out a small, quiet smile—one filled with something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.
Then he turned off his phone and kept driving home.