I stood, and turned to her with a smile.
"Shall we go?" I asked, my voice softer than before.
She met my eyes, her smile gentle. "Sure."
The bus stopped in front of us with a squeak, and the doors opened. We both got on together. Inside, it was very different from the morning. Back then, it had been full of noise and students packed into every seat. Now, it was almost empty, only a few people sitting here and there.
Tia walked to the middle row and sat down near the window. I followed her and sat in the seat right behind hers.
She looked around, then turned her head a little. "Why is it empty now but crowded in the morning?"
I leaned forward, resting my arms on the back of her seat so she could hear me better. "It's always like this," I explained "In the morning, everyone has to go somewhere—school, office, anywhere important. But after school, they don't rush home right away. Some go out with their friends, some make plans, some just hang out."I tilted my head toward the window, pointing outside the window. "Like them."
A group of students were standing under a tree, laughing and talking. I showed her another group sitting near a small shop, eating snacks together. "See? Some just want to enjoy the time, live in the moment."
She stayed quiet for a second, then she asked softly, "And you? You don't have to catch up with friends? Or make plans?Spend time with your friends like that?"
Her tone wasn't teasing. It was curious, almost thoughtful.
I smiled. "I already catch up with them at school. About plans… we leave that for later." I paused for a moment, then said with a small laugh, "And about living in the moment… I'm already doing that right now."
She didn't reply, but I could tell she was thinking about my words. I couldn't see her face clearly since she was looking straight ahead, but something about her shoulders told me she had a small smile.
The bus went quiet again, only the sound of the engine and the road under the tires. I took out my earphones from my pocket, put one in my ear, and held the other out to her.
She looked at me for a second, surprised, then smiled a little and took it. We sat like that, sharing one song between us. The soft music played, and outside the window, the sun was slowly going down, painting everything in a warm glow.
For a while, we didn't speak. Just listened. The world outside felt far away.
Then, as the song ended, Tia gently removed the earphone. "My stop is here," she said. She stood up as the bus slowed down.
I sat back and watched her walk to the front. The doors opened, and she paused on the steps. She turned her head, looked at me, and smiled.
"Bye," she said, raising her hand slightly.
I smiled back before I could even think about it. "Bye," I said quietly.