When I walked out of the café, the winter breeze blew against my bags, making me shiver from the cold.
"Hey Eugene! Are you leaving already?" Sarah's voice echoed through the quiet store, making me turn around.
Strands of her tight bun had fallen across her forehead, and the tiredness was etched on her face. I smiled a little before nodding.
She sighed and walked toward the counter, then sat down on a chair. "You don't want me to give you a ride?" she asked, raising a brow.
I looked at her briefly before turning to face the street, the wind blowing my hair gently. I shook my head.
"No, thank you… I'll drive myself," I said, glancing back at her.
She nodded. "I forgot you had a car," she said, scratching her head awkwardly.
I nodded, smiling politely. "See you tomorrow then," I said, turning to leave.
"Be safe," she called, making me stop. I turned and nodded with a small smile before leaving.
The cold air made me shiver. The cherry blossoms danced in the wind, falling softly onto the snow-covered ground.
I looked down the street and smiled a little. This city looks pretty good at night, I thought before shaking my head.
Then I caught a fresh scent wafting through the air—the coldness of the snow mixing with the soft floral notes of cherry blossoms.
I stopped and stared at the trees.
"Beautiful," I whispered, dazed a little.
And just like that… a face appeared in my mind.
Beautiful, honey-brown, doe-like eyes that made me feel lost—almost like I was staring into a soft, brown abyss.
A smile so bright it nearly rivaled the sun.
Even though the cherry blossoms were beautiful, they couldn't compare to the boy in my mind.
I slapped my cheeks.
"How does everything I see bring me back to you?" I whispered, annoyed.
I walked to the parking lot and searched for my car, but annoyingly, there was no sign of it.
I sighed and dialed my brother's number. He answered on the fourth ring.
"Ray, where's my car?" I asked, already annoyed.
Silence.
"Eugene… I'm so sorry, I forgot," he said, and I almost slammed my phone into the nearest wall.
"So should I go back now?" I asked, massaging my frown lines.
"Ehhm… you should take the bus. It's close by, right? And I'm really sorry—I kinda forgot to bring it back. I promise it won't happen again."
I rolled my eyes. Typical Ray.
"Yeah, it won't happen again," I said, then hung up.
I looked to the left. Ray was right—the bus stop was just a few steps away.
I walked over and leaned against the shelter, checking my phone. It was currently 5:45 p.m., and since it was winter, it was already dark.
Leaning there, a sweet, memorable scent wafted around me—warm and creamy. Just inhaling it made me feel warmer.
It was the same milky vanilla scent from earlier.
My heart started beating faster. I didn't want to turn or breathe it in, but I couldn't help it. I gulped and closed my eyes, gripping the pole at my side tightly.
But, as always, curiosity got the better of me.
I turned—
—just to meet those same enchanting doe eyes staring back at me.
My eyes widened. I wanted to look away—I shouldn't look anymore. But I couldn't.
Fuck, I couldn't even breathe. I felt like a teenager again.
With those warm, honey-brown eyes on me, I felt warm—even with the cold air blowing through my hair.
It was crazy.
And disturbing.
The boy looked at me, a red lollipop in his mouth. I noted how red his lips were. He turned his head, his cheeks now dusted with a soft pink blush.
And I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.
Did he just blush?
My heart was beating so fast I thought I might have a heart attack.
What in the actual fuck was this?
This was wrong.
And it was worse than puppy love.
I closed my eyes and turned to the cherry blossoms.
"Out of sight, out of mind," I whispered, before chuckling.
As if that was going to work.
I laughed at my own pain.
"What's wrong?"
A calming voice echoed in my mind, cutting down every single thought.
It wasn't deep or high-pitched. Just calm.
I nodded, still keeping my eyes closed.
"Do you always ride the bus? I don't see you here often," the same voice asked, soft against the tranquil night.
I turned to look at him.
"I don't... it's just... someone decided to take my car," I said, my eyes avoiding his face.
"Your girlfriend?" the boy asked.
I almost choked on my own spit.
Coughing, I replied, "No—my brother."
He nodded and sat down on the cement bench.
I don't know where I got the courage, but my mouth moved on its own.
"Do you always take the bus this late?" I asked.
He smiled. It almost took my breath away.
"It's earlier today. I didn't have night class... but yeah," he said.
My eyes widened.
"That's not safe—for a boy like you," I said hastily.
He smiled, then stood and leaned against the shelter like me.
"A boy like me?" he asked, raising a brow.
And fuck, it was so damn cute.
I nodded.
"Aren't you a boy like me?" he said, crossing his arms.
"I'm older," I replied, raising my own brow. He smiled, even though the marathon in my chest kept raging. I tried to stay composed.
"How old do I look to you?" he asked, now looking at the ground.
I smiled a little, narrowing my eyes.
"You look fourteen."
He gasped so loudly I almost laughed.
"No way!" he said, laughing. I had to cover my mouth—I couldn't stop smiling.
"It's because I'm short and skinny," he said.
"Yeah... and your face too—it's small, a little chubby, and cute," I said.
His eyes widened in shock, then he pouted. And I nearly reached out to pinch his cheeks.
"I'm eighteen, for Christ's sake! Well, soon to be—my birthday's in three days. But wow!" he exclaimed, laughing again.
I couldn't lie—I was so relieved.
Those bad thoughts weren't aimed at a minor.
But still… I'm eight years older than him.
That didn't make it right.
I sighed, the thought wiping the smile from my face.
"How old are you?" he asked. I couldn't stop myself from looking at his face.
He had his head bowed.
I smiled.
"Guess."
He looked up. His eyes narrowed.
"Twenty... twenty-one?"
"Twenty-five," I said.
He widened his eyes. "You don't look your age," he said.
I looked at the cherry blossoms.
"Am I the only one?" I asked.
He chuckled and shook his head.
Why did this feel so good?
Talking to him like this, laughing with him like this...
It felt too good. So good that I wanted to cry.
I sighed and held my chest.
Why do you hate me so much? I asked my heart, closing my eyes tightly.
"You never told me your name," the voice echoed again, wiping every bad thought from my mind.
I turned to the boy with the doe eyes.
"Eugene. You?" I asked.
He smiled slowly, and I could see his lips forming the name—my name. It nearly killed me.
Why are you so cute?
"Xu Zihan," he said.
I stared at him, only to find he was staring too.
What a beautiful name.
I didn't even know Chinese, but I'd heard that name before—it was beautiful.
And just like that... we stared at each other, as if there were no tomorrow.
It was peaceful.
"Eugene! What are you doing here?"
Sarah's voice snapped the spell.
I looked at her—her head poking out from the car window.
I scratched my head awkwardly. "Ehhm... waiting for the bus."
Sarah frowned. "You said—wait, Ray again?" she asked. I nodded.
She sighed and looked ahead.
"Get in," she said.
I frowned. I couldn't leave Xu Zihan alone. I smiled as I remembered his name.
As if he read my mind, Xu Zihan spoke.
"Leave. I'm okay alone, Eugene."
I almost screamed like a fangirl when he said my name.
I turned to him and shook my head.
"I can't," I said, looking down.
"I'm always alone... Please, just leave. It's cold. I don't want you waiting when you could've left earlier. Please."
And I still don't know what happened...
…but now I was in Sarah's car, watching Zihan's figure disappear.
This was crazy.
With just one plea, I could do anything he asked.
Like a puppet on strings.
Fuck.
This was dangerous.
But in the end…
…I liked it.