"Man, class was hectic and stressful today," Jessie groaned, stretching her arms as they walked out of the lecture hall.
Lina didn't answer. She was glued to her phone, earbuds in, her face glowing with excitement.
"Lina," Jessie said, narrowing her eyes. No response. Jessie reached over and tugged one of the earbuds out of her ear.
"What's up?" Lina asked, blinking like she'd just been dragged out of another universe.
"I was talking to you," Jessie said flatly.
"Oh, sorry! I was watching this new video Kai released. Here, look, he dropped it this morning." Lina shoved the phone in Jessie's face like it was breaking news.
On the screen, Kai's smooth voice filled the tiny speaker. "I just want to thank everyone who has been streaming my music. I really appreciate it. Thank you all for the encouragement."
"Isn't he charming?" Lina sighed dreamily.
Jessie rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't get stuck. "Girl, you're crazy."
As they walked down the path, Lina's eyes lit up. "Yo, Evan! Over here!" She waved energetically.
Evan waved back and walked toward them with his usual calm stride.
"Hey, Lina," he greeted with a smile.
Jessie stopped in her tracks, giving him a quick once-over. She leaned closer to Lina and whispered, "Who's this?"
"Oh, Jessie, this is Evan," Lina explained, grinning. "The guy Mrs. Priscilla told me to show around last Saturday. Evan, this is Jessie, my roommate."
"Nice to meet you," Evan said politely, reaching out his hand.
Jessie shook it with a curious look.
"And," Lina added proudly, nudging Evan's arm, "he's also a Kai fan."
Evan nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Jessie sighed dramatically. "Well, that's nice. At least now you'll stop disturbing me every time he drops a new song." She started backing away, pointing a finger at Lina. "Anyway, I've got to go. Try not to convert the whole school into Kai's cult, okay?"
"Bye, Jess!" Lina called out, ignoring the jab.
As Jessie disappeared down the path, Lina started walking again. Evan fell into step beside her.
"So, where are you going?" he asked casually.
"The library," Lina replied, almost bouncing with excitement. "The book I asked for finally came in!"
"What book is that?" Evan tilted his head, curious.
Lina clasped her hands together like she was announcing something sacred. "Follow me and I'll show you. Prepare to have your life changed."
Evan chuckled. "That dramatic, huh?"
"More than dramatic. Legendary," Lina declared. She glanced at him, eyes twinkling. "You'll thank me later when you realize I single-handedly introduced you to the best book you'll ever read in your life."
"Now I'm scared," Evan teased.
"You should be," Lina said, nodding solemnly. "People have cried. Nations have wept. Empires have fallen, okay maybe not, but still. It's that good."
Evan laughed, shaking his head as he followed her down the path. "I have a feeling hanging out with you is going to be… interesting."
Lina grinned, tossing her hair dramatically. "Oh, Evan, you have no idea."
They reached the library, the tall glass doors reflecting the afternoon sun. Lina pushed them open with dramatic flair, like she was walking into a palace.
"Behold," she whispered, "the sacred grounds of knowledge. The temple of wisdom. The home of my greatest treasure."
Evan raised a brow. "Are you always this dramatic, or is this a special occasion?"
"Both," Lina said without missing a beat. She marched straight to the counter, collected a book wrapped neatly in plastic, and spun around like she was presenting a crown jewel.
"Ta-da! The Wind That Carried Us!" she announced proudly, holding it up to Evan like he should be dazzled.
Evan froze. "…Oh. That book."
Lina gasped, clutching it to her chest. "Wait. You've read it?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Evan said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "And I hated every page."
Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
"Sorry," Evan said, though he didn't look sorry at all. "It was… overhyped. Too many long speeches. The main character cried, like, every five pages. I couldn't handle it."
Lina narrowed her eyes, scandalized. "Evan. Take that back."
"I can't," he said, shaking his head gravely. "It's the truth."
"The truth," Lina scoffed, hugging the book tighter. "You wouldn't know the truth if it tap-danced in front of you wearing neon boots. This book is a masterpiece. A revolution. It changed lives."
"Changed lives how?" Evan teased. "By making people fall asleep faster?"
Lina gasped dramatically, clutching her pearl, or at least where pearls would be if she was wearing any. "You dare mock The Wind That Carried Us? You monster."
Evan smirked. "Monster or realist, depends on how you look at it."
Lina pointed a finger at him. "You just don't get it because you're not deep enough. Only true intellectuals understand the symbolism."
"Right," Evan said, chuckling. "And by intellectuals you mean… you?"
"Exactly." She flipped her hair. "One day you'll see the light. And when you do, I'll accept your apology."
He tilted his head, grinning. "Don't hold your breath."
Lina rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips. "Ugh, you're impossible."
"And yet," Evan said softly, "you're still walking with me."
Lina blinked, caught off guard for a moment before quickly covering it up. "That's only because you're tall and easy to spot in a crowd. Don't get ahead of yourself."
Evan laughed under his breath, watching her march off with the book clutched protectively in her arms like it was a priceless relic.
The campus café buzzed with chatter, the smell of fresh pastries hanging in the air. Lina plopped down at a corner table, hugging The Wind That Carried Us like it was her child. Evan sat across from her with a latte, looking way too calm for someone who had just committed a literary crime.
"You're seriously going to sit there and drink coffee after insulting the greatest book of all time?" Lina asked, narrowing her eyes.
Evan took a slow sip, deliberately obnoxious. "Mhm. Best latte I've ever had, by the way. Pairs nicely with unpopular opinions."
Lina groaned, leaning forward. "You're evil."
"Or just honest," Evan said with a shrug.
Lina smacked the table with the book, making a few students glance their way. "You know what? I bet if you re-read it, with me, you'd see how wrong you are."
Evan chuckled. "Wait, you're planning to convert me?"
"Exactly," Lina said, grinning. "One dramatic reading at a time."
He leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Do I get a choice in this?"
"Nope," Lina replied, already flipping to the first chapter. She cleared her throat theatrically. "Chapter One: The wind whispered secrets through the golden fields…"
Evan groaned and rubbed his temples. "Here we go."
"Shhh, no interruptions," Lina scolded. "You have to feel the words."
"Trust me, I felt them before. They felt heavy. Like a brick."
Lina gasped. "Blasphemy! The poetic wind imagery is life-changing."
"The poetic wind imagery put me to sleep," Evan countered.
She glared at him over the top of the book. "You're testing my patience, Evans."
"And you're testing mine with… dramatic winds."
For a moment, they just stared at each other—her pouting, him fighting back a laugh. Then, as if on cue, Lina suddenly burst into laughter, breaking the standoff.
"You're hopeless," she said, shaking her head.
Evan chuckled, finally giving in. "Maybe. But I'll let you torture me with one chapter… just to prove how wrong you are."
Lina's eyes sparkled. "Deal. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be crying in the golden fields with me."
He raised an eyebrow. "Don't hold your breath."
She pointed the book at him like a sword. "We'll see, Evans. We'll see."
"We can read in my hostel tonight, if you don't have anything to do," Lina said, closing the book with a grin.
Evan paused, staring at her for a moment.
Lina tilted her head. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing…" Evan said quickly. He hesitated, then added, "What about your roommate?"
"Oh, Jessie?" Lina waved her hand. "Today's Monday. She'll probably be at her boyfriend's place till late. So it's fine."
Evan nodded slowly. "Um… yeah, sure."
"Cool!" Lina said, lighting up. "Then we can listen to Kai's songs while reading. It'll be like the ultimate vibe. So, you come by at seven. That's when I'll be free."
"Seven works," Evan said, trying to sound casual.
Lina beamed and sipped her coffee in victory.
When the time came, a knock echoed on her hostel door.
"I'm coming!" Lina called out, rushing over. She swung it open and found Evan standing there, looking slightly awkward, and maybe a little mesmerized. She wondered if it was because she was only wearing shorts and a singlet.
"Come in, man," Lina said, stepping aside. "Sit on the couch. I'll be back in a sec, let me grab a sweater."
Evan nodded, sitting down and glancing around the cozy living room. A moment later, Lina reappeared, pulling a sweater over her head. "So, should we start?"
"Yeah, sure," Evan said, then quickly pulled out his phone. "Oh, wait, let me put on some Kai."
"One of my favorites," he added as the music started to fill the room.
The soft melody played, and Lina immediately began singing along. "Ohhh, ohhhh, ohhh… where you are is eternity, you are my home, and I can't delete my memories of you. I don't want it to end but it did…"
Her voice was light, unpolished, but full of heart. Evan stared at her, a smile tugging at his lips without him realizing.
Hours slipped by between music, laughter, and dramatic readings. Finally, Lina shut the book with a satisfied sigh. "So… what do you think about it now?"
Evan leaned back on the couch. "I still don't like it," he admitted with a chuckle. "But… I understood it better because you kept explaining every chapter."
Lina gasped, clutching her chest. "You're very annoying." She broke into a grin. "Well, I loved it."
Evan smiled, standing up as she walked him to the door. He lingered for a moment before saying softly, "It was… fun reading with you."
Lina smiled back, her eyes warm. "Same, dumbo. Byeee."
"Bye," Evan said, his lips curving as he stepped into the night.